Billy Joel may have played his last performance. After health issues, the “Uptown Girl” singer is no longer permitted to perform or drive, according to his doctors’ advice.
The music icon said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday that, according to his doctor, he was no longer permitted to drive or perform. Joel is auctioning off all his motorcycles, in part for this reason. “I have to take a series of tests before I know, but…I’m not allowed to drive.”
The “Piano Man” singer is auctioning off over 70 motorcycles. “I have a condition called hydrocephalus, which makes driving a little bit iffy. So I realized it’s time for me to turn it over to somebody else.” The funds from the sale will go towards The Joel Foundation, which was founded to support music programs and initiatives and to provide assistance after disasters.
The other reason was that he just owned so many. “Well, I ended up having over a hundred motorcycles, and the truth is you can only ride one at a time. 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.”
He added that he loves motorcycles, biking, driving, and the anonymity of it, along with the customization and modifications. “I was not a collector. I was actually a rider. So I figured it was just time to let it go.”
Along with driving, his doctors have also advised him to stop performing music. The singer discussed whether he would ever return to the stage.
He said he can’t do performances because, as the neurologist told him, every show is like “getting a concussion.”
When asked what about performing was dangerous for Joel, he said, “The volume. Rock ‘n’ roll is loud, man. Rock ‘n’ roll made me deaf already. So it’s the lighting, the sound, the stress of the show, the audience, the energy of the performance. There’s a lot going on when you’re onstage. And they said, “Well, you really shouldn’t be doing that right now.” So they have to test me further to see if I can go back and do performing again, which I would like to be able to do
He also gave an update on his health on SiriusXM’s The Billy Joel Channel a few weeks ago: “I know people are worried about me because they read that I have a brain disorder, which sounds a lot worse than it actually is.”
He said his balance isn’t that good and that he has lost a little hearing, though age and his rock-and-roll life may also be factors. But he’s fine and doesn’t want people to worry about him.
The “Vienna” singer underwent physical therapy and surgery to address some of the issues.
Joel made sure to reassure fans who were worried about him. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. I’m still here,” he noted.
