AC/DC’s Brian Johnson Poster Child for Musicians’ Earplugs
Photo by: Matt Becker
Brian Johnson revealed in March that he had to stop doing live shows with his iconic Aussie band, AC/DC, or he would risk going deaf.
Guns N’ Roses lead singer, Axl Rose stepped in to continue playing the rest of AC/DC’s tour. By all accounts, despite the initial wrath of some fans, he’s done his new gig justice.
However, at the time, Johnson made it clear he wasn’t leaving the band for good and wanted to keep recording with the group. Doctors have cleared him to work in the studio, but not in arenas and stadiums, where sound levels are beyond his current tolerance.
AC/DC frontman’s statement about quitting band’s tour
In the following statement he talks about why he needed to step back as the rock group’s frontman on the road: “On March 7th, after a series of examinations by leading physicians in the field of hearing loss, I was advised that if I continued to perform at large venues I risked total deafness. While I was horrified at the reality of the news that day, I had for a time become aware that my partial hearing loss was beginning to interfere with my performance on stage…and because I was not able to hear the other musicians clearly, I feared the quality of my performance could be compromised. This was something I could not, in good conscience, allow. Our fans deserve my performance to be at the highest level, and if for any reason I can’t deliver that level of performance I will not disappoint our fans or embarrass the other members of AC/DC.”
Ear protection is key
If ever there was a prime example of why ear protection is so important, it’s Johnson’s departure from performing live in a band that has been rocking fans for over 40 years. It’s not a stretch for many to call them legendary.
When we’re young we tend to focus on the here and now, ignoring what appears to be an unlikely danger until it’s too late. Hearing loss is one of those things that creep up on you.
In fact, most people don’t seek help for their hearing loss for up to ten years because it can be so gradual that for a long time we don’t even realize it’s happening.
Hearing for musicians is like what oxygen is to humans – necessary. So, protecting your ears from hearing loss with custom musicians’ earplugs should be a no-brainer.
Custom Musicians’ earplugs an obvious choice
Since no two ear canals are alike, impressions are taken for custom earmoulds for your earplugs. It’s preferable that your earplugs are made of silicone versus vinyl, as the latter can shrink over time.
If you’re a musician – novice or professional – you can visit your local hearing health clinic and have impressions taken for your own pair of custom musicians’ earplugs.
Hearing protection means you can keep riding the Rock ‘n’ Roll Train (if you’re an AC/DC fan you know what we just did there).
Hearing aids for a rock icon
While the news of AC/DC’s lead singer was a shock, he’s the third member to make an exit and a fourth, bassist Cliff Williams, recently said he’ll be calling it quits after their current Rock or Bust tour ends.
That would leave the band with only one original member, the lead guitarist, Angus Young. You know the guy who always wears the school uniforms. Should they call it quits?
For his part, Johnson, who called the news of having to ditch AC/DC’s tour the “darkest day of my career,” may be back on the road.
After in-ear technology expert Stephen Ambrose, reached out to him, Johnson tried his ADEL (Ambrose Diaphonic Ear Lens) in-ear monitors and this to say on Facebook, “It WORKS. It just totally works and you can’t argue with that. I was really moved and amazed to be able to hear music again like I haven’t heard for several years now. I can’t wait for it to be miniaturized so I can use it in every situation from normal communication, going out to noisy restaurants, to performing live music on stage.”
Let’s see what the next chapter in the book of AC/DC will go.
