Billy Joel says he cannot currently drive or perform as he continues recovering from normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The 77-year-old musician said his neurologist compared performing a concert to getting a concussion, while he attributed his hearing loss to years of playing loud rock music.

The 77-year-old said that his neurologist had likened each performance to suffering a concussion and confirmed he is currently not allowed to drive. He said he must undergo further medical tests before doctors decide whether he can safely return to the stage.

'I have to take a series of tests before I know, but I can't drive right now,' he said. '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 said he would like to return if doctors allow it. '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.

Volume and Stress Cited by Doctors Over Billy Joel's NPH

Joel said the noise of live rock music was a central concern. 'Rock and roll made me deaf already,' he said. 'So it's the lighting, the sound, the stress of the show, the audience, the energy of the performance. There's a lot going on when you're onstage.'

NPH occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull, affecting brain function. Its main symptoms include difficulty walking, cognitive changes and urinary problems. Joel has spoken publicly about balance problems and memory changes associated with his condition, but he attributed his hearing loss to loud rock music.

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Billy Joel's Diagnosis, Surgery and Driving Ban

The diagnosis was announced in May 2025, after Joel experienced balance problems and fell on stage. A statement on his Instagram account said he was cancelling scheduled concerts on medical advice, as performing was aggravating his symptoms. He was told to undergo physical therapy.

Joel later told listeners of SiriusXM's The Billy Joel Channel that he had agreed to have a shunt implanted to drain excess fluid, despite initially resisting the operation. 'I don't want to lose my marbles,' he said. He did not give a date for the surgery, but said his memory and balance had improved afterwards.

He urged fans not to worry. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he said. 'I'm still here.'

Motorcycle Collection To Be Sold for the Joel Foundation

Joel is selling more than 70 of his motorcycles at a Gooding Christie's auction at Rétromobile New York, held at the Javits Center in Manhattan on 20 and 21 November. All lots will be sold without reserve, meaning they go to the highest bidder whatever the price. A public preview is scheduled at the venue from 19 to 21 November.

The collection includes bikes by Ducati, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Harley-Davidson and Yamaha, among them a 1975 Ducati 750 Sport. Another lot is a 1978 Triumph Bonneville presented to Joel by Madison Square Garden after his 150th sold-out show at the venue. It reportedly comes with a helmet listing each year and date of his shows there.

David Gooding, president of Gooding Christie's, described Joel as 'one of the most recognised motorcycle enthusiasts in the world'. Announcing the sale, Joel said: 'I've always been drawn to bikes built by people who cared about getting every detail right.'

Proceeds will go to Proceeds will support The Joel Foundation, which funds music education and has also contributed to humanitarian relief efforts.

Joel, who said he owns 'over a hundred' bikes, linked the sale to his age rather than directly to his driving ban. 'I'm into my 70s now, and I realised I can't ride as much as I used to,' he told The Hollywood Reporter. 'I don't want to die like a bug on a windshield.'

He rejected the label of collector. 'I was not a collector. I was actually a rider,' he said.

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