Billy Joel has canceled all upcoming concerts after he was diagnosed with the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), the singer announced on Friday.
The condition “has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance”, according to a statement posted to the 76-year-old singer’s official Instagram. “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.”
The Piano Man singer added: “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience and thank you for understanding.”
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles, leading to difficulty walking, problems with thinking and reasoning and loss of bladder control. It primarily affects people in their 60s and 70s and is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Joel’s canceled dates include 17 stops in North America and the UK. The tour comes nearly two years after he wrapped a record-breaking residency at Madison Square Garden that began in January 2014. Joel played one show every month at the Manhattan venue for nine years – 150 in total, every one of them sold out.
Next month, the world premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes, a two-part documentary exploring the Long Island-bred musician’s life and career, will kick off the Tribeca film festival in New York. The project, directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, contains footage of unreleased performances as well as archival photographs, “intimate” home movies and exclusive interviews.
Joel’s team added that the 23-time Grammy winner was “thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.”
