Pop Quiz: Huey Lewis

Pop Quiz: Huey Lewis

Aidin Vaziri | Of all the '80s bands that used the neon-light font to make their logo, Huey Lewis and the News were clearly the best. At least in the top 200, easy. This year, the Bay Area group that gave us hits like "I Want a New Drug" and "Power of Love" celebrates a quarter century of business with CD and DVD releases of "Live at 25," plus several live shows, including an appearance at the Marin County Fair . We spoke with Lewis, who starred with Gwyneth Paltrow in the 2000 movie "Duets," by phone from his San Rafael office.



Huey Lewis
Q: On this tour you're playing all kinds of venues: wineries, casinos, a few feet away from livestock.
A: That's right. We're in show business, and we'll do anything for attention. In actual fact, it's interesting to note that we used to be a beer and hot dog band, and now we're playing for the wine and cheese set. Which means fewer people, but they charge them more. So we're still able to do it economically, and the smaller venues are way, way more musical than the coliseums.
Q: Plus, the guys in Coldplay don't get free admission to the petting zoo.
A: Yeah, that's right. It's much more intimate, as they say. You can see it and feel it. You can touch the audience with the music.
Q: And if there are any hot chicks you can touch them with parts of your body.
A: I'm not into that. I'm a musician, pure and simple. I'm into the music, man.
Q: Do you have Gwyneth Paltrow on speed dial?
A: No, I don't have Gwyneth Paltrow on speed dial.
Q: Why not? That song was actually a hit.
A: It was a No. 1 record.
Q: Why didn't you make more albums together?
A: Well, I don't know. I think Gwyneth is perfectly happy without singing anymore with me. She seems to be doing great.