04-05-2025
Read what these American, British music legends say about their hearing loss
Several music legends now publicly discuss their tinnitus to help break the stigma and encourage others to protect their hearing.
Pete Townshend, famous song writer and guitarist with the British rock band The Who, often speaks publicly about his struggle with partial hearing loss and tinnitus and how homeopathic medicine has helped him.
He first noticed peeps and whistles and he initially thought he was hearing birds.
"Legend has it that we were one of the loudest bands in the world," he once quipped during an appearance on "Late Show with David Letterman." "People often come up and blame me for the fact that they're deaf."
He also cited the 1967 explosion of Keith Moon's drum kit onstage as a contributing factor to his own hearing loss.
The rock legend has advocated for hearing protection through the non-profit H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers).
Singer-songwriter Chris Martin of the British rock band Coldplay publicly cautions kids, teens and adults to use hearing protection when listening to music or playing an instrument.
Other famous musicians who are speaking out about their hearing damage and the need for protection, include: hip-hop artist and producer singer-songwriters Neil Young and Barbra Streisand, Danish drummer Lars Ulrich, with the American heavy metal band Metallica.
Hearing damage can happen slowly over time from repeated exposure to loud music. It also can happen abruptly from a one-time event, like a gunshot or explosion or being next to an amp at a concert.
Townshend blames his own hearing damage to a combination of both.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Coldplay, The Who musicians warn others to protect their ears
