Billy Joel has been forgetting lyrics for at least a decade, it was revealed today, after he announced he was having to cancel all planned concerts due to a brain disorder.
The Piano Man singer, 76, took to Instagram on Friday to share that he has been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
The condition has impacted Joel’s ‘hearing, vision, and balance,’ according to the social media post.
A spokesperson for the singer said that his condition had been ‘exacerbated’ by recent performances. He is now taking a break and undergoing ‘physical therapy’ to treat the condition.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is caused by too much fluid collecting in the ventricles, or spaces in the brain and spinal cord, putting pressure on these areas and triggering its symptoms, including struggling to walk, an inability to control the bladder and memory problems.
This happens because the excess fluid compresses and stretches the brain tissue, interfering with the control of muscles and communication between nerve cells.
Worried fans rushed to support the singer online after the announcement, which comes three months after Joel fell over while performing on stage in Connecticut.
It can now be revealed that Joel has admitted to struggling with memory problems going back more than a decade – after he famously forgot the words while singing We Didn’t Start The Fire at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on March 9, 2014.
Billy Joel revealed he’s battling a brain condition and has announced the cancellation of his upcoming concerts, following a series of frail performances that left fans concerned
The Piano Man singer, 76, took to Instagram on Friday to share that he’s been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)
At the time, he told the audience the song is ‘one of the worst melodies I ever wrote’, and even stopped his band completely before fans cheered him on to complete the track.
Halting the performance, Joel said: ‘Wait a minute. That ain’t right. All you gotta do is f*** up one word in that song and it’s a train wreck.’
In an interview in 2023, Joel hinted it wasn’t a one-off, admitting he relied on the audience to make sure he as singing the right words to songs.
Speaking to Zoe Ball on BBC 2 radio’s breakfast show, he said: ‘Sometimes I’m watching people sing along, hoping they’ll guide me.’
Addressing the Toronto incident, he added: ‘I was in Toronto, and I forgot the words. And then I just stopped the song. “Stop the music! Stop…” And the crowd made this noise like, “Ahhhh…” So it’s, you know, it’s walking on a tightrope with that thing.’
When diagnosed early, NPH can often be effectively treated with surgery that drains excess fluid from the brain, relieving pressure and symptoms – but it can often be mistaken at an early stage for other illnesses such as dementia.
However, if left untreated, the condition may lead to permanent damage in its later stages.
The legendary musician also expressed his gratitude for the care he’s receiving and thanked fans for their continued support.
Joel famously forgot the words while singing We Didn’t Start The Fire at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on March 9, 2014
He paused the concert in 2014 and told fans it was ‘one of the worst melodies I ever wrote’
‘I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,’ Joel wrote on Instagram.
‘Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health,’ the statement added.
It continued, ‘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.’
Fans won’t need to take any steps to receive a refund – payments will be automatically returned to the original form of purchase.
The cancellations come after Joel sparked concern among fans after he fell over at a concert in February, prompting him to delay his tour by four months.
Joel suffered the nasty fall on stage during a gig at the Mohegan Sun resort in Monteville, Connecticut, sparking major fear amongst fans.
Footage from the show captures the Grammy winner spinning a microphone stand before hurling it across the stage – only to suddenly topple over moments later.
The musician was helped up by his band managed to carry on with the rest of the show and sang one more song for his fans.
While performing at the Mohegan Sun resort in Montville, Connecticut in February, Joel lost his footing
Billy was performing his song It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me when he stumbled backwards and fell on his back, prompting gasps from the audience
One attendee said: ‘He looked frail hobbling across the stage. At one point, he was using the microphone stand as a cane.
‘I was really very concerned about him throughout the concert.’
Billy’s illustrious career as a musician began back in the mid-1960, which led to the release of debut studio album, Cold Spring Harbor (1971).
But it failed to gain any real traction until after the success of his follow-up, Piano Man (1973), that peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Adult Contemporary singles chart.
Now an established name on the musical landscape, Joel became a million seller with the release of Streetlife Serenade (1974), but his commercial breakout making him a bonafide star came with the release of The Stranger (1977), which featured the hit singles Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), Just The Way You Are, She’s Always a Woman, The Stranger, and Only The Good Die Young.
He would go on to release a 13th album – Fantasies & Delusions (2001) – that features classical compositions from Joel, a first for him during his career.
With over 160 million records sold worldwide, Billy Joel is one of the world’s best-selling musical artists, and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States.
