Legendary musician Billy Joel cancels concert dates over brain condition
US musician Billy Joel performs during a concert at the Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on October 23, 2021. Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). — Photo: SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP
Pop great Billy Joel cancelled a series of global tour dates after being diagnosed with a brain condition that worsened because of recent performances, he announced Friday.
"Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)," read a statement on the Piano Man's website.
The condition arises if cerebrospinal fluid cannot properly flow throughout the brain and spinal cord, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The excess fluid and pressure can cause brain damage.
The institution said on its website that NPH is rare, but can cause cognitive impairment including memory problems as well as trouble walking.
Joel's statement said "this condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance."
Prompt treatment can alleviate the condition if diagnosed early.
Joel's scrapped dates include several in Britain, as well as a packed schedule crisscrossing the United States from July 2025 up until July 2026 when he was due to round off his ambitious string of dates in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The We Didn't Start the Fire legend, 76, wrote "I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding."
Consummate New Yorker
Joel has been a pop mainstay and performer extraordinaire since the 1970s, with a catalog of fan favorites including Uptown Girl and New York State of Mind .
Last year he capped a decade-long residency with more than 100 shows at Manhattan's famed Madison Square Garden.
The residency drew in millions of fans and grossed more than US$260mil.
"Let's be real – I'm from New York," the Bronx-born, Long Island-raised artist told journalists in the run-up to his 100th performance at the top arena.
"This is my venue. Fortunately for me, Madison Square Garden is a world venue. You can play almost any other arena in the country and nobody else in the world is going to know about it," he said.
Last year, Joel released his first new original song in almost two decades, Turn the Lights Back On .
The Grammy winner has a laundry list of accolades to his name, including induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in addition to that organization's top lifetime achievement honor.
Joel is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well a Kennedy Center honoree.
A documentary film about his storied life – Billy Joel: And So It Goes – is set to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 4. – AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Reigning champion Swiatek sets up French Open semi clash with Sabalenka
PARIS: Triple-defending champion Iga Swiatek set up a salivating French Open semi-final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka after marching past Elina Svitolina in the last eight on Tuesday. Swiatek bested 13th seed Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 in just over 90 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier to continue her bid to equal a 102-year record by winning four successive French Open titles. The Polish fifth seed will face Sabalenka in the semi-finals after the Belarusian earlier eliminated Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in straight sets. "Aryna is always a challenge, she has a game for every surface. I need to focus on myself, do the work and just go for it," said Swiatek. The former world number one has struggled for consistency since winning the clay-court treble of Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros in 2024, but can fall back on positive memories of playing and beating Sabalenka on the red dirt. "I don't know if she (Sabalenka) elevates my game. Against every player, we play different way, so it's hard to compare. But for sure our rivalry is pushing both of us," said Swiatek. The rivals have never met at Roland Garros, but Swiatek emerged the victor in their last two meetings on clay – in the finals of the Madrid and Italian Opens last season. "It's going to be a tough match but I'm happy for the challenge," the 24-year-old added. After starting sluggishly in her fourth-round win over former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, where Swiatek found herself 6-1, 2-0 down before kicking into gear, she hit the ground running on Tuesday. Swiatek broke Svitolina's serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, before outlasting her opponent in two lengthy, tightly-contested games to consolidate her advantage. The five-time Grand Slam winner then served out the opener to 15 on a gusty centre court in Paris. The pair exchanged consecutive breaks of serve early in the second set, but neither could seize the advantage until Swiatek forced the breakthrough at 5-5 with a powerful forehand down the line. Swiatek showed her killer instinct by holding again to 15 and sealing the win with back-to-back aces. "I knew it's going to be a tough match, and it was. You know, even though first set, the score looks pretty straightforward, it wasn't like that in any other games... I had to fight for every point," said Swiatek. "I'm happy that I also stepped up when she broke me in the second set and that I kept my intensity until the end." Defeat for Svitolina means the 30-year-old Ukrainian has never progressed further than the quarter-finals at the French Open despite having reached the last-eight stage five times in her career. — AFP
