It is unclear when Billy Joel will perform again.
The 77-year-old singer must pass “a series of tests” before he can go on tour again, he said. the hollywood reporter in an update on his health following his brain disorder diagnosis in 2025.
“I’m not allowed to drive,” Joël said in the interview published Thursday. “And I can’t do shows because what the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you have a concussion.”
Joel concerts canceled in May 2025 after revealing two months previously that he suffered from a brain disorder known as normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH, which causes physical and mental problems.
“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concerts, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,” Joel said in a statement. Instagram in May 2025. “As per his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing on stage during this recovery period. »
PNH is a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain, according to Alzheimer’s Association. This can lead to cognitive problems, difficulty walking, and loss of bladder control. People with NPH often walk with a wide stance and their body leaning forward as if they’re trying to maintain balance on a boat – a feeling Joel described on Bill Maher’s podcast.Random club» on July 21, 2025.
Other symptoms include mild dementia which involves short-term memory loss, lack of interest in daily activities, and difficulty completing routine tasks.
HNP is one of the few causes of dementia that can be controlled or reversed with surgical treatment, usually involving the placement of a shunt.
It’s unclear if Joel underwent this procedure, although the “Uptown Girl” singer initially postponed his concerts in March 2025 after undergoing unspecified surgery and physical therapy.
The operation took place just a few weeks later the crooner lost his balance on February 22, 2025, while performing “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut; However, it is unclear whether the fall and subsequent surgery were related to the NPH diagnosis he revealed to the public in May.
For now, Joel reports that he’s “doing fine” and that the diagnosis is “not that serious,” according to his interview with THR. Neurologists, however, have warned the singer of the risks associated with performing on stage, particularly that the lighting and sound can cause stress in the body.
“And (the neurologists) said, ‘Well, you really shouldn’t be doing that right now.’ So they need to test me more to see if I can go back and play again, which I would love to be able to do,” he said.
Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario and former deputy editor Christie D’Zurilla contributed to this report.
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