Billy Joel isn't sure whether he'll be able to take the stage again.
The "Piano Man" singer, 77, said in an Oct. 15 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his doctors have advised him against performingand driving. He needs additional testing to determine whether he can return following his diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Joel explained that the condition "affects your balance, it affects your memory, it affects your vision, your hearing," but that he's still doing fine.
"What the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it's like you're getting a concussion," Joel explained when opening up about why he was advised to stop performing.
He pointed
to the loud music, lighting and stress of a concert as concerns for his doctors, but said he still hopes to perform.
"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.
Joel also said he's "not allowed to drive." He brushed the diagnosis off as "not that serious," and explained it as something that "affects your balance mostly."
His latest interview comes ahead of a Gooding Christie's auction of more than 70 motorcycles from his collection on Nov. 20 and 21 at New York's Javits Center. Joel cited his age and condition as reasons for the sale, whose proceeds he intends to use to support the Joel Foundation.
Billy Joel's diagnosis and previously revealed brain surgery
Joel announced his diagnosis and canceled his scheduled concerts May 23, 2025. He shared his diagnosis on an Instagram post, which read "This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance."
Hydrocephalus occurs when excess cerebrospinal fluid collects in cavities within the brain called ventricles, potentially causing them to enlarge, according to Mayo Clinic. The normal pressure form can affect walking, memory and bladder control even when fluid pressure remains within a typical range.
In September, Joel revealed on SiriusXM's The Billy Joel Channel that he had undergone surgery to implant a shunt. He said he initially resisted the procedure but agreed after learning it "improve your balance and can help your memory." "So I agreed to the shunt and I had a surgery and they implanted the shunt in my brain and it actually improved things," Joel shared.
Joel reported improvement afterward and said he was doing physical therapy while trying to keep his stress down.
"I'm OK. I just want people to know, don't worry about me," he said. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm still here."
On Sept. 17, his representative confirmed to USA TODAY that he was alive after an apparent Google search error prompted speculation about his death. A Google spokesperson told USA TODAY the incorrect information had been removed.
Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, David Oliver, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Billy Joel say's he can't perform again after neurologist's warning
