A Perfect Circle guitarist Billy Howerdel defended bandmate Maynard James Keenan’s policy to ban photos and videos from Tool, APC, and Puscifer concerts in a new Star interview. He also discussed 60 fans being kicked out of a recent APC show.

“You know, I didn’t realize what a big story this was until someone brought it to my attention maybe two days ago. There’s no mystery. Maynard’s kind of been doing this for years with all his bands. Usually the ones complaining are the squeakiest wheels.

I’ve read more support for it than anything. I’m not saying that to be self-serving, it’s just my observation. But whatever I’ve read is people, like you’ve said, being appreciative of being able to connect with the experience without being distracted. Now if we could just get security to stop flashing flashlights in people’s eyes.”

A Perfect Circle guitarist Billy Howerdel discussed the band’s no phone policy in a new Montreal Gazette interview.

“We have a no-phone policy at our show,” Howerdel says. They mean it, too — more than 60 people were ejected from a show this month in Reading, Pa., for breaking it. “First of all, it’s just rude. Putting up a phone in front of someone’s face so they get to watch the show through it? Getting a memento of the show — sure, I’ve done it myself. But then you ask, ‘What am I gonna do with this?’

“But the other point is, people talking about the show is so much more powerful. We’re inundated with videos and images, and getting back to a campfire conversation, letting people express how they felt in the experience — it says something more.

“And it speaks to, what does the music mean to you, and how do you want to tether it to your experiences in your life?”

He later said, “I do a VIP tour every day for 15 people on the stage. It’s a ticket you buy that gives you early access and a few extras, and a 30-minute tour with me on the stage.”

Via alternativenation.net