Billy Joel reschedules concerts due to 'medical condition'

Billy Joel’s current tour is being postponed for four months following surgery for an unspecified “medical condition,” according to an announcement posted Tuesday on the singer’s website.

“While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first,” the Hicksville-raised singer said in a statement. “I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.”

Joel, 75, has had “recent surgery” and will be undergoing “physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors,” according to the announcement, which added, “Joel is expected to make a full recovery.”

Joel's representative Claire Mercuri declined to provide further comment.

The tour is set to re-start July 5 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Joel’s upcoming New York-area shows – at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on July 18, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Aug. 8 and at Citi Field in Queens on Aug. 21 – do not appear to be affected by the postponement. All told, eight shows, including two in the UK, are being rescheduled; new dates for most of those shows have been posted at billyjoel.com.

Joel fell on stage Feb. 22 during a concert at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Connecticut. After finishing his hit “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” the singer tossed a microphone to a stagehand, then seemed to twist suddenly and lose his balance, several social media videos posted by concertgoers showed. Joel can be seen tumbling to the floor on his side, rolling onto his back, then rising to finish the show.

It's a rare hiccup for Joel, an older rocker who has enjoyed a remarkable new chapter in his career. He has been playing live regularly since the start of his “Billy Joel in Concert” tour, in 2013, which coincided with his record-setting 10-year residency at Madison Square Garden. In 2024 he released his first new song in 17 years, “Turn the Lights Back On,” and performed it live at the Grammys. His 100th consecutive performance at the Garden, last March, was taped and televised on CBS.

In June  2022, Joel postponed a residency date at the Garden due to a viral infection, and this past January he postponed a date in Hollywood, Florida, due to an unspecified “medical procedure.”

By Rafer Guzmán

rafer.guzman@newsday.com