It May be 9 o’clock on a Saturday, but the regular crowd won’t be shuffling in to see the Piano Man tonight.
Yesterday, a statement was released advising the public that Billy Joel was cancelling his upcoming appearances.
This change comes on the heels of Joel being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus.
The Condition
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a condition that affects relatively few people, around 2% of those over 60.
But what is it really? The brain’s balance of cerebrospinal fluid to brain ‘meat’ has to be carefully monitored by the body.
Typically, this fluid builds up naturally day by day. The body then absorbs, or otherwise disposes of the fluid naturally, leaving exactly what it needs.
Unfortunately, the problem is that the body can produce more fluid than it can dispose of at a single time.
Most commonly with this disease, the brain’s volume decreases as you age, causing more room for fluid to build up.
The problem with this, is it essentially adds too much pressure onto the brain, causing poor function.
Trouble walking, speaking, and even thinking straight are common symptoms, but the good news is that it’s very treatable. It can even often times be reversed.
Joel released a statement that his condition was caught based upon recent hearing, vision, and balance issues he was having. Luckily, when faced with these issues, Joel sought treatment.
The Fallout
Joel has announced that his upcoming tour, and all concerts up until July 2026 have been cancelled.
“I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,” Joel released in a statement to fans.
At 76 years old, Joel has been advised by medical staff to cease performing for the time being. That time will be spent undergoing physical therapy to return himself to top health before continuing his musical career.
Fans who have purchased tickets will be fully refunded without any action on their part.
The concert appearances spanned a wide region in the US, Canada, and the UK.
He wasn’t planning on being alone, as Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, and Sting, among others had been expected to join him on stage at various times.
We wish Billy a speedy and healthy recovery. Our tickets have already been refunded, and will be on the lookout to replace them when he is on the mend!
