Mooch4056
Well yeah that  -- and death will cause a retirement to happen. 

I'd have to check to be sure, but I think the sequence of events was 1) hearing loss, 2) retirement, and 3) death.
 
Only the first two are related, AFAIK.

Last night I had the worst case of ringing ears I've ever experienced. Scared the sh*t outa me, I gotta say.
 
I went to a jam session. The smallish stage held two guitarists, drummer and bassist. A pedal steel player, a percussionist and I had to set up on the dance floor to one side. That put me right at ear level in front of one of the guitarists' amps. I'd forgotten my earplugs at home.
 
I was there for less than three hours, but when I got home I noticed a loud two-tone ringing in my ears. I turned on the TV and could barely make out the show's dialog, although the music was fine. Strange. Surprisingly, a bowl of my favorite sleep aide helped a little. But it was a frightening experience.
 
Even scarier, the ringing is still there this morning. Quieter, but still there.
 
The earplugs are staying in my cord bag from now on.
 

Thanks to all for your responses. I've met more than a few older co-workers over the years who told me they were glad to see I wore earplugs and wish they had been more cautious in their youth. I used to work in a tool and die machine shop and wearing earplugs and mask was seen somewhat along the lines of wearing a pink tutu with my same-aged compatriots- (who's laughing now ? ). I am making a point to enjoy my new monitors at a lower volume without having to worry about hearing damage.
thanks again

I once stood next to the speakers for a Dio concert. About 15yo. I was almost completely deaf for 24 hours afterwards, with ferocious ringing. It all subsided after the 2nd day but it just goes to show how much damage you can do in one go. Also went to multiple very loud raves in the early 90's, high as a kite naturally. Tremendous ringing afterwards. Interestingly enough I also attribute some of my ringing to drug use, since there were times we'd do E's and speed and acid and all sorts at someone's house without the ear splitting beats, and my ears would be ringing on the "come down" in the morning. I've also experienced ringing from chugging on a bong, a sort of "fizzing" sound which in all honesty was probably a trillion brain cells popping....

bitflipper

Mooch4056
Well yeah that  -- and death will cause a retirement to happen. 

I'd have to check to be sure, but I think the sequence of events was 1) hearing loss, 2) retirement, and 3) death.
 
Only the first two are related, AFAIK.

 
Yes -- he probably loss hearing then retired - Hopefully George Martin and the Beatles will be in music history books and just as relevant as a study as Beethoven and Mozart at music schools. 
 
I was trying to make a tongue in check joke and failed   

bitflipper
In 1970, while listening to Black Sabbath on acid at high volume, I started hearing demonic voices.
 
Turned out it was just the downstairs neighbors.

Fellow I worked with is a guitar player here in Portland, and he got his ears blown out on a WHO concert and has had issues with it since, and he wears a hearing aid on the phone. Doesn't seem to bother him with music!