People think you're old if you need a hearing aid': Pete Tong on ageing, all-nighters and hearing loss

"I'm of an era, really, where nobody ever got old. When you start, you never think you're going to be doing it for that long. But then, equally, you don't think it's going to only be for, like, two years or 10 years. You just don't think about it. The dawn of dance music in the 80s was far too exciting to worry about when the party might end."

"We're just so blessed and lucky to still be doing it—being able to play music to people and doing what we loved as kids. Hearing loss is an occupational hazard for DJs and ageing ravers, and Tong's latest mission is to raise awareness of it (untreated, it can affect mental health and cause social withdrawal)."

"About 10 years ago, Tong was diagnosed with hearing loss in his right ear. I'd been in and around music since I was 15, so I guess I wasn't surprised. I just started to become conscious of it. He started wearing earplugs while working to filter out some of the noise, working at a safer noise level."

Pete Tong, a pioneering DJ in dance music since the 1980s, remains active in the industry at 65, hosting his BBC Radio 1 show and running a record label. He reflects on the longevity of his career alongside fellow DJ Carl Cox, both grateful to continue performing music they loved as children. While many DJs from that era experienced burnout or worse, Tong has largely escaped such fates. However, he has not been entirely unscathed, having been diagnosed with hearing loss in his right ear approximately 10 years ago. This occupational hazard, common among DJs and aging ravers, can lead to untreated mental health issues and social withdrawal. Tong now advocates for hearing protection, wearing earplugs during performances to work at safer noise levels while maintaining his ability to experience music.

Read at www.theguardian.com