Billy Joel Says Neurologists Have Warned Him Against Performing

Billy Joel does not know when, or whether, he will perform again. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the singer-songwriter said the answer rests on medical evaluation rather than scheduling. “I have to take a series of tests before I know,” he said. He also confirmed he has lost his driving privileges. “I can’t drive right now. I’m not allowed to drive.”

The cause is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a brain disorder in which fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles and disrupts hearing, vision, and balance. Joel disclosed the diagnosis in 2025 after canceling a run of shows. Neurologists have since advised him against returning to the stage, and he passed along their reasoning in blunt terms. “What the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion,” he said.

His own description of why the stage is a problem is unusually specific. The volume, the lighting, the audience, the stress, the physical demand of carrying a performance. “Rock ‘n’ roll made me deaf already,” he said. He has made clear he would like to perform again. Whether he can is now a question of test results, not intent.

His recorded work continues to move in the meantime. In late September he announced a Turnstiles 50th anniversary box set gathering 54 unreleased demos, rarities, and live recordings.