Latest news with #BillyJoel:AndSoItGoes
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Joel reveals he twice attempted suicide after affair with best friend's wife
NEW YORK — In his upcoming documentary for HBO, Billy Joel reveals that he twice attempted suicide, even landing in a coma, following a messy affair with his best friend's wife that left him wracked with guilt. The 76-year-old Piano Man recalls the painful period — and the love triangle involving his former bandmate Jon Small and Small's then-wife, Elizabeth Weber — in 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes,' which premiered this week at the Tribeca Festival. Joel says he was in his early 20s and living with the couple when he fell 'in love' with Weber, who would later become his first wife. 'I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' Joel says. 'I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.' The fallout led to the end of their band, Attila, while Weber severed her relationships with both men. Left grieving and without a place to live, Joel says he fell into a downward spiral of heavy drinking, depression and sleeping in laundromats. 'I was depressed, I think, to the point of almost being psychotic. So I figured, that's it. I don't want to live anymore,' the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer says of wanting to 'end it all.' Joel then overdosed on sleeping pills and wound up in a coma for days on end. His sister, Judy Molinari, a medical assistant at the time, provided him with the pills thinking they'd help him sleep — not knowing he planned to 'take all of them.' 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet. I felt that I killed him,' she tearfully recounts in the documentary. That unsuccessful suicide attempt was followed by another when Joel drank a bottle of furniture polish, Molinari says. Despite his fractured relationship with Small at the time, Joel credits his former bandmate for saving his life, saying he was the one who took him to the hospital after the second attempt. The gesture ultimately helped them repair their friendship. Joel eventually moved back into his mother's home and then checked into an observation ward, where he says he realized he could channel his emotions into music. The songs he wrote as a result would become his first solo album, 1971's 'Cold Spring Harbor.' The album produced tracks including 'Tomorrow Is Today,' 'Why Judy Why' and 'She's Got a Way,' the latter of which was inspired by Weber. Joel and Weber also reconciled their relationship and got married, which lasted from 1973 to 1982. She also served as his manager. The raw recollections in the documentary, which is scheduled to hit HBO in July, come amid another difficult period in Joel's life. Late last month, the 'New York State of Mind' crooner announced that he'd been diagnosed with a brain condition known as hydrocephalus, which can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, vision problems, difficulty walking and cognitive impairment. As a result of the diagnosis, Joel was forced to cancel all of his upcoming performances scheduled through July of next year. SiriusXM host Howard Stern said earlier this week that he'd had dinner with Joel, who told him he could assure his listeners he's 'not dying.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Joel Reveals How Feeling ‘Like a Homewrecker' After Having an Affair Drove Him to Depression
Billy Joel is shedding insight into one of the darkest periods of his life in his new documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes. The documentary — which premiered Wednesday, June 4, at the Tribeca Film Festival — featured the 'Piano Man' singer, 76, opening up about the origin of his marriage to his first wife, Elizabeth Weber Small, who he wed in 1973. Elizabeth's ex-husband, Jon Small, was in a band called Atilla with Joel from 1969 to 1970. At the time, Joel had moved in with Elizabeth, Jon and their former couple's son — and Joel had an affair with Elizabeth. 'I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' the 'New York State of Mind' singer said, according to People. 'I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.' Following the affair, Elizabeth ended her relationships with both men and a distraught Joel coped by drinking, explaining that without a place to live, he was 'depressed to the point of almost being psychotic,' he said in the documentary. 'So I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all.' The film featured an appearance by Joel's sister Judy Molinari — then, a medical assistant — who explained after she gave him sleeping pills to help him get sleep, he took all of them and ended up in a coma 'for days and days and days.' 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet,' a tearful Molinari said. 'I thought that I'd killed him.' When the six-time Grammy winner finally woke up, his dark thoughts returned. Describing himself as 'very selfish,' Joel said he remembers thinking he wanted to try again — but he wanted to do it 'right.' During his next spiral, the 'Honesty' singer ingested a bottle of lemon Pledge — and it was Jon who ended up rushing the musician to the hospital. 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' recalled Joel. Joel, who has since forgiven Joel for his indiscretion, shared his own thoughts on the experience., 'He never really said anything to me,' he explained. 'The only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much.' Afterwards, Joel — who described himself as a 'lost soul' at the time— sought help. He checked himself into an 'observation ward,' remaining there for several weeks. The stay changed the course of his life forever. 'I got out,' he added, 'and I thought to myself, you can utilize all those emotions to channel that stuff into music.' Billy Joel: And So It Goes is set to premiere on HBO in July. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Billy Joel attempted suicide twice, fell into coma after his affair with former bandmate's wife
