What Huey Lewis and the News have been up to
If you've seen the Behind the Music Special but haven't been following the band lately, you've missed out on what the band has been up to since the Small World album, except for mentioning Huey's role in Duets and that the band hopes to have its new album ("Plan B") out in 2001.
The new album page has some of the details on the new album. The band hopes to have the album out soon, but no release date has been set yet.
Although there are no tour dates at the moment, as soon as tour dates are confirmed, they are listed on the tour dates page. The band may play a few shows here and there at any time, but in past years they've generally done a US tour starting in mid-summer and stretching into the autumn. European concerts are less frequent at best, but with current plans for the new album being released in Europe first there is a pretty good chance of the band making it over again.
After the Small World album, the band followed with their 1991 album Hard at Play. Since Small World was based on the band's desire to "stretch out" musically, Hard at Play was a return to the style of music found on Sports and Fore.However, Hard at Play didn't reach the top of the charts. Its most successful single was "Couple Days Off".
In 1993 the band recorded a cover of the Curtis Mayfield classic "It's Alright" which turned out to be a surprise hit.
The band added a three piece horn section in 1994 to support their Four Chords and Several Years Ago album. Marvin McFadden (trumpet), Ron Stallings (tenor saxophone) and Rob Sudduth (tenor & baritone saxophone) have been "on the bus" ever since, and are enjoying every minute of it!
Four Chords and Several Years Ago is an album of classic R&B covers which remain true to the originals but allow Huey Lewis and the News to add their own creative hooks. After the tour supporting Four Chords and Several Years Ago, Mario Cippolina (Bass) left the band to pursue other directions. He has since played with a few other bands, including the Jerry Garcia Band. The very capable John Pierce joined the band to fill in the vacancy left by Mario.
In 1996, the band hoped to release their next all-new material album, but changed those plans to a greatest hits collection titled Time Flies... The Best Of Huey Lewis and the News. While the album is worthwhile for the four new songs on it, many fans prefer the selection of hits on some of the other import greatest hits albums.
Most recently, Chris Hayes (lead guitar) decided to leave the band in early 2000 to spend time with his family. He still plays in the Mill Valley area with other artists. Stef Burns stepped up to play lead guitar in the band. Most people agree he adds an extra energy to the band.
