Billy Joel Gives Health Update as Motorcycle Collection Heads to Auction
Billy Joel says he cannot perform or drive at present as he manages normal pressure hydrocephalus, a condition affecting the brain.
He gave the update in an interview about his motorcycle collection conducted by The Hollywood Reporter and published Oct. 15, as reported by Billboard. Billboard did not conduct the interview itself. Joel was direct about driving. "I can't drive right now," he said. "I'm not allowed to drive."
He was equally direct about live work. Joel said his neurologist told him: "every time you do a show, it's like you're getting a concussion." That advice is why performances are off for now. He said he must complete a series of medical tests before doctors can say whether he can return to the stage.
Joel first disclosed the diagnosis in spring 2025. He then cancelled his previously scheduled 2025-2026 tour. No return date is set.
The interview centred on a collection built over many years. Joel said he has amassed more than a hundred motorcycles. More than 70 of them will now be sold.
They will go under the hammer at Gooding Christie's Rétromobile auction on Nov. 20-21 at the Javits Center in New York. The consignment includes Ducati, Triumph, BMW and Harley-Davidson machines, according to Fox News. It is a broad mix, from American cruisers to European road bikes.
The sale comes alongside the closure of his Long Island motorcycle shop. The shop, 20th Century Cycles, was reported to be closing in 2025 amid his health battle, according to American Songwriter. The shop had housed and maintained much of the collection.
For fans, this means two timelines. Health comes first, with tests to decide what live music is possible. The auction has a fixed date in November, and it will decide where a large part of the collection goes next.
