1972.
Concert dB levels often reach over 100, and rock concert dB levels can exceed 120. At this point, hearing loss can occur quickly. We rarely feel hearing loss happening in the moment because we don't experience physical pain until noise levels reach around 120 decibels.
The Who also famously broke the record for the loudest concert in 1976 at The Valley venue in London with a measurement of 126 decibels. These legendary bands want to make a statement, they want to be remembered, and hearing damage is a great reminder.
Led Zeppelin, 1969: Honolulu International Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii (130dB): One of the first truly-loud rock acts, Led Zeppelin took the crown during their performance of “Heartbreaker” in Hawaii, though many say “Whole Lotta Love” was just as loud.
To achieve their loud sound, Deep Purple bought a 10,000-watt Marshall PA system. One show was so loud that three people standing near speakers were knocked unconscious. In 1972, The Guinness Book Of Records crowned Deep Purple the world's loudest band after 117 decibels were registered at London's Rainbow Theatre.
With the ear-splitting concert, The Who earned the Guinness World Record for the “Globe's Loudest Band” at a massive 126 dB.
AC/DC Concert – 130 dB.
Global Sound Group's James Dyble conducted research that indicates that the Beatles' 1965 Shea Stadium concert reached 131.35 decibels. To put that into context, that's 28 decibels louder than the sound of a jumbo jet just 100 feet overhead.
The loudest sound in recorded history came from the volcanic eruption on the Indonesian island Krakatoa at 10.02 a.m. on August 27, 1883. The explosion caused two thirds of the island to collapse and formed tsunami waves as high as 46 m (151 ft) rocking ships as far away as South Africa.
Common Sources of Noise and Decibel Levels
Noise above 70 dB over a prolonged period of time may start to damage your hearing. Loud noise above 120 dB can cause immediate harm to your ears.
Loud noise can damage cells and membranes in the cochlea. Listening to loud noise for a long time can overwork hair cells in the ear, which can cause these cells to die. The hearing loss progresses as long as the exposure continues. Harmful effects might continue even after noise exposure has stopped.
In fact, Metallica has been measured at 126 decibels, louder than your average sandblaster. Lars Ulrich, the group's drummer, suffers from tinnitus, a continuous ringing in the ears, because of the band's volume. Now, all Metallica members wear ear plugs when they perform.
The world's loudest heavy metal band, a Manowar Concert, currently holds the record. In a survey, the standard rock band can reach 110 decibels, while AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and Motorhead can all reach 130 decibels, or nearly the same sonic power as an air raid siren.
The oldest 100,000-crowd concert reported to Billboard Boxscore is Grateful Dead's gig at the Raceway Park, Englishtown, New Jersey on September 3, 1977. The concert was attended by 107,019 people, which remains the largest ticketed concert in the United States to date.
Kevin Ker, who doggedly oversaw the 437-hour live-music marathon at the Earl of Whitchurch Pub over 18 sleep-deprived days between March 17 and April 4 of last year, got the call on Wednesday morning saying that both the New York and London offices of the Guinness World Records had signed off on the Stouffville bid as ...
“So we're following the crowd, doing what we've seen other people do. But we also want to stand out as individuals.” Both Janning and Simmons agree that concert screaming ultimately provides girls a chance to express their individuality while reinforcing their place in the larger group.
George Harrison was given the nickname the “Quiet Beatle” because he was reportedly shy and was often in the background of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. However, his contributions often went underappreciated by fans, who were mainly focused on who sang or wrote each song.
Led Zeppelin: In 1973, Led Zeppelin played to 56,800 fans at Tampa Stadium, Florida - which broke the record previously set by The Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965, as they played to a mere 55,600 fans.
Led Zeppelin Concert – 130 dB
Commonly known as one of the founders of heavy metal, Led Zeppelin's guitar-driven sound led to some incredibly loud concerts. Rolling Stone writer David Krebs firmly believed that the band's performances of “Whole Lotta Love” were the loudest live music acts of 1970.
100 – 120 decibels: For example, a bulldozer, impact wrench, or motorcycle. 120 – 140 decibels: Such as, a rock concert, auto racing, or a hammer pounding a nail. 125 – 155 decibels: Like, firecrackers or fireworks, or a jet engine. 170 – 190 decibels: For example, a shot gun blast or a rocket lift off.
Generally, exposure to sound levels above 85 dB is considered damaging to human hearing. That is why this is the most common maximum value allowed in industrial environments. For residential environments, the accepted decibel level is lower. Any noise exceeding 70 dB is considered disturbing.
Miss Flanagan entered the record books back in 1994 with a thunderous rendition of 'quiet! ' The shout clocked up an earth-shattering 121.7 decibels, setting a world record.
With such a clear talent for shouting, Annalisa decided to enter a Citybus shouting contest two years later to flaunt her skills. It was here that she broke the world record, reaching an impressive 121.7 dBA — a noise to rival a jet engine or a rock concert. Ironically, she shouted the word 'quiet' to gain her record.
Experts recommend keeping sound levels at somewhere between 60 and 85 decibels to minimize the damage your ears are exposed to. If you are listening to music at around 100 decibels, restrict your usage to within 15 mins.