Lulu has a hearing issue thanks to a lifetime on stage - but it won't keep her from performing
- The Scots star has irreversible damage after sixty-year career
- Her farewell Champagne For Lulu tour begins again in November
A lifetime of performing on stage has caused irreversible damage to music legend Lulu’s hearing, she has revealed.
The 75-year-old Glasgow-born star revealed her ‘moderate hearing loss’ was a contributing factor in her decision to stop touring, but insisted she would continue to sing and perform.
Lulu says her touring days are over but she will not give up performing despite a hearing issue
She began her career with the single Shout, performed alongside her band The Luvvers, which reached number seven in the UK singles chart.
Lulu went on to have 10 UK top 10 singles and one top 10 album, as well as singing the theme to James Bond film The Man With The Golden Gun.
The singer, whose farewell Champagne For Lulu begins again in November amid huge demand, discovered she had hearing loss after she went to Specsavers to be tested.
Lulu, who has been entertaining fans for 60 years, has now called on music lovers to protect their hearing to avoid the same fate as she did.
The Scottish star, who now wears hearing aids to make sure she can hear every note, said: ‘After being on stage nearly all my life, I have always noticed ringing and muffled sounds, but never really thought much of it.
‘Music has always been a cornerstone of everything I do, so it’s incredibly important that I can still enjoy it.
Lulu performed at this years Glastonbury Festival
‘Wearing hearing aids will mean I can continue to hear every note.
‘But it’s more than just this - connecting with people is a huge part of my life and I want to be able to join the conversation and not be left out of it.
‘The good news is it’s not too late for me to preserve the rest of my hearing.
‘Using hearing protection is such a simple and easy thing to do when around live music and I urge others to wear it.’
The average volume at a live music event is between 115 and 120 decibels, which is loud enough to damage hearing if exposed to it for long enough without hearing protection.
Experts warned that exposure to high decibel levels at gigs and festivals has the potential to lead to permanent damage such as sound induced hearing loss and tinnitus.
Speaking about her decision to quit touring, yesterday she told Good Morning Britain, ‘It isn’t going to be the last time I’m ever going to sing.
‘I’m still going to perform, but doing a tour in the way I’ve done them, I’m 75 you know, and this is the last time.
