John Mellencamp is opening up about the lasting impact decades of performing rock music have had on his hearing. The legendary singer admits his hearing problems have made everyday situations increasingly difficult, but despite his concerns, he has no intention of getting hearing aids.
The 75-year-old musician discussed the issue during an appearance on the Nepo, Baby! podcast on October 29, where he was joined by his son, Hud. Reflecting on his hearing difficulties, Mellencamp even joked that he could be “totally deaf” by the time he finishes touring.
“I’ll probably be totally deaf by the time the tour’s over,” he said.
Although the “Jack & Diane” singer revealed that he wears earplugs to protect his ears, he remains firmly against using hearing aids.
“I wear earplugs and stuff, but I do not ever, will I ever get hearing aids,” he explained.
His reluctance, as it turns out, comes from a memorable piece of advice his grandmother gave him years ago.
Why John Mellencamp refuses to get hearing aids
Mellencamp recalled that his grandmother once warned him against becoming dependent on hearing aids, comparing the inconvenience to constantly having to keep track of a pair of glasses.
“She said, ‘John, don’t ever get hearing aids because once you get them, you can’t live without them,’” he remembered.
He went on to share her humorous warning: “If you think chasing around a pair of glasses is a drag, wait till you start chasing around a pair of glasses and some hearing aids.”
The advice clearly stayed with him. Even as his hearing continues to deteriorate, Mellencamp appears determined to stick to his grandmother’s recommendation rather than consider hearing assistance.
Tinnitus makes everyday conversations a challenge
Beyond general hearing loss, Mellencamp also revealed that he experiences pulsatile tinnitus, a condition that can cause someone to hear rhythmic sounds, often resembling a heartbeat, inside their ears.
The condition has made ordinary social situations particularly frustrating. The singer explained that noisy restaurants are among the places he struggles with most because he cannot distinguish conversations from the surrounding background noise.
“My ears are ringing like crazy and I have pulsatile tinnitus, which is I hear my heartbeat,” he said.
Describing the experience of going out to eat, he added that the combination of hearing difficulties and constant ringing makes it almost impossible for him to follow conversations.
“I don’t like going out [to eat] ‘cause I can’t hear,” he explained, noting that he does not want other people to feel they have to keep shouting just so he can understand them.
For someone whose career has been built around music and live performances, the admission offers a glimpse into the personal challenges that can come with decades spent on stage.
John Mellencamp recently wrapped up his greatest hits tour
The singer also marked another milestone in September with the release of John Mellencamp: The Songbook: 50 Years of Songs and Poetry. Published on September 29, the book features the lyrics behind his music, poetry and previously unpublished photographs. Author Stephen King contributed the foreword.
Mellencamp is far from the only legendary musician to speak publicly about hearing damage after years of performing. Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl and Pete Townshend have also discussed similar struggles.
Clapton revealed in 2018 that he was experiencing tinnitus and losing his hearing, while Grohl shared in 2022 that he had been reading lips for around 20 years because of his hearing difficulties.
Their experiences highlight a difficult reality for musicians whose careers often involve prolonged exposure to loud sounds. For Mellencamp, however, the challenge is especially personal: even as he continues to celebrate a lifetime of music, he is confronting the possibility that hearing it may become increasingly difficult.
Source: Compiled from various sources
