News : Chrissie Hynde Stands Firm on Wanting New Faces at Gigs

Chrissie Hynde maintained that “only a moron could disagree” with her request for regular concert-goers to step back from the front of the stage.

The Brass in Pocket singer sparked debate in October 2024 when she asked fans to "give local fans a chance" to occupy the front row at shows. She has since elaborated on her reasoning, admitting that seeing the same faces at every gig around the world had begun to make her feel like she had a “screw loose.”

Speaking to MOJO magazine, she explained: “See, the thing is, of course you want the same people to come because it means they’re digging the show.

“And I understand why people follow a band.

“If you’re not in a band, the second-best thing is to follow a band around.

“One hundred percent do I understand that.

“But if it’s the same people in the front row all around the world, it takes some of the spontaneity out of it for the artist.

“Because, y’know, Hey, we’re in Warsaw. I’ve never been to Warsaw. Oh, it’s you again.

“And it’s like that every night. You start feeling like you’ve got a screw loose.

“Like, if we’re playing in Warsaw, and we’ve never been there, if there’s some local fans who want to be in the front, let them up front. You’ve already been to 500 shows.”

When asked about the criticism, she laughed and said: “Ah, go f*** yourselves. Come on. Only a moron could disagree with that.”

The 74-year-old singer also admitted that she isn’t particularly “sociable” either before or after performances.

She explained: “I’ve had a bit of a problem in the last few years because I just want to do the show and get out of there.

“I don’t want to see people before a show.

“Not because I’m in a big meditation. I’m probably just eating a chocolate bar and sitting in a chair. That’s my meditation.

“But I don’t like to get my head full of other stuff.

“And then after a show, I just like to leave. And I feel very anti-social and I don’t think that’s right.

“I think I should be more sociable but I can’t deal with it after I’ve been in that, I suppose, elevated consciousness on stage where everything’s heightened. I can’t do the mundane stuff afterwards.”