Concerts scheduled in the UK and US under Billy Joel's name are called off due to his diagnosed brain illness.
American singer-songwriter Billy Joel has cancelled all his concerts in the UK and the US, following a diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a brain condition that affects hearing, vision, and balance.
Joel, who has sold over 150 million records and won six Grammy Awards in a 50-year career, revealed his diagnosis in an Instagram post on Friday. The condition, which causes a buildup of fluid in the brain, has been exacerbated by recent concert performances. Under a doctor's orders, Joel is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during his recovery period.
In a separate message, Joel expressed his sincere apologies to his audience for any disappointment caused by the cancellations. The cancellations include upcoming gigs in Edinburgh and Liverpool, as well as concerts in New York, New Jersey, and Detroit. Tickets for all shows will be refunded.
NPH is characterized by gait disturbances, cognitive decline, and urinary incontinence, according to medical information. The standard and effective treatment for the condition is surgical shunting to drain excess fluid from the brain, where early intervention can improve prognosis.
Last March, Joel postponed eight US tour dates after announcing he had undergone surgery and needed physiotherapy. It remains unclear if his medical issues at the time were related to NPH.
Billy Joel's best-known songs include "The Piano Man" and "Uptown Girl." He ended a 10-year residency at New York's Madison Square Garden last July.
During his recovery period, Billy Joel is undergoing specific physical therapy, including therapies-and-treatments for his diagnosed Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a brain condition affecting health-and-wellness aspects like hearing, vision, and balance. Meanwhile, as a result of his diagnosis and the cancellations of upcoming concerts in the UK, US, and various cities across the states, mental-health concerns relating to mental-health might arise for concerned fans who were looking forward to his performances.
