BbAltered Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 I just saw an interesting article about Huey Lewis and his struggles with Meniere's Disease (here: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a30783979/huey-lewis-weather-hearing-menieres-disease-interview/?utm_source=pocket-newtab). As far as I knew, Huey Lewis had stopped playing music decades ago, but it turns out he was performing as recently as 2018. He has been diagnosed with Meniere's disease, and because of hearing problems has not performed since. He says he hears amplified music as distortion, and cannot work with a band. He apparently has a new album coming out, tho'. The article describes him as eager to play again, but unable. That must suck. Quote J.S. Bach Well Tempered Klavier The collected works of Scott Joplin Ray Charles Genius plus Soul Charlie Parker Omnibook Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life Weather Report Mr. Gone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richforman Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Not super relevant but my newest gigging band project is an established Huey Lewis tribute band based here on Long Island, my first gig with them is next month, a flyaway to a casino resort just outside Vegas (first time I've done something like that in a few years, very excited). Most of his hits I was covering in top 40 bands when they were first out, back in the 80's. Have always really admired the songwriting and recordmaking on irresistible power pop gems like "Do You Believe in Love," "I Want a New Drug," "If This is It," etc, Not super keyboard-heavy/challenging but a lot of fun to play nonetheless. Quote Rich Forman Yamaha MOXF8, Korg Kronos 2-61, Roland Fantom X7, Ferrofish B4000+ organ module, Roland VR-09, EV ZLX12P, K&M Spider Pro stand, Yamaha S80, Korg Trinity Plus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokely Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 My old college band, always rebels as far as picking songs (why pick the popular ones! Just because everyone knows them, bah) covered Jacob's Ladder....I actually sang that one. Not sure I've heard that song since those days in '88 or so.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz+ Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Dizziness and thus nausea, take Dramamine. Lie down a lot. Quote Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Find 700 of Harry’s piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and jazz piano tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTeechur Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 He's been gigging all alone. I've seen him a couple of times at Hampton Beach Casino in NH in the past 10 years. No more, I guess. p.s. He's a prick in person. At least to fans. Quote Muzikteechur is Lonnie, in Kittery, Maine. HS music teacher: Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Chorus, Music Theory, AP Music Theory, History of Rock, Musical Theatre, Piano, Guitar, Drama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Really I didn't get that from him? He's been all over social media because of the 7 song album they made. The band has kind of stayed the same, Sean Hopper does some nice stuff on Hammond. The band was heavily involved with the the San Fran forty niners also. [video:youtube] Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 I have Meniere's disease. It's not as bad as Huey Lewis, but it may get worse, I get periods of dizziness that can last for days. I have hearing loss in one ear. I've had physical therapy for balance. I've had elaborate tests for inner ear problems, vertigo, etc. The dizziness usually goes away after a 10-day course of prednisone (steroid). Huey Lewis' Meniere's disease expresses itself in distorting everything so badly that he can't hear the music and therefore can't sing. I don't know if my Meniere's will get so bad that I have to quit playing. Hell, arthritis may make me stop before that happens. Getting old is not for wusses. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9ni%C3%A8re%27s_disease Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Paxton Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 They were my hands-down favorite band in high school. While my tastes have evolved since then, I still have a big old soft spot for their music, will happily rock out to it on car trips, and always enjoy when it gets called on cover band gigs. (And yes, I will nail ALL those parts, and will let the rest of the band know if they're not playing their parts right.) My entire sense of when to speed up and slow down a Leslie came from Sean Hopper. In fact I was just recently checking out an old live clip of theirs where he plays a really tasty extended piano break, which then ended up informing something I recorded a few days later (starts at 22:40): [video:youtube] It's a real shame about Huey's condition. Hoping for the best for him, his family and the band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Josh the link doesn't work? Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Paxton Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Josh the link doesn't work? Fixed! I remember they did that same bit when I saw them live a couple years before that clip was filmed: "Whole Lotta Lovin'" into the piano break (which BLEW MY MIND at the time), then into a cover of "The Boys Are Back In Town." Neither I nor the friends I went with had ever heard that song, so we didn't realize it was a cover; we thought it was a new song of theirs, and we loved it. We thought they were singing "The boys are back in time," and that it must be a song they wrote for the upcoming "Back to the Future" sequel. Ahh, youth... