You know that feeling when a song starts and you just know it’s Friday night? That’s what Huey Lewis and the News did better than almost anyone else in history. It wasn’t just about the denim or the Ray-Bans. It was that specific, blue-collar wall of sound that felt like it belonged in a garage as much as it did on a stadium stage.
But honestly, if you look at the charts today, something weird is happening. These guys are everywhere again. Whether it’s a TikTok trend or a needle-drop in a hit movie, the "News" is arguably more relevant in 2026 than they were ten years ago. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s the fact that their music was built on a foundation of actual, old-school craft that modern AI-generated pop just can't touch.
The Heart of Rock and Roll is Still Beating (Really)
Most people think of Huey Lewis and the News as a quintessential 80s band, and they’re right. But they weren't just "of" the 80s. They were a bar band that happened to get famous during the neon decade. Before the hits, Huey was a harmonica-playing kid in a band called Clover. He even played on Elvis Costello’s My Aim Is True. Think about that.
The News weren't synthesized. They were a six-man machine.
Johnny Colla’s guitar work and those thick, multi-part vocal harmonies were their secret weapon. When they released Sports in 1983, it didn't just sell; it lived on the Billboard 200 for years. Literally. It was certified 7x Platinum. You couldn't walk into a grocery store or a gym without hearing "I Want a New Drug" or "Heart and Soul." It was the soundtrack to a specific kind of American optimism.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the "Square" Label
There’s this common misconception that Huey Lewis and the News were "uncool" because of the song "Hip to Be Square." People took it literally.
Huey has said in plenty of interviews—including some recent chats on his official site—that the song was actually meant to be ironic. It was about people who spent the 70s being "wild" and then suddenly found themselves wearing suits and working 9-to-5s in the 80s. It was a joke! But it became an anthem for the very people it was poking fun at.
The Reality of 2018 and the Silence That Followed
Everything changed on January 27, 2018. It’s a date Huey fans know well because it was the day the music actually stopped. Just before a show in Dallas, Huey’s hearing essentially collapsed.
He was diagnosed with Ménière's disease.
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It’s an inner-ear disorder that causes vertigo and, more devastatingly for a singer, fluctuating hearing loss. Imagine trying to sing "The Power of Love" when you can't even find the pitch of the band behind you. It’s not just being "deaf"; it’s hearing a roar of static where the music should be.
Since then, the band hasn't toured. They haven't recorded new material since the 2020 album Weather, which was actually comprised of songs recorded before Huey's hearing went south. As of early 2026, Huey has been open about the struggle. He’s got a cochlear implant now, which helps with speech, but music? Music is still a "maybe" on the good days and a "no" on the bad ones.
The Broadway Salvation
If you haven't seen The Heart of Rock and Roll musical, you're missing out on how the band's legacy transitioned into this new era. Huey calls it his "salvation."
Even though he can't be under the spotlights anymore, he’s been deeply involved in the creative side of the show. It’s a jukebox musical, sure, but it captures that "workin' for a livin'" vibe that defined his career. The show's success on Broadway and its subsequent national tours have introduced "The Power of Love" to a generation that wasn't even born when Back to the Future came out.
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Why We Still Listen to Huey Lewis and the News
There is a technical reason why this music holds up. The News recorded with a "no-frills" approach. They used real horns (often the Tower of Power section). They used real drums. They didn't lean on the gated reverb and heavy synths that make other 80s records sound like a time capsule.
- Vocal Precision: Those a cappella intros? They did those live. No pitch correction.
- The Blues Connection: Huey’s harmonica playing is legitimately world-class.
- Relatability: Their songs were about having a job, wanting a "couple days off," and the struggle of "staying young."
Basically, they were the ultimate "guy's guy" band that also happened to have massive pop hooks.
What You Can Do Now to Keep the News Alive
If you’re a fan or just a curious newcomer, don’t just stick to the Greatest Hits. Here is how to actually experience the depth of this band in 2026:
- Listen to "Bad is Bad": There are two versions. The shuffle version on Sports is great, but the slower, nearly a cappella version is where you hear the soul.
- Watch "The Greatest Night in Pop": It’s the Netflix doc about the making of "We Are the World." Huey’s segment—where he has to fill in for Prince at the last second—is the highlight of the whole film.
- Support the Foundation: Research Ménière's disease research groups. Huey has become a de facto spokesperson for the condition, and supporting the cause helps others who are losing their connection to sound.
- Catch a Tribute: Since the original lineup isn't touring, high-end tribute acts like "Fake News" or "The Heart of Rock & Roll" have been selling out mid-sized venues across the country.
The story of Huey Lewis and the News isn't over. It just changed formats. From the bars of San Francisco to the top of the charts and now to the stage of the theater, that sound is still a reminder that "the heart of rock and roll is still beating."
Go back and listen to the Fore! album today. Don't skip the deep tracks. You'll realize that "doing it all for my baby" wasn't just a lyric—it was a mission statement for a band that never stopped working.