Joe Bonamassa recently addressed concerns about his health and tour status in a video message shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The musician provided an update on his hearing condition following a concerning incident during a performance in Austin. Bonamassa explained that he has made significant progress in his recovery and is taking the matter seriously.
“This is a message from middle management about the tour. It’s been going great. I know everybody is concerned about my hearing. As of today, I am about 90% back to where I was before the eleventh song in Austin. That was scary but it was a wake up call. You gotta watch your hearing, kids. ‘Turn those damn guitar amps down, Joe,’ they’ve been saying this for years. I stubbornly refused to. But now, I’m a changed man,” Bonamassa said in the video.
He also reassured fans that his tour will continue as planned. He addressed the speculation surrounding a visible mark on his face.
“Anyway, we’re going ahead as planned. Everything is good, thank you for your concern. I am better. It was definitely an eye-opening awakening for me that your senses are important. You gotta look after yourselves,” he continued. Bonamassa humorously noted that the mark was “just a shadow or maybe it was caused by the bar fight I got into in Abilene.”
Bonamassa’s experience highlights a serious occupational hazard for musicians. The guitarist’s right ear reportedly lost approximately 80% of its high-end hearing during the Austin incident, affecting frequencies roughly between 600 Hz and 12 kHz. This information comes from YouTube. This level of hearing damage underscores how quickly and severely sound exposure can impact musicians performing at high volumes on stage.
The incident was not caused by venue management but rather by the stage volume levels during the performance itself. Bonamassa emphasized that the responsibility lay with his own decisions regarding amplifier settings, a point he has now reconsidered. Fan feedback revealed concerns about sound quality and volume at some of Bonamassa’s shows, as noted on TalkBass. Distorted or overly loud sound reinforcement can negatively impact both the audience experience and the artist’s hearing.
Musicians like Bonamassa face significant risks from the high stage volumes common in live concerts. These volumes can lead to permanent hearing loss or tinnitus if protective measures are not implemented. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for other performers in the industry who may similarly resist hearing protection measures.
Bonamassa’s public acknowledgment of his mistake and commitment to change demonstrate the importance of hearing protection for musicians and audio professionals. Specialized earplugs designed for concerts and careful volume management on stage are essential tools that can prevent the kind of damage Bonamassa experienced. His recovery to approximately 90% of his previous hearing capacity, combined with his newfound commitment to protecting his senses, offers hope to fans. It reinforces a critical message about occupational health in the music industry.
The guitarist’s candid remarks serve as a reminder for both musicians and fans to prioritize hearing protection and overall health in an industry where high volumes are standard practice.
