Billy Joel’s desire to get back on stage is strong, but whether a brain condition will let him perform again is the question, the singer-songwriter explained in a recent interview. The singer-songwriter is eager to return to performing, but his health is a major concern. Joel’s brain condition, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), has caused issues with his hearing, vision, and balance, making it difficult for him to perform live.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Joel said “I have to take a series of tests before I know” about performing. He also revealed, “I can’t drive right now. I’m not allowed to drive.” This news comes after Joel opened up about his diagnosis of NPH in 2025, a brain disorder that causes fluid to accumulate in the brain’s ventricles.
Health Concerns and Performing
A return to the stage doesn’t seem likely anytime soon as neurologists have cautioned him against performing. “What the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion,” Joel told The Hollywood Reporter. Joel elaborated on how NPH isn’t conducive to playing live. “The volume. Rock ‘n’ roll is loud, man,” he said in the interview. “Rock ‘n’ roll made me deaf already. So it’s the lighting, the sound, the stress of the show, the audience, the energy of the performance. There’s a lot going on when you’re onstage. And they said, ‘Well, you really shouldn’t be doing that right now.’ 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.”
New Music Releases
In late September, Joel announced a massive Turnstiles 50th anniversary box set with 54 unreleased demos, rarities, and live recordings. The Piano Man is also dropping one of Consequence’s must-have releases on Record Store Day Black Friday.
In conclusion, Billy Joel’s health remains a top priority, and his ability to perform live is still uncertain. While he is eager to return to the stage, his brain condition and the advice of his neurologists must be taken into consideration. Fans will have to wait and see if Joel will be able to overcome his health issues and perform again in the future. In the meantime, they can look forward to new music releases, including the Turnstiles 50th anniversary box set and his upcoming Record Store Day Black Friday release.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
⚖️ ENTER THE LEGALIZER
Think the government has no idea what it's doing? Put your case before the Federal Case Terminal and find out.
