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LOS ANGELES — In a new interview with BBC Radio, Eric Clapton revealed he is going deaf.

On BBC Radio 2's "Steve Wright in the Afternoon," the musician said, "I'm still going to work, I'm doing a few gigs, I'm doing a show in Hyde Park in July. You know the only thing I'm concerned with now is being in my 70s and being able to be proficient."

Image: Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton attends a press conference for "Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars" at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 11, 2017. Evan Agostini / Invision/AP file
"I mean, I'm going deaf, I've got Tinnitus, my hands just about work," Clapton, 72, continued. "I mean, I'm hoping that people will come along and see me just because, well maybe more than, I'm a curiosity, you know what I mean. I know that is part of it, because it's amazing to myself that I'm still here."

Clapton appeared on the show to talk about his new documentary, "Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars," which follows his life through narration by icons like BB King, Jimi Hendrix, and George Harrison. He said that the film was difficult for him to watch because "it goes on so long about the difficult part of my life."


Eric, you probably went deaf when you were playing with Cream.

Its just gotten worse.

However, my sympathy for you on the tinnitus part, I have it also.

I heard the little news blurb on the radio the other day he had tinnitus. First thing I thought was join the club brother. The first doctor that comes up with a cure is going to be one rich dude. Seems like about half the people here suffer from it.

With the stuff he's been exposed to for so long I don't see how he wouldn't have it. I have it pretty bad along with my bilateral hearing loss.

Basically every professional musician I know has hearing damage

Probably the worst is a neighbor who was Pete Fountain’s band leader for many years. Bert played Dixieland jazz for over 50 yrs. he can hardly hear himself think currently

I thank my father (an acoustical engineer) for instilling quality over quantity on me at a very young age. At 52 I can hear a floresant tube lights transformer buzz still

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
I heard the little news blurb on the radio the other day he had tinnitus. First thing I thought was join the club brother. The first doctor that comes up with a cure is going to be one rich dude. Seems like about half the people here suffer from it.

Yup, count me in that group.
Worst is when it is relatively quiet otherwise I don't notice it with other ambient noise around.

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:
Basically every professional musician I know has hearing damage

Probably the worst is a neighbor who was Pete Fountain’s band leader for many years. Bert played Dixieland jazz for over 50 yrs. he can hardly hear himself think currently

I thank my father (an acoustical engineer) for instilling quality over quantity on me at a very young age. At 52 I can hear a floresant tube lights transformer buzz still

Can you begin to imagine the sounds that went through your neighbor’s ears? He must have gotten pretty good use from those ears.

Dixieland is not usually particularly loud compared to Clapton’s music.

Pete Townshend has it bad, as does Alex Van Halen, and many others. Eddie Van Halen has said Alex's drum monitors were so loud they threw off your equilibrium.

Sad that people who's life's work is created music via sound, destroy their hearing in the process.

Eric said it was the Marshall stacks in Cream that made him deaf in one ear. He advised, use a 1/2 stack straight cab and let it blast your legs. The top angled cap is the ear killer.

Deafness didn't hinder Beethoven.

Yeah, I attended a Clapton concert in the 1990s. I've been to my share of rock concerts, but damn, this thing was incredibly loud- so loud that the evening was nothing more than an endurance test.

"What?"

Not surprising that hearing loss is common for individuals in the music / concert industry.

I am quite deef. Started with jet noise in the USAF.
Given the repeated exposures at high sound levels, I am surprised Clapton isn't totally deaf.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Deafness didn't hinder Beethoven.

It did, actually. Beethoven was a pianist and conductor. His deafness started in his 20’s. He became totally deaf eventually. He ceased performing and conducting the last 15 years of his life. Most of his composing was done during his deafness.

Yup, the ringing in my ears is most annoying. I guess playing guitar and shooting guns are not conducive to good hearing.