Billy Joel has been forced to cancel his upcoming concerts on doctor’s orders, after being diagnosed with a brain condition.
The Piano Man singer left fans concerned when he suffered a painful fall on stage in Connecticut back in February.
The following month, the 76-year-old announced that he had postponed his tour dates after learning that a ‘medical condition’ needed a four-month recovery period.
Earlier today, the music icon confirmed that he would be axing all scheduled performances after he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
A statement shared on his Instagram page read: ‘Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).
‘This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance.
‘Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.
‘Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.
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‘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.’
Billy added in a message: ‘I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.’
Fans quickly flocked to the comments below, urging the Uptown Girl singer to focus on his health and make a quick recovery.
‘I am so so sorry, but hopefully you‘ll recover!,’ Katelovesnyc wrote.
Fogtman agreed: ‘Rooting for a speedy recovery!’
‘Oh my lord. Please take care Billy, remember we love you so much,’ Nbcoria commented.
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Forestdivito penned: ‘This broke something inside of me but wishing for a fast recovery.’
As Dgirl424 added: ‘Health is way more important. Wish you a speedy recovery, @billyjoel.’
Billy’s visits to New York, Washington DC, New Orleans, Florida and Detroit are among those that have been canceled.
He will also no longer be performing in Edinburgh and Liverpool in June as planned.
According to the NHS, NPH is an uncommon and poorly understood condition that most often affects people over the age of 60.
Symptoms include mobility problems and dementia meaning the condition can sometimes be hard to diagnose, as these are also associated with more common conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Billy began his career in the 60s, and has been a staple of the music industry ever since – dropping his including She’s Always a Woman, My Life, and We Didn’t Start the Fire.
Earlier this year, his team revealed that his tour dates had been rescheduled – shortly after his stage fall during a rendition of It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me.
‘While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first,’ he said at the time.
‘I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.’
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