Billy Joel‘s beloved motorcycle shop 20th Century Cycles will be closing its doors permanently following the musician’s brain disorder diagnosis – find out more below.
Earlier this year, Joel revealed that he had been diagnosed with the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), and later had to cancel all of his upcoming tour dates – including his headline UK shows – as a result.
Now, it has been announced that Joel’s Long Island motorcycle shop and garage 20th Century Cycles will be shutting down for good this September, with an auction for the Piano Man’s personal collection of bikes being arranged for later this year.
According to Joel’s spokesperson Claire Mercuri, per The Independent, the decision to close 20th Century Cycles came after the musician’s diagnosis.
20th Century Cycles first opened in 2010, due to Joel’s love of classic motorcycles, and wanting a place to maintain, repair, restore and customise his own bikes. The shop also serves as a museum of his own collection, which the public can visit for free.
A date for Joel’s personal bike collection auction has yet to be set. As for the shop, it’s still open for now, and is in the process of moving out its bikes – but is selling parts to the public, as listed by their Instagram page.
During a recent podcast interview, Joel gave an update on his health and said that the disorder “sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling”, sharing that he currently feels “fine” but his “balance sucks”, likening it to “being on a boat”. “It’s not fixed, it’s still being worked on,” he added of the condition.
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When asked what causes the disorder, Joel shared: “Nobody knows. They don’t know. I thought it must be from drinking. I don’t anymore, but I used to like a fish.”
Joel’s HBO stuffed five-hour documentary And So It Goes premiered last month, and scored a two-star review from Jordan Bassett for NME. Bassett wrote: “Much of And So It Goes is like ambient telly, with yet another album breakdown washing over you. Still, mega-fans will obviously lap it up and you’ll undoubtedly be reaching for that battered copy of ‘The Stranger’ when the credits (eventually) roll.”
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