‘Enjoy the performance with your eyes’: Cold Chisel legend Ian Moss bans phones on national tour

It’s proved controversial with some fans but others are already standing to applaud the Aussie rock legend’s tough new rules for fans. Have your say.

Ian Moss may have had a huge solo hit with Telephone Booth but it sounds like the Cold Chisel guitarist is not a fan of the mobile phone.

Mossy has issued a ban on fans taking pics and filming footage at gigs on his upcoming national tour.

Australian singer songwriter and legendary guitarist Ian Moss. Picture: Robert Hambling / Supplied.

Ian Moss + Trio: One Guitar One Night Only kicks off in Brisbane on Thursday, May 8 and will play a sold-out show at Adelaide’s Hindley Street Musical Hall on Friday, May 16.

In the lead up Mossy – or his people – have issued a warning on social media:

“Sorry Folks – Enjoy The Performance With Your Eyes Instead”.

The post goes on to explain: “To ensure the best possible experience for everyone – both the audience and the artists – photography and video recording will not be permitted during the performance. In the past, we’ve taken a relaxed approach, but following feedback about disruptions, we’ve changed our policy. Venue staff have been briefed and will help us enforce this policy. There will be no exceptions. We kindly ask you to respect the performers, fellow concertgoers, and the atmosphere by switching off phones and other devices for the duration of the show. Be present and enjoy the performance with your eyes. Team Moss.”

The announcement has been met with mixed reviews, but for the most part fans were in favour of the ban.

Australian singer songwriter and legendary guitarist Ian Moss. Picture: Daniel Boud / Supplied.

While one responded with “Well that takes half the fun out of it”, the majority were supportive of the decision.

One wrote: “Good call Mossy”.

Another echoed the sentiment: “Great call. Nothing worse than people in front hold (sic) their bloody phone up right in your line of viewing. Even when you tell them it’s blocking their (sic) view they continue to video.”

And another was obviously looking forward to a concert experience that recalled simpler times before smart phones: “Brilliant. Back to the 80s”

Many would say that decade was the heyday for Moss, musically. In 1980, Cold Chisel, fronted by Jimmy Barnes, had great success with the LP East, which spawned hits such as My Baby – with Moss on lead vocals – Cheap Wine and Choir Girl.

Cold Chisel in a late 1970s. photo. Picture: Supplied

It is widely regarded as one of the best Aussie albums of all time.

Chisel’s follow-up release, Circus Animals, in 1982, included Bow River, penned by Moss, and Forever Now.

After Chisel disbanded in the mid 1980s, Moss released his first solo album, Matchbook.

Its featured two hit singles; Tucker’s Daughter and Telephone Booth, the video for which was filmed in and around Broken Hill, just over the SA/NSW border.

Ian Moss. Photo: Supplied.

The Matchbook album cover. Picture: Advertiser Library

Mossy isn’t the only artist to say no to fans filming or taking photos at his shows. When Dionne Warwick performed at Thebarton Theatre in 2018, she called out audience members, telling them to put their phones away and just be present in the moment.