What happened to Billy Joel? Details explored after the Piano Man reveals he can't perform or drive amid recent diagnosis

Billy Joel has opened up about his health issues, saying he can't perform or drive. As a result, he is also auctioning off around 70 motorcycles from his collection at Gooding & Company in November.

The iconic singer revealed in May last year that he had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus. He canceled his shows at the time and has also recently undergone surgery. According to MedlinePlus, hydrocephalus "is a buildup of spinal fluid inside the fluid-filled chambers of the brain." It means "water on the brain".

Meanwhile, Billy Joel, whose real name is William Martin Joel, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his illness and his motorcycle auction. When asked about his health, the Piano Man singer said:

"Well, my health is good. I have this thing called hydrocephalus. It used to be called water on the brain, so it affects your balance, it affects your memory, it affects your vision, your hearing. But I’m OK. They call it a brain disorder, but it’s not that serious. It’s just something that affects your balance mostly."

He was then asked if he would ever be able to go on tours again, and he answered:

"I don’t know. I have to take a series of tests before I know, but I can’t drive right now. 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."

Joel said that "the lighting, the sound, the stress of the show, the audience, the energy of the performance" during a tour can cause him harm. Hence, his doctors have advised him not to perform and to undergo further tests.

Also Read: What is Billy Joel's net worth? Fortune explored after veteran singer reportedly plans to sell motorcycle collection amid recent brain diagnosis

When Billy Joel opened up about undergoing surgery for hydrocephalus

In an interview on SiriusXM, released on September 16, Billy Joel revealed that he underwent surgery to implant a shunt in his brain. It is a medical tube that would help drain excess fluid due to his condition.

He explained:

"I noticed that my balance was not good. I have this sense of being on a boat, like this rocking motion. I wasn't steady on my feet. I didn't know why that was."

"I don't want to lose my marbles. It's hard to tell what's age and what's a condition. So, I agreed to do the shunt, and I had surgery," he added.

Notably, Billy Joel had first said no to the surgery after learning about it from his doctor. He recalled a conversation with him and said:

"'Well, we drill a hole through your skull and we stick a shunt inside your brain.' I said, 'Nah, I think I'll pass on that'."

However, the singer researched more about it and learned that it could help, so he underwent surgery. He said that "it actually improved things" for him and added:

"My memory got better, my balance got a little better, my ability to function was better."

The 77-year-old also said that the doctors told him that his rock performances could be the cause of his hydrocephalus. They claimed that each time he performed, it gave his brain "something like a concussion".

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Also Read: “Both legally and professionally misguided": Billy Joel slams upcoming Billy and Me biopic from filmmaker John Ottman

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