Huey Lewis (76) retired from music in 2018 after being diagnosed with Ménière’s disease, an inner-ear disorder that causes vertigo, tinnitus, and profound hearing loss. More than three decades earlier, he had already lost the hearing in his right ear but managed to adapt and continue his music career. In an interview with Inside of You, the musician said that although he uses a device that helps him hear, people’s voices don’t sound natural, and music doesn’t sound good either, so he can no longer truly enjoy listening to it.
Huey Lewis explains why he can’t enjoy music anymore after hearing loss
“My dad was a doctor and he sent me to this famous ENT guy… He looked at it and said, ‘Well, get used to it!’ I said, ‘What do you mean, “get used to it?” I’m a musician; I’m a singer. I need my hearing!’ He says, ‘You only need one ear … Jimi Hendrix had one ear, Brian Wilson had one ear. I have one ear and I’m in a barbershop quartet!’”
“I was very apprehensive – and it was fine, because your brain is so savvy that it moves everything to the middle. So I existed on one ear for, you know, 25 years. And then my left ear bailed; and now I’m deaf, basically, without the technology.”
He has a cochlear implant in his left ear and regular hearing aid in the right one. About his condition, he said: “What has that done? Well, changed my life. Music is not part of my life anymore. It’s a hard pill to swallow.”
“People sound like they took a hit of helium. Sometimes I play (an album) because I know it so well. I can hear the beat and I know what’s going on, but I can’t enjoy it. Music used to be fun. Now (it’s like) ‘I’m gonna try so hard to get it,’ and it just ends up frustrating for me… I can’t feel the warmth, you know?” he said (Transcribed by Ultimate Classic Rock).
Although he misses performing live from time to time, Huey said he doesn’t miss touring and is grateful that he has had the opportunity to do other things he enjoys, such as fishing and meeting new people.