He expressed envy toward former bandmates like bassist John Pierce, who joined Toto in 2020 and continues to perform live.
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"I gotta say, God, I'd like to do that," revealed Lewis. "So there are pangs.
And I can't enjoy music."
The California-native began his career with the 1970s band Clover before achieving massive commercial success with Huey Lewis and the News, scoring hits like the chart-topping "The Power of Love."
In February 2025, Lewis was inducted into the People's Music Hall of Fame.
Despite the profound loss, Lewis, who currently relies completely on assistive devices to hear voices, emphasizes maintaining a positive mindset by focusing on alternative hobbies like fishing.
"I miss a show once in a while, I miss the camaraderie of the fellows and the circus-like thing that it is, but man, I've been fishing so many great places and had so many great experiences.
I gotta kinda look at the positive," added Lewis.
The severe progression of the illness means the artist faces total deafness without technical intervention. "Now I'm deaf basically without the technology involved," explained Lewis.
The distortion caused by the implant leaves the musician frustrated when attempting to engage with songs.
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"It just ends up being frustrating for me when I can't enjoy it," said Lewis. "I can't feel the warmth."
