Londoners have voted for their 30 most iconic festival moments ever, Elton John’s last UK gig headlining Sunday night at Glastonbury this year (26 percent) claiming the number one spot followed by Queen’s performance at Live Aid in 1985 (20%) and Adele’s show-stopping Glastonbury performance in 2016 (20 percent), Bob Marley performing two days after being shot at Smile Jamaica in 1976 (15 percent) and Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain taking to the stage in a wheelchair and hospital gown at Reading in 1992 (nine percent) all made an appearance.
Activist Greta Thunberg’s speech at Glastonbury in 2022, Beyonce being the first woman to headline Glastonbury in 2011, Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar at Monterey Pop Festival in 1967and Kylie Minogue’s Sunday Legends set at Glastonbury 2019 also made the list.
Just under half of Londoners (43 percent) think that festivals are the greatest way to see live music, with almost a third (32 percent) saying that it is one of the main things they like doing in the summer.
However, according to the poll commissioned by Specsavers, the majority of Londoners (85 percent) admit they often leave such events with their ears ringing, which could be damaging their hearing.
It’s not surprising then that over half of those surveyed (55 percent) are convinced that their hearing has been damaged or may have been damaged because of the loud noise.
Simon Baker was a successful DJ/producer and had releases on labels such as Kompa Kt, Cocoon and Last Night On Earth. He developed tinnitus due to over-exposure to loud noise, he says: “I had what you could call a dream career. Working in the music industry as a touring DJ, music producer and sound engineer, I had been surrounded by loud music for years and never thought much of it.
“I wasn’t particularly taking that much care of my health in my early days, and I wasn’t too aware of the impact my lifestyle could have been having on my health, and then I developed tinnitus which led to a lot of stress.
“My tinnitus started low level but increased over time, it really made me worry about the impact it could have on my life and career. Now, I want to encourage everyone to be aware of how to prevent tinnitus. The most important things are to wear ear protection in loud places and get your ears tested regularly.”
Of those people questioned around 31 percent didn’t know that it can take just five minutes for hearing damage to occur at a festival, with a further 49 percent admitting they have never had a hearing test.
But as festival season gets underway, Londoners love attending festivals for the atmosphere (62 percent), memories it creates (54 percent), meeting new people (37 percent) and dancing (40 percent), while a quarter (24 percent) love the sheer noise. An astonishing 22 percent saying there is nothing better than the feeling of the bass running through their bones, with 32 percent of those polled saying they always stand at the front at a gig or festival.
Research also revealed that almost half (48 percent) say they have worn or wear ear plugs or ear defenders at a festival or a concert.
In fact, protecting hearing was rated quite highly on a list of festival essentials for those surveyed, with 29 percent saying they would bring ear plugs and 14 percent saying they would prioritise taking ear defenders.
The top essentials on the festival packing list included, water bottles (70 percent), sunscreen (62 percent), sunglasses (59 percent), wet wipes (48 percent) and toothbrush (49 percent). A half (49 percent) always pack a hat, while 34 percent never forget painkillers.
Pillows (34 percent), first aid kit (31 percent) and ear plugs (29 percent) also appear on the list, along with glitter (14 percent) – given the same priority as ear defenders (14 percent).
Gordon Harrison, chief audiologist at Specsavers, advises: “Hearing loss affects people of all ages and unfortunately the longer we leave hearing issues, the worse they can become. Therefore, it is vitally important to look after your hearing, especially when at festivals, gigs, concerts or anywhere just in general, where’s there’s loud music or noise.
“Wearing hearing protection, such as ear defenders can really help, and having regular hearing checks can help identify and manage hearing loss symptoms and minimise any long-term impact.”
Specsavers stocks a range of hearing protection, including its own Advance range.
If you’re worried about your hearing, or have experienced any changes in your hearing, visit your local Specsavers store to book a free hearing test.
For more information visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing
30 MOST ICONIC FESTIVAL MOMENTS EVER, ACCORDING TO BRITS:
Queen’s Live Aid in 1985 – 35%
Elton John’s last UK gig headlining Sunday night at Glastonbury 2023 – 29%
Adele’s show-stopping Glastonbury performance in 2016 – 15%
Oasis’s first Glastonbury performance in 1994 – 12%
Bob Marley performing two days after being shot at Smile Jamaica in 1976 – 12%
The Rolling Stones Glastonbury debut in 2013 – 11%
Beyonce being the first woman to headline Glastonbury in 2011 – 11%
Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar at Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 – 10%
Jimi Hendrix singing ‘Star Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock in 1969 – 10%
Kylie Minogue’s Sunday Legends set at Glastonbury 2019 14 years after she was originally set to appear – 9%
The Foo Fighters making a surprise appearance at the 2023 Glastonbury as ‘The Churn Ups’ – 9%
Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain taking to the stage in a wheelchair and hospital gown at Reading in 1992, in what would be their last performance in the UK – 8%
Eminem and Rihanna duetting at V Festival in 2011 – 8%
Stevie Wonder wishing Glastonbury a happy 40th birthday in 2010 – 8%
Beyonce bringing out Destiny’s Child at Coachella in 2018 – 7%
Led Zeppelin’s three hour and five encore set at the Bath Festival in 1970 – 7%
Greta Thunberg’s speech at Glastonbury in 2022 – 6%
Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 – 6%
Jay Z bringing hip-hop to Glastonbury in 2008 for the first time – 6%
Jay Z bringing Michael Jackson on stage at Summer Jam in 2001 – 6%
Radiohead headlining Glastonbury in 1997 – 6%
Eminem returning to the stage at Lollapalooza in 2011 – 5%
Billie Eilish headlining Reading and Leeds in 2019 – 5%
Rage Against The Machine appearing naked with their mouths taped at Lollapalooza in 1993 – 4%
2Pac resurrected at Coachella in 2012 – 4%
Lana Del Rey playing Latitude in 2019 – 4%
Stone Roses bad set at Reading Festival in 1996 – 4%
Kanye West’s 11-minute monologue at the Big Chill in 2011 – 3%
Avicii bringing out Madonna at the Ultra Music Festival in 2012 – 3%
Daft Punk’s Pyramid set at Coachella in 2006 – 3%
