Yes, as you read it. At 76, the interpreter of classics such as «Piano Man » either “We Didn’t Start the Fire » He faces a disease that forces him to abandon, both the scenarios, and another of his great passions: the two wheels. And, therefore, Billy Joel It will auction its large collection of motorcycles.
The New York artist was recently diagnosed with normotensive hydrocephalus (HNT), an uncommon brain disorder that causes fluid accumulation in brain ventricles.
The symptoms (loss of balance, vision problems and alterations in the hearing) were aggravated during their last actions, forcing him to first cancel several concerts in May and, finally, completely suspend the tour he was going to travel the United States and the United Kingdom between 2024 and 2026.
In a statement, his team explained that Joel You must prioritize your health, since the effects of the disease are incompatible with the physical demand of tours. The singer himself acknowledged that it was a painful, but inevitable decision.
Billy Joel’s passion
Beyond music, Billy Joel He has been known for decades for his devotion to motorcycles. So much so that in 2010 he founded on Oyster Bay (Long Island), the store-exposition 20th Century Cycles. A space open to the public in which he gathered his collection.
There, every weekend, fans and curious could admire more than 75 motorcycles of all kinds. From classic models of the 40s and 50s to modern preparations and limited editions of Harley-Davidson, Ducati, TRIUMPH, Guzzi Moto, BMW either Kawasaki.
The collection was not limited to being a celebrity whim. Joel He collaborated closely with local restorers and builders to return historical machines to life, turning the place into a small sanctuary of motorcycling on the East American coast. Some of these motorcycles even appeared in musical videos and photographic sessions of the singer, reflecting how this hobby was deeply linked to their artistic identity.
On the other hand, the rent of 20th Century Cycles He expires in September, and his team has confirmed that it will not be renewed. The collection will be auctioned at the end of the year, in an event that already generates expectation between both megames and between classic motorcycle collectors. Although the exit prices are not yet known, some pieces are expected to reach millionaire figures due to their rarity and the link with the figure of the artist.
Billy Joel Not only has I left its mark with its unmistakable voice and compositions (it has sold more than 160 million records worldwide, and holds the record of concerts in Madison Square Garden), but also with its engine passionate facet. His figure represents that union between popular culture and the world of motorcycle, where the two wheels are synonym for freedom, creativity and lifestyle.
Although the disease has forced to close an important chapter of its life, both on stage and garages, the auction of its motorcycle collection will also be a way to celebrate that other passion that always accompanied it.
