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Billy Joel Diagnosed With Brain Disorder, Selling Motorcycle Collection
Confirmed
In Short: Billy Joel, 77, has been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and is selling his extensive motorcycle collection, according to multiple reports.
Billy Joel, 77, has been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and is selling his extensive motorcycle collection, according to multiple reports.
Joel revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he is no longer allowed to drive or perform concerts due to his condition.
"I’m not allowed to drive. And I can’t do performances because every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion," Joel explained.
The singer, known for his love of motorcycles, has been collecting and restoring vintage bikes for decades. He shuttered his bike shop, 20th Century Cycles, in 2025.
"I’m into my 70s now, and I realized I can’t ride as much as I used to. I don’t want to die like a bug on a windshield. So I thought I’d put a lot of them on auction," Joel told The Hollywood Reporter.
Gooding Christie’s, an auction house, announced the sale of Joel’s motorcycle collection at the Javits Center in New York City. One of the highlights is a 1978 Triumph T140 Bonneville gifted to Joel by Madison Square Garden.
"One of the stars of the sale is a 1978 Triumph T140 Bonneville that was gifted to Billy Joel by Madison Square Garden to commemorate 150 sold out shows," said David Gooding, founder of Gooding Christie’s.
Joel’s doctors have advised him to take a series of tests before he can resume touring. He has not yet determined when he will be able to perform again.
"I have to take a series of tests before I know, but I can’t drive right now. I’m not allowed to drive," Joel told The Hollywood Reporter.
Joel’s condition has affected his balance, memory, vision, and hearing. He underwent brain surgery to treat the disorder.
"It used to be called water on the brain, so it affects your balance, it affects your memory, it affects your vision, your hearing," Joel shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
In May 2026, Joel canceled all of his concerts due to his diagnosis. He has not performed live since then.
What this adds
The auction of Joel's motorcycle collection and his health updates highlight the impact of his diagnosis on his personal and professional life.
What's confirmed
- "I’m not allowed to drive. And I can’t do performances because what the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion."
- But I’m OK." "They call it a brain disorder, but it’s not that serious.
- This comes just a few weeks after Joel noted publicly that he'd undergone brain surgery to treat a disorder called normal pressure hydrocephalus, a diagnosis he first revealed in 2025.
- "It used to be called water on the brain, so it affects your balance, it affects your memory, it affects your vision, your hearing," he shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
- At the moment, Joel's doctors have advised him not to.
- Billy Joel has shared an update on his health, speaking recently with The Hollywood Reporter.
- And the reasoning behind that is simple, he said: "The volume. Rock 'n' roll is loud, man. 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."
What's still developing
- Last year, Billy Joel stepped away from the stage after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, canceling his previously scheduled 2025-2026 tour.
- In July, Billy reported that he was feeling good, although his condition continued to affect his balance.
- The Jessie alum opened up about her "hellish" migraines, sharing how they've worsened after suffering five concussions over the course of her life.
- "The brain injuries make things significantly worse," Ryan shared during a September 2026 episode of Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals.
- "The visual data that I'm taking in can be so distracting and so loud. Then, with the migraines—which are significantly worsened by that—it sort of is too much."
- "And it broke. Broke right off, like your ex-boyfriend’s bumper. Well, technically, it cracked."