Hugely popular singer-songwriter Huey Lewis has opened up about the sudden hearing loss that could mean he may never perform for fans again.
The 67-year-old, who shot to fame in the 1980s, has been touring with his band The News for 40 years, selling more than 30 millions albums worldwide with hits including ‘The Power of Love’, ‘I Want a New Drug’ and ‘Heart and Soul’.
But in April, the singer shocked fans when he cancelled all upcoming tour dates and now he has revealed his sadness over the Meniere’s disease that robbed him of his hearing. Lewis said he first noticed a change in his hearing earlier this year during a show in Dallas.
“As I walked to the stage, it sounded like there was a jet engine going on,” he told the US talk show Today. “I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t find pitch. Distorted. Nightmare. It’s cacophony.”
In a Twitter post in April, he apologised profusely to fans for not being able to perform at planned concerts, saying that he’d been to numerous specialists to try to find a fix for his hearing problem.
After multiple tests, doctors determined Lewis had Meniere’s disease, a inner ear disorder that causes vertigo, ringing in the ears and progressive hearing loss.
Now, he’s explained on Today how the condition has affected him. “Even though I can hear you, we can talk, I can talk on the phone — I can’t sing. I can’t hear music. I can do everything but what I love to do the most, which is a drag,” he said.
Lewis said he had been told that there was no cure for the disease, but doctors had told him his condition may improve. “It’s a syndrome based on symptoms, and it affects people differently. All they can come up with as treatment is diet. No caffeine, lower salt, and keep your fingers crossed,” he said.
The singer is unsure when he’ll be back on stage performing, but hopes that his career hasn’t reached its end.
“I’m going to concentrate on getting better, and hope that one day soon I’ll be able to perform again,” he said, adding that the thought of never performing again was something he hadn’t yet come to grips with. “I’m still hoping I’m gonna get better. They say a positive attitude is important.”