As a former guitarist in a loud rock band, I concur. I didn't use hearing protection in my teenage years and 20's, and now (in my 50's) I suffer from tinnitus.

As a former guitarist in a loud rock band, I concur. I didn't use hearing protection in my teenage years and 20's, and now (in my 50's) I suffer from tinnitus. My hearing is actually OK, because at some point, I decided to start using hearing protection (and still do now when I roadie for my son's metal band), but the tinnitus I think could have easily been averted by just not exposing myself to those sorts of volumes at close range when I was young. The damage is permanent and not worth the few seconds of 'coolness' to stand at the front of the stage at a hideously loud live gig. (NB: My best friend at high school was deaf, and a favourite party trick of his at concerts was to turn his hearing aids off, then stick his head into the cone of any exposed speakers at the front/side of the stage for a minute, then back off and watch other kids come up and try it. In hindsight, that probably permanently damaged the hearing of MANY foolish kids who tried it out of peer pressure or wanting to outdo him, and not something to be proud of upon retrospection.)