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Fugitive capybara caught by China zoo after two months on the run
Capybaras lounge in the Zhuyuwan Scenic Area in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. - CMG SHANGHAI: Officials have captured the last member of a runaway capybara gang that escaped from a zoo in eastern China two months ago, a statement said on Tuesday (June 3). The missing male rodent, named "Doubao" -- "Bean Bun" in Chinese -- absconded from an enclosure at the Yangzhou Zhuyuwan Scenic Area along with two other capybaras in early April. Doubao remained at large for weeks after his companions were caught by zoo officials. "The runaway child has returned home!" the zoo wrote in a social media post. The capybara -- a rodent the size of a six-year-old child -- walked into a humane trap early Tuesday morning and was returned to his enclosure by zoo staff. Despite spending two months on the run, Doubao gained weight and his fur was still "smooth and glossy", the zoo said. "It looks like he was doing well out there!" it added. Capybaras are native to South America but in recent years have become popular attractions at zoos worldwide, with the semi-aquatic rodents becoming unlikely darlings of the internet. The zoo said the trio made their April breakout when another capybara Bazong -- "Big Shot" -- broke through a fence. Bazong was later found relaxing in a lake. It took seven or eight zoo staff to trap the second accomplice, Duoduo or "Hide Hide", in a rubbish bin. But Doubao eluded capture, with the zoo in May issuing a mock wanted poster accusing him of engaging in a mass jailbreak. Officials at one point offered a reward of frozen fried rice, a carton of eggs, capybara-themed merchandise and lifetime entry to the zoo to anyone with information about his whereabouts. A zoo representative also repeatedly pleaded for Doubao's return on livestreamed videos, Tuesday's statement said. - AFP
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
French court tries ex-bosses of Ubisoft over sex harassment
Serge Hascoët, former creative director of Ubisoft, exits the courtroom after the trial of French video game publisher Ubisoft Entertainment former executives for harrasment and sexual assault at the courthouse in Bobigny, suburb of Paris, on June 2, 2025. — AFP PARIS: Three former top executives from French video game giant Ubisoft, the maker of Assassin's Creed and Far Cry , went on trial on June 2 accused of psychologically and sexually harassing employees for years. The trial, to last until June 6, was supposed to be held in March but was adjourned after lawyers complained they received some documents too late. The industry has been scrutinised for years over its treatment of women and minorities in the workplace – and the way they are depicted in games. Ubisoft launched an internal inquiry in 2020 after anonymous testimonies emerged on social media accusing the company of a toxic work culture. Several senior executives later left the firm. The executive shake-up at Ubisoft was hailed by some as a #Metoo moment in the male-dominated video game publishing industry, which has faced criticism for misogynistic imagery often found in games. One of the accused, Serge Hascoet, resigned from his post as chief creative officer. The other two – Thomas "Tommy" Francois, vice-president of editorial and creative services, and game director Guillaume Patrux – were dismissed for serious misconduct. All three men deny the claims. Hascoet and Francois arrived at the Bobigny court outside Paris on Monday morning. Employees had complained of regular public humiliation and hazing. Francois is the focus of the most damning claims of systematic psychological and sexual harassment at the company's offices in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil. Between January 2012 and July 2020, Francois is alleged to have often watched pornographic films in the open-plan office and commented on the appearance of female employees. Headstand in a skirt Francois was also accused of forcing a young employee he had just hired to do a headstand in the open-plan office while wearing a skirt. He is also accused of tying the same woman to a chair and putting her in an elevator, sending her to another floor. He also allegedly forced her to attend a work meeting after he painted her face with a felt-tip pen. In addition to the accusations of sexual and psychological harassment, Francois is being prosecuted for an attempted sexual assault when he tried to forcibly kiss a young employee during a Christmas party as she was held by other colleagues. According to an investigative report seen by AFP, Francois encouraged "his subordinates to act in the same way". Hascoet is accused of lewd behaviour and posing intrusive questions of a sexual nature, as well as racist comments and behaviour. The third defendant, former game director Patrux, 39, has been accused of psychological harassment. Investigators spoke to dozens of witnesses during the probe, but "many refused to file a complaint for fear of reactions from the video game community," according to the report seen by AFP. – AFP
