‘I’m from a different generation’: Don Henley tears into fans who text, take pictures, even stand up at Eagles concerts

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As Don Henley continues on what has been a well-received, but apparently endless, hits-packed reunion tour with the Eagles, he’s developed a laundry list of audience behaviors that get under his skin.

That includes, but is not limited to, fans who stand up, fans who text, fans who take too many pictures and fans who post raw concert videos to YouTube.

It’s a wonder he can keep up with the words to “Hotel California,” you know?

As the Eagles prepare for a tour in Australia, he sat down with News.com.au, to discuss.

About keeping your seat: “People who start standing up in the beginning when we’re doing ballads are a great annoyance to us and to the people behind them. We have our security people gently tell them to sit down. You pay for your seat, sit in it.”

About videography: “Videoing a concert with a phone is a violation of our copyright,” he said. “Google owns YouTube. They don’t need any more free content.” (Warning: Henley takes this copyright stuff very, very seriously, too. Just ask Okkervil or Frank Ocean.)

Of course, even Henley understands that phones and using your phone are here to stay. “I don’t think there’s any going back now,” he adds. “People feel so entitled to being able to use their gadgets and post things on the web. I’m from a different generation. I don’t understand it. It’s not a very pure experience. It takes away from the immediacy of the live performance. If we’re just going to watch TV, we can stay home and do that.”

Oh, and about texting?: “We don’t like people texting during the show unless it’s an emergency.” About pictures: “We feel everybody who bought a ticket has a right to enjoy the show undisturbed with a view that is unobstructed.”

The reason for all of this get-off-my-lawn-style crankiness, by the way? “This could be our last time around,” Henley says. “We want people to be in the moment with us and experience the concert through their eyeballs, and not a tiny square on a phone.”

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