Billy Joel Shares Health Update as He Prepares to Auction Off His Beloved Motorcycle Collection: ‘I’m Not Allowed to Drive’
Billy Joel says he cannot currently drive or perform while doctors assess how his normal pressure hydrocephalus affects him. The update matters because he hopes to return to the stage, but has cancelled his scheduled 2025-2026 tour and still needs further tests before knowing whether performing is safe.
Joel said his neurologist warned that the volume, lighting, stress and energy of a concert could be harmful, comparing the effect of a show to a concussion. He has also decided to sell his motorcycle collection, which he says numbers more than 100 bikes, as he can no longer ride as much. They are due to go under the hammer at Gooding Christie’s Rétromobile auction in New York on 20 and 21 November.
- Billy Joel is awaiting tests to see if he can perform again.
- His neurologist has advised him not to perform for now.
- More than 100 motorcycles are due to be auctioned in November.
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Billy Joel is an American singer and pianist whose songs have made him a major live performer for decades. His concerts involve loud sound, bright lights and sustained physical effort, all of which doctors are assessing in light of his health.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a condition in which fluid builds up in spaces in the brain and can affect movement, balance or thinking. Joel is being evaluated by doctors, including a neurologist, to understand how the condition affects him and what activities are safe. That assessment is relevant to whether he can return to performing.
Joel is also known for collecting motorcycles and says his collection contains more than 100 bikes. Riding is one of the activities his health now limits, so the collection’s sale connects his personal interest with the broader changes he is making while managing the condition.