Huey Lewis & The News Cancel All 2018 Concerts Due To Hearing Loss

Iconic rockers Huey Lewis and the News were scheduled to play a mix of headlining shows and festival appearances over the next few months. Sadly, the band has canceled all of the dates on their touring intinerary due to an issue with Huey’s hearing.

Lewis first realized he had an issue just before a concert earlier this year in Dallas. The vocalist had lost most of his hearing. “Although I can still hear a little, one on one, and on the phone, I can’t hear music well enough to sing,” Huey wrote in a statement. The Bay Area native went to the House Ear Institute, the Stanford Ear Institute and the Mayo Clinic in aims of getting a diagnosis for his hearing issue. Doctors informed Lewis he has Meniere’s disease, an affliction of the inner ear resulting in episodes of hearing loss.

Huey, in consultation with his doctors, made the call to scrap all of the shows on his band’s schedule including appearances at San Francisco’s Outside Lands and opening for Jimmy Buffett at Fenway Park. “Needless to say, I feel horrible about this, and wish to sincerely apologize to all the fans who’ve already bought tickets and were planning to come see us. I’m going to concentrate on getting better, and hope that one day soon I’ll be able to perform again,” Lewis wrote.

Read the full note from the band’s Facebook page:

Two and a half months ago, just before a show in Dallas, I lost most of my hearing. Although I can still hear a little, one on one, and on the phone, I can’t hear music well enough to sing. The lower frequencies distort violently making it impossible to find pitch. I’ve been to the House Ear Institute, the Stanford Ear Institute, and the Mayo Clinic, hoping to find an answer. The doctors believe I have Meniere’s disease and have agreed that I can’t perform until I improve. Therefore the only prudent thing to do is to cancel all future shows. Needless to say, I feel horrible about this, and wish to sincerely apologize to all the fans who’ve already bought tickets and were planning to come see us. I’m going to concentrate on getting better, and hope that one day soon I’ll be able to perform again. – Sincerely Huey

Here’s hoping Huey can recover and will be able to take the stage again soon.