Billy Joel says he cannot drive as he awaits clearance to perform again

Billy Joel says he is still not cleared to drive or to perform and must pass a series of medical tests before any return to the stage.

The musician gave the update in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, his most detailed account since cancelling his 2025-2026 tour after a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain condition. No return date has been set. Rolling Stone

A statement published on Joel's website at the time of the cancellation said the condition had been exacerbated by recent concert performances. It said that had led to problems with hearing, vision and balance. The statement said he was undergoing physical therapy under his doctor's instructions.

In the new interview, Joel said he is currently not allowed to drive. He said he has to complete a course of tests before doctors can advise when he can play live again. He said a neurologist told him that every time he does a show, it is like getting a concussion.

The tone was serious but reassuring. Joel has previously told fans he is stable, telling broadcaster Howard Stern to pass on the message "I'm not dying" and saying in later interviews that he feels fine and his health "isn't that bad".

What makes this stand out is what Joel says he is doing while he waits. He is preparing to sell more than 70 vintage motorcycles from his personal collection at auction on 20 and 21 November. Billboard

Joel has been collecting and restoring vintage bikes for decades. He said he decided to sell because he is in his 70s and cannot ride as much as he used to. He said the brain disorder makes riding "iffy" and that it was time to turn the collection over to somebody else. The sale was announced on his official Facebook page earlier in October.

For years the bikes were housed at 20th Century Cycles in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Joel ran the shop for 15 years as a place to store and service his motorcycles that also operated as a free museum for visitors. It shuttered in 2025.

For fans, this means a wait. There is no timetable for live shows, but Joel is still giving interviews and managing his archive while he follows medical advice.