I'm one of the old guys. I was there in the 70s, playing in bands
around London, doing different things. I had a few lucky breaks too, but
I was never able, or willing, to push myself forward in the way you need
to.
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I'm pretty sure my hearing was already fading before
I really got going with the bands at around the age of 16 - I'd had some
problems with my ears when I was a kid. My brother, who is not a
musician, also has some deafness so something else is going on there.
But music was the only thing I wanted to do so I just ignored it.
You'd be amazed how long you can go on like that.
By the time I was 27 I was missing a lot of conversations and
starting to avoid some situations. I couldn't make out much of the
dialogue in the cinema or on TV. Didn't matter though, because night
after night I was out with a band, gigging, with the drums ringing in my
ears all the way home.
Then at last I went to my GP, who referred me to an audiologist. She
said :
So I did. They gave me two hearing aids in a tin box. In a quiet room
the aids were great and I was able to hear a lot better, but music
sounded terrible and I still couldn't hear much in the pubs, clubs and
bars where so much of my time had been spent. And whenever there were
more than two people in a conversation I couldn't follow it. So I got a
'proper' job, sold my gear and turned the page on more than 10 years of
real life.
Now you may think that this is a sad story but I liked my 'proper' job,
at least for the first few years. I got money for it - money and
musicians don't usually spend much time together.
Ten years later: By early 2006 I was songwriting again and since
then I haven't looked back. I had the good fortune to meet a couple of
new friends and musicians and with their help and encouragement I'm
back, pretty much where I left off in 1981. I could write a book about
this, but this is obviously not the place - although I will add more if
anyone's interested. And I've got a page on Deafness for more specific
discussion of the technical, medical and emotional aspects. That's
intended to be for those of you who have a direct interest in hearing
loss and all the associated issues.
Full story & more at:
http://www.laurenceamery.com |
