Billy Joel is parting with one of his most prized possessions. The 77-year-old music icon told The Hollywood Reporter that he is not allowed to drive anymore because of normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder diagnosed in 2025, and that he will auction off more than 70 of the motorcycles he has collected over the decades. Billy Joel said the condition makes driving a little bit iffy, and that he realized it is time to turn it over to somebody else.
Billy Joel downplayed the disorder’s severity even as he detailed its effects. Normal pressure hydrocephalus is caused by a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid that can affect balance, memory, vision and hearing. Last month, the singer underwent surgery to have a shunt placed in his brain to help treat the condition. “They call it a brain disorder, but it’s not that serious,” Joel said. “It’s just something that affects your balance mostly.”
The restriction extends beyond the road. Billy Joel told the magazine that his doctors have also advised him to stop performing, because his neurologist warned that every show is like getting a concussion. The volume, lighting, stress and energy of arena performances could be harmful while he undergoes evaluation. Joel must take a series of further tests before doctors can say whether a return to the stage is possible, though he has said he would like to perform again. He first disclosed the diagnosis in May 2025, canceling his planned 2025-2026 tour.
The motorcycles will go under the hammer at the Gooding Christie’s Retromobile auction on November 20 and 21 at the Javits Center in New York. Joel once owned more than a hundred bikes, and the funds from the sale will go to The Joel Foundation, which supports music programs and provides assistance after disasters. The auction is expected to draw collectors from around the world, with the collection representing decades of Joel’s life on two wheels.
Joel’s health journey has played out publicly since the spring of 2025. When he first disclosed the diagnosis, his team said recent concert performances had exacerbated the condition, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance. He entered physical therapy and was advised to refrain from performing during recovery, a directive that put his touring schedule on indefinite hold.
The singer has long been synonymous with marathon live shows, and the prospect of stepping back has been the hardest part for fans to absorb. Joel’s residency-style runs and stadium dates made him one of the most reliable live draws in music, a reputation built over five decades of touring. For now, he has said he is OK, and that the condition, while serious-sounding, does not currently affect his daily life in a major way.
Billy Joel on Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
The auction, Billy Joel said, is a practical decision as much as an emotional one. “I ended up having over a hundred motorcycles, and the truth is you can only ride one at a time,” he said. “I’m into my 70s now, and I realized I can’t ride as much as I used to. I don’t want to die like a bug on a windshield. So I thought I’d put a lot of them on auction.”
Billy Joel Auctions 70-Plus Motorcycles
Joel was quick to note that he was never a mere collector. “I love motorcycles. I love biking. I love driving. I love the anonymity of it,” he explained. “And I love the customization of these bikes, the modifications, the messing around with things. I was not a collector. I was actually a rider. So I figured it was just time to let it go.”
Billy Joel’s Path Back to the Stage
Whether Billy Joel returns to the stage remains to be seen, but the Piano Man has said he would like to, and his family has said he remains in good spirits and focused on recovery while he takes medical advice on next steps. For now, the auction marks a significant step in his transition away from active touring.