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Josh he isn't a slouch as a player and probably underrated. Even the organ part in here is well crafted for the song: [video:youtube] Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Not super relevant but my newest gigging band project is an established Huey Lewis tribute band based here on Long Island, my first gig with them is next month, a flyaway to a casino resort just outside Vegas (first time I've done something like that in a few years, very excited). Most of his hits I was covering in top 40 bands when they were first out, back in the 80's. Have always really admired the songwriting and recordmaking on irresistible power pop gems like "Do You Believe in Love," "I Want a New Drug," "If This is It," etc, Not super keyboard-heavy/challenging but a lot of fun to play nonetheless. I always enjoyed playing the brass parts on 'Power of Love", and nailing the sax solo in 'Heart of Rock and Roll". They had some fun songs. Quote The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrVegas Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 My wife and I saw him live at Wolftrap Farms in Virginia, in July 2016. He could not sing on pitch on any of the songs they played. It was awful. The band was really good, especially the lead guitarist, but the singing was atrocious. I would have left but my wife wanted to stay. Quote _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Kronos 88, Korg CX-3, Motion Sound KBR-3D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Mike Metlay Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I have a good friend who has Meniere's, and I have watched it gradually destroy his life over the course of 20 years. He was vibrant, inventive, and prolific, with a series of well-liked solo albums. He now has a basement full of gear he can't bring himself to play any more, is struggling with balance and hearing loss issues, and has effectively retired from music even though he hates the idea of giving up. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Quote Dr. Mike Metlay (PhD in nuclear physics, golly gosh) Musician, Author, Editor, Educator, Impresario, Online Radio Guy, Cut-Rate Polymath, and Kindly Pedant Editor-in-Chief, Bjooks ~ Author of SYNTH GEMS 1 clicky!: more about me ~ my radio station (and my fam) ~ my local tribe ~ my day job ~ my book ~ my music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Surprised this hasn't come up on here before- I think it has. This was announced about two years ago so it's been heavily reported. Until this, he's never stopped touring- or doing shows since the 1980s. Surprised to hear not a cool guy always seemed like he would be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I have Meniere's disease. It's not as bad as Huey Lewis, but it may get worse, I get periods of dizziness that can last for days. I have hearing loss in one ear. I've had physical therapy for balance. I've had elaborate tests for inner ear problems, vertigo, etc. The dizziness usually goes away after a 10-day course of prednisone (steroid). Huey Lewis' Meniere's disease expresses itself in distorting everything so badly that he can't hear the music and therefore can't sing. I don't know if my Meniere's will get so bad that I have to quit playing. Hell, arthritis may make me stop before that happens. Getting old is not for wusses. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9ni%C3%A8re%27s_disease I have a good friend who has Meniere's, and I have watched it gradually destroy his life over the course of 20 years. He was vibrant, inventive, and prolific, with a series of well-liked solo albums. He now has a basement full of gear he can't bring himself to play any more, is struggling with balance and hearing loss issues, and has effectively retired from music even though he hates the idea of giving up. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Damn. I did not want to hear that. I don't expect to be playing in 20 years. Hell, I don't expect to be alive in 20 years. But I hope I can have a few more years to play music. I'd be grateful for 4 or 5. I have friends who are good musicians but physically can't play any more. I wouldn't wish that on anyone either. Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 He has stopped singing because he can't hear. One interview he said that is why the new album is only 7 songs. Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapeRocks Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 He's been gigging all alone. I've seen him a couple of times at Hampton Beach Casino in NH in the past 10 years. No more, I guess. p.s. He's a prick in person. At least to fans. Really? I met him once a few years ago, as a fan, and he was as nice as could be. His entire interaction with people was just fine. Quote David Gig Rig:Depends on the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Beaumont Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 I think if I couldn't do music any more I might become a bit of a prick. Quote Boards: Kurzweil SP-6, Roland FA-08, VR-09, DeepMind 12 Modules: Korg Radias, Roland D-05, Bk7-m & Sonic Cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dongna Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Really? I met him once a few years ago, as a fan, and he was as nice as could be. His entire interaction with people was just fine. I've never met him, but I too have always heard that he is one of the "good guys" in the biz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 I think if I couldn't do music any more I might become a bit of a prick.I'm thinking of doing that in my retirement. Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Coda Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 Really? I met him once a few years ago, as a fan, and he was as nice as could be. His entire interaction with people was just fine. I've never met him, but I too have always heard that he is one of the "good guys" in the biz. I confirm he is ! We shared stage for 2 days in 1991, shared same hotel and had a nice hangout after day #1. Both shows were same venue,- so no need to travel next day. Very sad reading he´s suffering from that disease and I hope there´s a chance to recover. A.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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