I remember working in a factory many years ago and getting called a pussy when I asked for a pair of ear defenders to cut out the painful screech of metal from whatever menial task I'd been assigned. "You pussy, you'll get used to it". "Yeah, right, when I go deaf, you fucking moron" The reply I didn't dare voice.

Now, I've been to a lot of gigs, a lot of really loud gigs, and a lot of gigs ruined cause the band/soundman feels the need to turn those amps (all the way) up to 11 (man). Judas Priest? Yes, believe the rock magazine hyperbole that Rob Halford can strip the paint from walls. Tool? Feel the bass drums thud in your chest, feel the top end take a kitchen knife to your ear drums. Motorhead? Don't even fucking go there... (It's worth noting that the three examples above are all from the Hammersmith Apollo, a venue that extends it callous regard for the punters hearing, to it's mean spirited choice of alcohol and it's hiring of inept bar staff, but that's a bugbear for another time)

And yes, I do wear earplugs at gigs. And yes, this rant was inspired by forgetting them for Ministry at the Forum last night and having to stuff rolled up bits of tissue in my ears just so I could bear to hang around for the 'hits'. But I don't want to, they're intrusive, cut out a lot of the good stuff, and impede conversation with your friends.

I know nothing about sound systems but I bet it's a problem that could be helped by throwing some money at it. I'm not talking about government legislation, let's not get the Fun Police involved here, but a bit of common sense wouldn't go amiss. And a short term fix? How about selling ear plugs at the bar? Go on, you know you could charge well over the going rate for them, hell, get that annoying bloke in the toilets with the perfumes and lollies to start stocking them, he might even start to make a living wage...