Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

From The Rock & Roll Daily
Two weeks ago, during Super Bowl XLIV’s halftime show, the Who rocked out in front of the largest audience of their 46-year career. With 150 million viewers tuning in to the band’s 12-minute medley, the performance was supposed to springboard Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend into a busy 2010. Instead, the Who’s future is uncertain because of Townshend’s returning tinnitus. As the guitarist tells Rolling Stone in our new issue, “If my hearing is going to be a problem, we’re not delaying shows. We’re finished. I can’t really see any way around the issue.”

The band tells RS a planned spring 2010 tour and appearances at the Coachella and New Orleans Jazz Festivals were ditched when Townshend’s tinnitus returned while he was working on his musical Floss. Neil Young put Townshend in touch with an audiologist who recommended an in-ear monitor that may prevent any further damage. Townshend will give the device a test drive when the Who perform at their only scheduled gig of 2010, a March 30th charity show in London where they’ll play Quadrophenia in its entirety. “It’s a good test of Pete’s hearing,” Daltrey tells Rolling Stone. “We won’t know until we try.”

Interesting news Id love to go and see Quadrophenia in its entirety played live that would amazing.I went last year to see the Quad`live theater show that Townshend was involved in and loved it.Only had the opportunity to see the them once before but its was an amazing show in Birmingham NEC `89.We all have had that ringing in our ears after a loud gig but it must be a pain to have it constantly ringing in your head.I might add i had it for 2 days constant after watching the who they were LOUD.

They were loud in 1965 so just imagine what all those years of playing Who material at high volume would do to his ears. It would be a sad way to end a great career.

Indeed it would.

The sad part is that, sure, in the 60's people may have not thought of earplugs or ear-monitors etc......but by the early 70s they sure did, and that's exactly when the Who went from loud to blistering loud stage volumes.

Townshend likes to draw his tinnitus complications back to the Who's "explosive" appearance on the Smothers Brothers show in 1967, but even if that was the truth (which I highly doubt), it was made 1000x worse playing at full volume for much of the 1970s.

winston wrote: It would be a sad way to end a great career.

That would be a very sad ending, indeed.

It would be terrible for Pete's career to end because his tinnitus has returned, though he is lucky it ever went away. It usually never completely goes away if you have a chronic case.

I seem to remember an interview in a bass guitar magazine where Entwistle related that his hearing was fine as the bass frequencies were less damaging (or something close). Problem is, they were all on stage together. When he was found, they also found hearing aids nearby.
I've read that when it isn't caused by loud sounds, tinnitus can also be partially caused by a B12 deficiency, although of course that won't likely help Pete much. I think that Ted Nugent also has profound hearing loss.
When I've played by bass trombone in a jazz band setup (with trumpets behind) I'll wear my fancy custom fitted Etymotic Research plugs. The other trombones all had some degree of hearing loss from playing in front of trumpets since their high school days, so I couldn't convince them to try plugs. Those trumpets are so piercing, you can't think straight and certainly can't hear yourself well. With the plugs in, I at least had some "inner ear" sound.

That's an interesting perspective David. Thanks for taking the time to share your personal experiences relating to the matter at hand.

I had the opportunity to exchange emails with Pete a few weeks ago. We discussed his hearing, and he said his problem is the result of working long hours in recording studios with headphones, not live performances (although I'm sure live shows contributed).

He also mentioned how much much he still loves Rickenbacker guitars, calling them, "A thing of beauty."

drumbob wrote:I had the opportunity to exchange emails with Pete a few weeks ago. We discussed his hearing, and he said his problem is the result of working long hours in recording studios with headphones, not live performances (although I'm sure live shows contributed).

Headphones are a killer on your ears. Just think of all the kids today with their ipods!

I was born with hearing loss in both ears, and a by product of this has been that I have had tinnitus all my life.
I've been to many meetings with tinnitus sufferers over the years, and a high majority of them have been struck by this suddenly after an illness, accident or exposure to loud noise. And I can fully understand the trauma and subsequent depression that most these people experience.
I guess I'm kind of lucky in that because it's all I've ever known, I've learned to live with it.
My tinnitus seems worse when things around me are quiet, so that is why music has been both a comfort and such an essential thing in my life.

Wow Rob! I had no idea. I am glad you have such a strong love for music personally.

Mateybob wrote:I was born with hearing loss in both ears, and a by product of this has been that I have had tinnitus all my life.
I've been to many meetings with tinnitus sufferers over the years, and a high majority of them have been struck by this suddenly after an illness, accident or exposure to loud noise. And I can fully understand the trauma and subsequent depression that most these people experience.
I guess I'm kind of lucky in that because it's all I've ever known, I've learned to live with it.
My tinnitus seems worse when things around me are quiet, so that is why music has been both a comfort and such an essential thing in my life.

I didn't know that Rob; hats off to both your attitude and your ability to make good music.

Bravo, Rob! So your therapy is to never stop the music! I like that.