Billy Joel Won’t Be Performing Any Time Soon Even As His Health Improves

At the end of September, legendary piano man Billy Joel soothed the public’s concerns about his 2025 diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, calling into SiriusXM to let everyone know that he’s “okay.” Though Joel is hanging in there, that doesn’t mean his Madison Square Garden shows, let alone his touring, let alone any performances whatsoever, are expected to start up any time soon. In fact, Joel is still on strict orders of R&R before he can resume most of his beloved activities, including motorcycle-riding, driving, and performing his rock-and-roll music.

In a new interview in The Hollywood Reporter, Joel provided the most detailed update on his health since his initial diagnosis. “I can’t drive right now. I’m not allowed to drive,” he says, which is why he’s chosen to put several of his motorcycles up for auction. One of the main side effects of hydrocephalus is that it affects balance. “It used to be called water on the brain,” he explains, which is a haunting image to consider. What this also means is that Joel won’t be returning to performing any time soon, in part because because his doctor said that every time he does a concert, it’s like getting a concussion. “Rock ’n’ roll is loud, man,” Joel adds, mentioning that the combination of “lighting, the sound, the stress of the show, the audience, the energy of the performance” all contribute to making matters worse in his brain. He should certainly stay away from MSG if that’s the case, but this does leave the possibility open for Joel to return to touring (or simply performing) at a much smaller scale. Maybe one day, Joel could do more intimate shows, like at, say, an Italian restaurant?