Billy Joel Says Doctors Who Diagnosed Him With Brain Disorder Told Him His Concerts Were ‘Causing Damage to My Brain Nerves’

The 77-year-old pop icon said he initially refused to have a shunt surgically implanted in his skull to remove excess fluid.

Billy Joel at the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Crypto.com Arena on February 4, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Gilbert Flores/Billboard

Billy Joel is finally opening up about how a diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus last year revealed the unexpected damage his concerts were causing to his brain. In an interview on his SiriusXM channel on Wednesday (Sept. 9), 77-year-old “Piano Man” singer described going to see a doctor after suffering from balance problems that made it feel like he was “on a boat.”

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