Hearing damage stops Larry Heard from any more club gigs
Pretty scary stuff. Take care of your ears people.
Even before I became a DJ, I wore earplugs to clubs. People always thought I was lame for doing so, but you don’t realize how much hearing damage you’ve sustained until it’s too late. I ride a motorcycle, and even the wind noise in your helmet causes significant hearing damage. Same with driving in a convertible and having the wind blow in your ears.
Great article. Seems like he is fairly humble about it. Im sure he regrets not wearing ear plugs but it’s good he stopped and can still produce the music he and his fans love.
I pretty much never enter a club without earplugs. Fuck what people say, with volume levels like these it really should be the only way to go. I really wonder how much of my friends are going to have major hearing problems in 10-20 years..
Have myself a pair of custom IEMs for this very reason. Another advantage of them is being able to hear your mixing accurately whether praticing at home or playing at a gig. The sound remains the same.
Can’t under estimate the importance of ear plugs, I am looking at upgrading to a pair of custom fit in the near future. Cheers to good ear health!
I’ve had tinnitus for over 20 years (I’m 42 now). It’s horrendous. People tend to treat the gear they own better than they do their own bodies, but I would advise anyone that DJs or goes to clubs/gigs regularly to get some earplugs. I know young people tend to ignore the advice of older folks - “don’t start smoking!” and all that shit - but SERIOUSLY. Get some earplugs or you’re a fucking idiot and if this site is open in 20 years time and you don’t, you’ll be coming back to say “you were right!”.
Shit ı am scared right now 
“Tell your sister… you were right.”
my earplugs have been the best DJ investment ever
I bought a pair of musicians earplugs before the first real show I went to because at my young age of 16, I really don’t want to sustain any real hearing damage because I treasure music and my hearing so much. It would suck to have anything ruin music for me. I’m glad I have all of you to tell me this stuff because without you, my hearing would quickly be degrading. I listen to my music at much better volume levels now and I mix at low volumes. I love everything that I learn here.
Fortunately I have strong ears. I really do think hearing loss is usually (outside of bombs and infections) a genetic problem. Check your family history. I have never had earplugs and I am 41 and my hearing is good. You naturally lose it in time. So “use it before you lose it.” I do recommend stuffing napkins in the ears at horrible club and/or events where the DJ and the sound engineer are clueless. That is a big issue. If it sounds too loud, it is too loud. And if you wake up with ears ringing it was too loud.
Well..i guess you can say Larry ‘‘Heard’’ 
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