Earlier this year, Billy Joel was forced to cancel his upcoming concerts due to a rare and unusual brain diagnosis. But he’s come out to reassure his fans that it’s not the end for him just yet.
At 76, Billy Joel has been on the road for a significant portion of his life. He’s played across the world to millions of cheering fans. However, this recent brain diagnosis has forced Billy Joel to take a step back from the stage.
The problem with his brain is called normal pressure hydrocephalus. This causes fluid to build up in the brain’s ventricles. It can cause dizziness, a loss of balance, and issues with walking and thinking. For Billy Joel, it makes performing on stage completely out of the question. “It was like being on a boat all the time,” he said.
But it’s not fatal, thankfully, and Mr Piano Man has reassured his fans that it’s not all that serious for his health. Speaking to People, he said, “I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I’m okay. What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it.”
Returning To The Stage Is Unlikely For Joel
There isn’t too much known about the brain diagnosis Billy Joel has been given. As he said, there is still a lot of research needed for the condition. Despite the diagnosis, Joel has confirmed that he should be okay for the most part. “It was scary, but I’m okay. I just wanted to let people know, don’t worry about me being deathly ill or anything.”
His lack of balance isn’t really conducive to great stage performance, though, so a return to doing shows will be unlikely. Unless he can find some way to work with, or nullify, the effects of his brain condition, Billy Joel will be out for the foreseeable future.
It must be hard for a natural showman to be forced from his passion earlier than he intended. I can sympathise with the frustration he must be feeling.