Billy Joel Says He May Not Perform Again as He Recovers From Brain Surgery

Billy Joel, the 77-year-old songwriter whose career has spanned six decades, has told The Hollywood Reporter that he may not perform again because of a Billy Joel brain disorder known as hydrocephalus and the recovery that followed brain surgery. In an interview published Thursday, Joel said his neurologist has advised an extended break from the stage and that further testing is needed to determine whether he can return.

A Diagnosis and a Surgery He Initially Resisted

Joel was diagnosed with hydrocephalus in May 2025. The condition involves a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid inside the skull that presses on the brain, and it can affect balance, memory, vision and hearing. Joel described his own case as not that serious and said it mostly affects his balance. He revealed last month on his SiriusXM channel that he had undergone brain surgery for the condition.

The decision did not come easily. Joel said he initially did not want the operation, especially after being told it would involve drilling into his skull and inserting a shunt. What changed his mind was reading that surgery could improve balance and memory. He said he did not want to lose his mental faculties.

Why the Stage Is a Physical Challenge

Joel told the publication that his neurologist compared each show to a concussion. Performing, Joel said, involves loud sound, lighting, stress and the energy of an audience, a combination of physical stressors that is difficult to absorb while recovering. He also noted that rock music has already made him deaf, adding another layer of strain to any return.

His health, he said, is good. He would like to perform again. But doctors need more tests before that can be decided, and he is currently on an extended break. Hydrocephalus is treatable and sometimes reversible, though the brief does not specify the details of his current treatment.

Motorcycles, Songwriting and a Charity Auction

Joel is also parting with more than 70 motorcycles, a collection he is selling through Gooding Christie’s at the Javits Center in New York City on Nov. 20 and 21. Proceeds will support the Joel Foundation, which funds music education, women’s health and humanitarian relief. The hydrocephalus influenced his decision to sell, he said, because the condition makes driving difficult.

For Joel, the bikes were never an investment. He described himself as a rider, not a collector, and said motorcycling helped him write songs. He recalled riding in the rain, an experience referenced in his song ‘You May Be Right.’ The auction and the interview together mark a pause in a long career, with no certainty yet about when, or whether, he will be back on stage.