Doctors urge an extended break from performing
Billy Joel says he cannot yet say whether he will perform live again. According to NBC News, the 77-year-old has been dealing with a brain disorder for more than a year, and his doctor has advised him to take an extended break from the work he has done for six decades.
In an interview Thursday with The Hollywood Reporter, Joel described what his neurologist told him. “What the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion,” he said. He said doctors are concerned that playing before thousands of fans is taking a toll on him.
Joel pointed to the physical demands of a concert. “Rock ‘n’ roll is loud, man,” he said, adding that it had already made him deaf. He listed the lighting, the sound, the stress of the show, the audience and the energy of the performance as factors. “There’s a lot going on when you’re onstage,” he said.
Testing will determine whether he can return
Joel said doctors still need to evaluate him further. “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,” he said.
Even so, he insisted his health “is good” and played down the seriousness of his diagnosis. “They call it a brain disorder, but it’s not that serious,” he said. “It’s just something that affects your balance mostly.”
Understanding hydrocephalus
Joel was diagnosed with hydrocephalus in May 2025. The Cleveland Clinic describes it as a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. It is often treatable and sometimes reversible, according to the clinic.
Joel offered his own description. “It used to be called water on the brain, so it affects your balance, it affects your memory, it affects your vision, your hearing,” he said.
Last month, he said he underwent brain surgery after the diagnosis. Speaking on his SiriusXM channel, Joel said he initially balked when told the procedure involved a surgeon who would “drill a hole through your skull” and “stick a shunt inside your brain.” After reading about it, he said, he realized it could help improve balance and memory. “I don’t want to lose my marbles,” he said.
Motorcycles head to auction
Joel spoke ahead of a Gooding Christie’s auction on Nov. 20 and 21 at the Javits Center in New York City. More than 70 motorcycles from his collection will be sold to the highest bidder, with proceeds going to the Joel Foundation, which supports music education, women’s health programs, humanitarian relief and other causes.
He said hydrocephalus was a factor in the decision to sell, because the condition makes driving difficult. “I love motorcycles,” he said, adding that he considered himself a rider rather than a collector. He also said riding fed his songwriting, citing a lyric in “You May Be Right” about riding his motorcycle in the rain.
