Billy Joel, 76, adamant he is ‘not dying’ after brain condition diagnosis
He called off his upcoming tour.
Billy Joel has insisted that he’s ‘not dying’ after being diagnosed with a brain condition.
Last month, the 76-year-old announced that he would be cancelling his planned tour on doctor’s orders, following his health battle with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
It was also confirmed that the Piano Man singer – who suffered a painful fall on stage in February – was pulling out of the world premiere for his documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, at Tribeca Film Festival this evening.
Fans were quick to offer him their support over the news, and he has now issued a defiant response via pal Howard Stern.
On the latest episode of the Howard Stern Show, on SiriusXM, the presenter gave listeners an update days after the pair met for dinner.
‘He does have issues, but he said, “Yeah, you can tell people, I’m not dying”,’ the host declared said.
The musician was forced to cancel his upcoming tour dates (Picture: Getty)‘He wants people to know that. He’s got to deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful.’
According to the NHS, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is an uncommon condition that mostly 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’s team shared the news with a statement on his Instagram page at the end of May, which 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.
‘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.’
