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Billy Joel’s touring future remains uncertain due to his ongoing health issues.
Joel, 77, revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he’s also not allowed to drive a vehicle after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in 2025.
“What the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion,” Joel said.
‘PIANO MAN’ BILLY JOEL’S PRIZED MOTORCYCLE COLLECTION HITS THE AUCTION BLOCK
Billy Joel can’t drive and is unsure about his touring future after brain disorder diagnosis. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
When asked about his current status, Joel said that his “health is good,” but still isn’t sure when he’ll be able to tour again.
“I have this thing called hydrocephalus,” he told the outlet. “It used to be called water on the brain, so it affects your balance, it affects your memory, it affects your vision, your hearing. But I’m OK.”
“They call it a brain disorder, but it’s not that serious. It’s just something that affects your balance mostly.”
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As far as going back on the road again, Joel admitted he can’t perform quite like how he used to.
Billy Joel said that while his health is “good,” he has new limitations due to his NPH diagnosis. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
“I have to take a series of tests before I know, but I can’t drive right now,” he said. “I’m not allowed to drive. And I can’t do performances because what the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion.”
He added, “So they have to test me further to see if I can go back and do performing again, which I would like to be able to do.”
The “Uptown Girl” singer underwent brain surgery after revealing his normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosis in May 2025. NPH affects his vision, hearing and balance, according to a statement Joel released on social media at the time.
He delved more into his recovery process during a recent appearance on his self-titled SiriusXM show, “The Billy Joel Channel,” and said doctors told him that performing loud rock ‘n’ roll music caused damage to his brain nerves.
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Joel remembered his medical team saying, “Well, we drill a hole through your skull, and we stick a shunt inside your brain.”
“I didn’t want to do that, but then I read up on it and I realized it can help improve your balance and can help your memory,” he noted. “You know, I don’t want to lose my marbles. It’s hard to tell what’s age and what’s a condition, so I agreed to do the shunt and I had a surgery. And they implanted a shunt in my brain, and it actually improved things.”
Billy Joel has been nominated for dozens of Grammy Awards and won multiple trophies, including Album of the Year for “52nd Street.” (Getty Images)
“My memory got better. My balance got a little better. My ability to function was better, and I realized, and the doctors told me this, because of my job, which is playing rock and roll music very loud, that it was giving me something like a concussion every time I did a show.”
Joel shared more about his diagnosis ahead of the sale of more than 70 lots from his personal collection of motorcycles heading to the auction block next month with Gooding Christie’s.
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“Well, I ended up having over a hundred motorcycles, and the truth is you can only ride one at a time. I’m into my 70s now, and I realized I can’t ride as much as I used to,” he told the outlet. “I don’t want to die like a bug on a windshield. So I thought I’d put a lot of them on auction.”
Gooding Christie’s announced the world-famous Billy Joel Motorcycle Collection as a leading consignment for its upcoming inaugural sale at the Javits Center in New York City. (Billy Joel Archives)
“And also I have a condition called hydrocephalus, which makes driving a little bit iffy. So I realized it’s time for me to turn it over to somebody else.”
The collection includes a number of his most cherished motorcycles, in addition to Ducati, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha, Triumph, Honda, Kawasaki, and more.
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“One of the stars of the sale is a 1978 Triumph T140 Bonneville that was gifted to Billy Joel by Madison Square Garden to commemorate 150 sold out shows,” Gooding Christie’s founder David Gooding explained to Fox News Digital of the bike, which is expected to retrieve anywhere from $10,000 – $15,000.
Among the most captivating motorcycles in the collection is a 1978 Triumph T140 Bonneville gifted to Mr. Joel by Madison Square Garden on the occasion of his 150th sold-out show at the world-famous venue. (Mike Maez, Gooding & Company, LLC.)
“He still holds the record for the most sold out show of anyone ever at Madison Square Garden. And this bike is painted with a keyboard on the tank. It’s really, really a special, special item.”
Motorcycles from the auction – which is slated for Nov. 20-21 – will be on display at the Javits Center in New York.
