Billy Joel cancels tour dates after brain disorder diagnosis

Billy Joel has cancelled all of his upcoming touring concert dates, following a recent diagnosis of the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).

This comes after earlier this year he postponed his shows, citing his health as the reason why. Now, announcing the news on social media, Joel confirmed he is no longer playing any of his tour dates because of the brain disorder diagnosis.

The condition “has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance”, according to the statement. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.”

In the post, Joel is quoted as saying: “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience and thank you for understanding.”

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The announcement lists all of the shows which have been cancelled, and they include 17 stops in North America and the UK. He originally performed two shows in February before the postponement was announced in March, however, these shows are now completely cancelled. All ticketholders will be automatically refunded.

In other news about the musician, the forthcoming new Billy Joel documentary will open the Tribeca Festival 2025. Billy Joel: And So It Goes – a two-part doc directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin – will examine Joel’s life and music, “exploring the love, loss and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting”. It’ll feature access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with one-on-one interviews.

It is set to air on HBO this summer, and now it’s been confirmed that …And So It Goes will debut at the Beacon Theatre in New York City during the first night of this year’s Tribeca Festival on June 4.

Last year Joel opened up about why it took him nearly two decades to release his latest single, ‘Turn The Lights Back On’.

Then, in July of that year, he played his historic 150th, and final, show as part of his Madison Square Garden residency, bringing out Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose to perform a number of songs.

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