Report: METALLICA Drummer Struggles With Ringing In Ears

December 28, 2009

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich spoke to CNN.com about tinnitus, a condition that causes ringing in the ear, affects more than 40% of Americans over 50.

"I've been playing loud rock music for the better part of 35 years," said Ulrich. "I never used to play with any kind of protection."

Early in his career, without protection for his ears, the loud noise began to follow Ulrich off-stage.

"It's this constant ringing in the ears," Ulrich said. "It never sort of goes away. It never just stops."

At first, Ulrich said the ringing in his ears was barely perceptible. He said the problem got worse during a 1988 concert tour, oddly while he slept.

"I would fall asleep often with the television on, and I would wake up in the middle of the night to go turn the TV off," Ulrich said. "Except it wasn't actually on. When I realized that I was doing that frequently, actually getting up to turn the TV off that was not on to begin with, I realized that maybe I had some issues."

Read the entire report from CNN.com.

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