Huey Lewis Contemplated Suicide Following Hearing Loss
Huey Lewis has been very open about his battle with hearing loss, and in a new interview, he is very forthcoming about contemplating suicide.
Speaking with Montana’s Whitefish Review, Lewis said, “In the first two months of this, I was suicidal. I can honestly share that with you. I thought, s—, I’m just going to commit suicide. I actually contemplated my demise. You know, like pills. I figured pills were the easiest way to go. I mean, would I have? I don’t know. This is now a year and eight months, and it’s awful. I can’t hear music. It’s hard enough to hear speech. But music is impossible.”
Lewis added, “The music is cacophony for me and now my hearing fluctuates. I can actually get better sometimes where I think, ‘Oh, my gosh, I can almost sing.’ And I have sung twice in the last two years when my hearing was better. And I sang one song acoustically. But I couldn’t do it for a set.”
Huey Lewis & The News were forced to cancel their tour in 2018 after Lewis’ sudden hearing loss and issues with Meniere’s disease. In an interview with Today shortly after the tour’s cancelation, Lewis said, “I haven’t come to grips with the fact that I may never sing again. I’m still hoping I’m gonna get better. They say a positive attitude is important.”
Lewis would later detail to the San Francisco Chronicle the moment of his hearing loss taking place just before a show in Dallas. He and his News bandmates were at the hotel when his hearing suddenly changed and compared it to “standing next to a jet engine.” Lewis has been on a constant search for treatment ever since.
Despite Lewis’ hearing issues, he and the News will be releasing a new studio album on February 14, 2020 titled Weather. Two singles have been previewed from the album: “Her Love Is Killing Me” and “While We’re Young.”
***If you are struggling, please reach out for help at the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or access their online chat system here. REMEMBER: YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.***
Rockers with Tinnitus
