Billy Joel has revealed a sobering change in his health that is reshaping both his career and daily life. The 77-year-old singer and songwriter told The Hollywood Reporter that he must undergo additional medical testing before determining whether he can perform again.

“I can’t drive right now. I’m not allowed to drive,” Joel told the outlet. The restriction marks a significant lifestyle shift for an artist who has spoken openly about his love of driving and motorcycles.

Joel suffers from hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles. The condition can affect balance and potentially damage brain tissue, creating serious concerns for activities ranging from performing onstage to operating vehicles.

He underwent surgery in 2025 and canceled his performances last May. His future onstage now depends on further evaluation, with Joel saying that he needs to “take a series of tests” before deciding whether performing remains possible.

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The physical demands of a concert appear to be a central concern. Joel described a stark warning from his neurologist about what a show could mean for his health.

“What the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion,” Joel explained. Loud volume, bright lighting, stress, and high energy levels may worsen his condition.

At the same time, Joel is parting with much of his enormous motorcycle collection. The singer said the collection eventually grew beyond 100 bikes, even though he could never use more than one at any given moment.

“I ended up having over a hundred motorcycles, and the truth is you can only ride one at a time,” Joel said. “I’m into my 70s now, and I realized I can’t ride as much as I used to.”

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His decision also reflects a blunt awareness of the dangers that come with riding. “I don’t want to die like a bug on a windshield,” he added. “So I thought I’d put a lot of them on auction.”

Gooding Christie’s will auction the collection on Nov. 20 and Nov. 21 at the Javits Center in New York. For Joel, the sale means letting go of machines tied to an activity he valued for freedom, privacy, and the chance to make each bike his own.

“I love motorcycles. I love biking. I love driving. I love the anonymity of it,” Joel told The Hollywood Reporter. His attachment extended beyond simply owning motorcycles, since he enjoyed altering and working on them.

“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.”

Motorcycles also appeared in one of Joel’s most recognizable music videos. The video for his 1983 hit “Uptown Girl” ends with Joel and Christie Brinkley riding away on a motorcycle, but that particular bike will not be included in the auction.

“No, that wasn’t even my bike. I think that was an old Harley-Davidson or something,” Joel said. He also pushed back on the assumption that motorcycle riding automatically means an enthusiasm for Harley bikes.

“I’m not necessarily a Harley enthusiast. I know everybody in America loves Harleys, but everybody assumes if you ride a motorcycle, it’s a Harley, but it’s not.” His collection includes other notable machines that carry personal significance.

Among the motorcycles available will be Joel’s 1987 Triumph Bonneville T140. Madison Square Garden gave him the bike after he sold out the venue for the 150th time.

The sale will benefit the Joel Foundation, a nonprofit supporting school recording studios, music therapy programs, and similar initiatives. While the auction gives the collection a charitable purpose, it also represents another major adjustment as Joel confronts new limits on performing, driving, and riding.

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