Singer-songwriter Huey Lewis reveals that he was diagnosed with Meniere's, an inner ear disorder, forcing him to cancel a number of live performances this year.
The Diagnosis
On Friday, April 13, the renowned musician took to his website to apologize to his fans who have already purchased tickets to see his concert. He said that he has been suffering from the disease for months now, which prevents him from performing.
"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 67-year-old stated. " 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."
Huey Lewis and the News has six shows scheduled for this spring and the upcoming summer. The band was initially billed to perform at the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco in August.
The group also recently supported Jimmy Buffet in a few performances as part of the latter's tour across North America.
Lewis did not say when he and his band will be back to touring, but he said he will be taking the rest of the year off to recover.
Meniere's Disease
According to Mayo Clinic, Meniere's is a disorder that causes episodes of vertigo (a feeling that the ground is spinning), temporary hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and pressure in a person's ear. In some cases, the disease can cause permanent loss of hearing.
Meniere's disease is considered a chronic condition that can affect anyone aged 20 and above. No one knows exactly what causes the disease, but symptoms and long-term impact on a person's life can be controlled and prevented with medication, rehabilitation, or surgery.
Ryan Adams Talks Meniere Diagnosis
Back in 2011, Ryan Adams too was forced to take a two-year hiatus to recover from Meniere's. In a 2014 interview with the Rolling Stone, the "Come Pick Me Up" singer shared his experience living with the disorder.
"All of a sudden you start seeing double and then my hand starts shaking, and then it's like you're in an elevator and the bottom just drops out and your bones feel 1,000 pounds," he recounted.
He also shared that therapy and medical marijuana helped him control similar attacks.
Actress Kristin Chenoweth was also diagnosed with Meniere's back in 2014
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
