Gary Numan Discloses Severe Hearing Impairment After Decades of Loud Music
Legendary musician Gary Numan has publicly revealed that he is now 90 percent deaf, attributing his significant hearing loss to over five decades of performing at maximum amplifier volume. The 68-year-old artist, who rose to fame in the late 1970s as the frontman of Tubeway Army before embarking on a successful solo career, shared this personal health update during an appearance on the 'I'm ADHD! No You're Not' podcast with hosts Paul Whitehouse and Dr. Mine Conkbayir.
Hearing Aids and the Toll of Iconic Hits
Numan, known for classic tracks such as Cars and Are 'Friends' Electric?, confirmed he currently wears hearing aids to manage his condition. He stated plainly, 'I'm 90 percent deaf. I've got hearing aids on… little things there.' This admission highlights the long-term physical consequences faced by performers in the music industry, where repeated exposure to high-decibel sounds is commonplace.
Supporting Numan's experience, a report from the Hearing Health Foundation indicates that musicians face a substantially higher risk of noise-induced hearing loss compared to the general population. Specifically, the research notes that artists are four times more likely to develop such auditory damage and have a 57 percent increased likelihood of experiencing tinnitus, a persistent ringing in the ears.
A Father's Pride Amid Personal Grief
In a poignant contrast to his own health struggles, Numan recently expressed immense pride in his daughter, Raven Numan, 22, who is currently navigating her inaugural tour. This period has been emotionally taxing for the family following the sudden death of Gary's younger brother, John, in November from a heart attack.
Taking to Instagram in December, the singer praised Raven's fortitude, describing the tour as an 'almost impossible' challenge given the circumstances. He detailed her touring conditions, which involve traveling by van, staying in budget motels, and enduring long daily drives—a stark difference from the luxury tour buses often associated with established artists.
'With all the shock and emotion of my brother passing I’ve noticed Raven’s success has been pushed to the side somewhat,' Numan wrote, accompanying a backstage photo of the pair. He emphasized that despite witnessing her father's emotional distress nightly and coping with the loss of her uncle, Raven has delivered flawless performances consistently.
Resilience and Professionalism on Display
Numan reflected on his daughter's remarkable composure, noting an incident during her Manchester show where she adeptly handled a medical emergency in the crowd. 'She noticed someone struggling in the crowd, stopped her set, guided the venue staff to the unfortunate person and so got them the help they needed as quickly as possible,' he recounted, calling it a 'difficult situation well handled.'
Expressing deep admiration, Numan admitted that Raven has demonstrated greater strength and resilience than he possessed at her age during his own early touring days. 'I couldn’t love her more, but my admiration for what she’s done couldn’t be higher,' he stated, adding that he often sheds 'a tear or two of pride' watching her perform before grieving his brother.
He concluded by celebrating her artistic delivery, describing her songs as a 'mix of beauty and power' and her voice as 'soaring above.' This heartfelt tribute underscores the dual narrative of personal health battles and familial support within the demanding world of music performance.