Singer-songwriter and pianist Billy Joel opened up about the dark and painful phase of life. After the premiere of his new documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, at the Tribeca Festival, the ace musician shared that he underwent two suicide attempts and fell into a coma after he had an affair with his former bandmate's wife. (Also read: Billy Joel brain disorder diagnosis: List of canceled concerts and how to get ticket refunds?) In his early 20s, Joel was in a band called Attila with his best friend Jon Small. At the time, he moved in with Small, Elizabeth Weber -- Small's wife -- and their son, reported People. "Bill and I spent a lot of time together," Elizabeth said in the documentary, adding that it was a "slow build." Then, Small realised something was up and Joel came to him with the truth: "I'm in love with your wife." "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," the singer said, adding, "I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset." This fight resulted in the end of Attila and the end of their friendship for some time. Years later, Elizabeth and Joel reconnected and were married from 1973-1982. "I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic," he said in the documentary. "So I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all," reported People. Joel's sister, Judy Molinari, was working as a medical assistant, and she gave him sleeping pills to help him sleep. "But Billy decided that he was going to take all of them... he was in a coma for days and days and days," she said in the documentary, adding, "I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet. I thought that I'd killed him." Small added, "He never really said anything to me, the only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually I forgave him." After the suicide attempts, he felt like a "lost soul" and checked himself into an "observation ward." The experience was life-changing for Joel, who was released within a couple of weeks. "I got out of the observation ward and I thought to myself, you can utilise all those emotions to channel that stuff into music," he said, reported People. Billy Joel: And So It Goes is slated to hit HBO in July. (ANI)
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Billy Joel admits he attempted suicide twice and ended up in a coma after falling in love with bandmate's wife
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BILLY Joel has admitted that he attempted suicide twice and was left in a coma after having an illicit affair with his close friend's wife. Billy, 76, opened up about his mental health struggles in the upcoming documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Billy Joel, seen announcing the end of his Madison Square Garden residency in 2023, has lifted the lid on his mental health struggles Credit: AFP 3 Billy broke up his friend Jon Small's marriage when they were in the rock band Attila in the 1970s Credit: Getty 3 The singer, seen in October, is opening up about his personal life in an incoming documentary Credit: Getty The Uptown Girl singer had previously discussed attempting to take his own life in his early 20s, but has just now revealed what led to the dark point. In the doc, which was partially screened at Tribeca Festival in New York City on Wednesday, Joel spoke about busting up his best friend's marriage with Elizabeth Weber. The singer didn't make it to the screening as he continues to battle a debilitating health condition. The affair brewed after Billy moved in with Elizabeth, her husband Jon Small, and their child, while the two close friends played in their band Attila. Elizabeth, who went on to marry Joel from 1973 to 1982, looked back at their burgeoning relationship in the documentary for the first time in years. "Bill and I spent a lot of time together," she said, and described their extramarital affair as a "slow build." When Jon finally confronted the two over their relationship, Billy admitted, "I am in love with your wife," Elizabeth said. "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Billy said in the documentary, according to People. "I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose which I deserved. "Jon was very upset. I was very upset." Billy Joel's daughter Alexa breaks silence after his brain disorder diagnosis Attila broke up for good after Billy's shocking admission, and Elizabeth separated herself to get some space. Meanwhile, the Piano Man singer spiraled into a pit of depression over what he had done. "I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic," Billy said. The singer described being in "a lot of pain" as he suffered from suicidal ideation. He took a handful of pills and fell into a coma for days. Later on, the singer tried to end his life again by drinking furniture polish, and this time Jon rushed him to the hospital. "Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life," Billy said. Jon said that they never discussed the affair at the time, but that he managed to forgive his friend anyway. "He never really said anything to me," Jon said. "The only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much." Elizabeth went on to be Billy's first wife and manager, but they split up by 1982. In 1985, Billy tied the knot with model Christie Brinkley, and they welcomed daughter Alexa Ray Joel later that year. On August 26, 1994, Billy and Christie divorced. Billy found his third wife, chef Katie Lee, in 2004, and they were married for five years. Now, he's married to former Morgan Stanley executive Alexis Roderick, and they've been together since 2015. Billy was forced to cancel all of his upcoming tour dates after he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, which affects his hearing, vision, and balance. What is normal pressure hydrocephalus? NORMAL pressure hydrocephalus occurs when spinal fluid builds up in the skull and starts pressing on the brain. The condition can affect brain function, which can lead to a loss of memory, concentration, and motor skills. Medical experts say that NPH often presents like degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's and is usually noticed by loved ones. And around 30 percent of those suffering from the condition do also have one of those diseases, according to Cleveland Clinic. However, those who only have NPH can get relief if they have a major surgery. The surgery involves getting a shunt, which is a device that can drain fluid from the skull affecting the brain. If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Joel: 'Getting old sucks, but it's preferable to getting cremated'
Billy Joel quipped that "getting old sucks, but it's preferable to getting cremated" amid his battle with a brain disorder. The Piano Man was forced to cancel all of his tour dates for the rest of the year after he was diagnosed with a rare condition called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), which is caused by a build-up of fluid in the brain, but he remains in good spirits amid his recovery. The co-director of his film Billy Joel: And So It Goes said at the Tribeca Film Festival screening on Wednesday (04.06.25), on his behalf: 'We know Billy wishes he were here tonight, and he asked us to convey that to you all. In fact, he said, 'Getting old sucks, but it's preferable to getting cremated.'" Joel recently axed all of his tour dates - including 17 dates in North America and England - but reports suggest he has no plans to retire despite the diagnosis. Announcing the news on social media, a statement from Joel's team 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 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 prioritising 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." Billy added his own message to fans, saying: "I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding." Meanwhile, in Billy Joel: And So It Goes, it's revealed that Joel attempted suicide twice in his early 20s. He reflected in the film: 'I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic. "So I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all."
