There aren’t many things sadder in rock ‘n’ roll than seeing a legendary musician forced to walk away from the thing they love most. For Huey Lewis, that heartbreaking moment came in 2018 when severe hearing loss brought his music career to an abrupt halt.
But while he may no longer be standing under arena lights belting out The Power of Love, the 75-year-old rock icon has discovered an unlikely new passion that’s helping him write an entirely different chapter of his life.
And honestly? Fair play to him.
🎤 When the Music Had to Stop
Huey Lewis was one of the defining voices of the 1980s. Whether it was Hip to Be Square, If This Is It, Stuck With You or the immortal The Power of Love, Huey Lewis and The News delivered hit after hit, becoming one of the biggest bands of the decade.
Then everything changed.
Lewis was diagnosed with Ménière’s disease, a condition affecting the inner ear that causes hearing loss, tinnitus and problems with balance. For a professional musician, it’s one of the cruellest diagnoses imaginable.
Unable to hear music accurately enough to perform or record, he was forced to cancel tours and step away from the career he’d spent decades building.
For someone whose entire identity revolved around making music, it was a devastating blow.
🎣 Trading Guitar Picks for Fly Fishing
Rather than letting the disappointment define him, Lewis has embraced a hobby that’s about as far removed from the chaos of rock concerts as you can imagine.
He’s become an enthusiastic fly fisherman.
Instead of battling feedback and screaming fans, he’s now enjoying the peace and patience that comes with standing in a river, casting a line and soaking up the natural world.
It might not sound particularly rock ‘n’ roll, but Lewis has explained that fly fishing gives him a sense of calm and purpose that has helped him cope with life after music.
Sometimes the loudest thing you need is complete silence.
🌲 Nature Over Noise
One of the biggest attractions of fly fishing isn’t necessarily catching fish—it’s escaping the noise of everyday life.
For Lewis, whose hearing condition completely changed his relationship with sound, spending time outdoors offers something priceless: peace.
The rhythm of casting, waiting and reconnecting with nature has become its own kind of therapy.
It’s a reminder that even when life closes one door with a deafening slam, another can quietly open.
🚗 A Legacy That Will Never Fade
Just because Huey Lewis isn’t touring doesn’t mean his music has disappeared.
Far from it.
His songs remain staples of classic rock and ’80s playlists around the world, with The Power of Love forever linked to Back to the Future, introducing new generations to his music every single year.
Albums like Sports and Fore! still sound fantastic today, packed with catchy hooks, huge choruses and that unmistakable feel-good energy that made Huey Lewis and The News household names.
His influence on pop-rock remains enormous, and his catalogue continues to soundtrack road trips, parties and nostalgic playlists across the globe.
🤘 The Riff Report Verdict
Rock legends don’t stop being legends just because they leave the stage.
Huey Lewis may have been forced into retirement from performing, but he’s shown incredible resilience by finding happiness somewhere completely unexpected.
Sure, we’d all love to see him back in front of thousands of fans one more time. But if swapping amplifiers for rivers and fly rods has brought him peace, then that’s a proper victory in our book.
Life doesn’t always follow the setlist you planned, butt—but sometimes the encore comes in a completely different form.
Here’s wishing Huey plenty more peaceful days on the water… and thanks for all the incredible music that still makes us turn the volume up. 🎸❤️🎣
🎸 What’s your favourite Huey Lewis song? Let us know in the comments and tell us which classic still gets you singing at full volume! 🤘🔥
