Latest news with #ElizabethWeber
Fox News
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Billy Joel's first wife walked out on him in hospital bed after motorcycle crash that nearly killed him
Billy Joel is reliving some of the most painful moments in his life. In the upcoming documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," the "Piano Man" crooner, 76, recalled the moment his first wife, Elizabeth Weber, walked away from their marriage shortly after his near-fatal motorcycle crash. "I always romanticized motorcycles. There's something about it. I feel like I can be completely disconnected from the world. There's a sense of freedom about that," Joel said in the doc, per People. Joel said his admiration for motorcycles left Weber "scared all the time." "I on many occasions said to him, you know, 'You can't do this, this is dangerous,'" she said. "Elizabeth had warned me, she said, 'Be careful, be careful, 'cause you're going to have an accident,'" the musician recalled. In 1982, Joel suffered multiple injuries after his bike crashed into a vehicle mid-intersection. "I was amazed I was still alive. I should have died in that accident," he said. "And I laid there in shock for a couple of minutes and I went to the hospital." The accident left him with a broken arm, leg and wrist. While he recovered in the hospital, Weber opted out of the marriage. "I would've stayed, I would've been able — like so many women before me — to make that accommodation for someone you love ,but there was no way that I could stand by and watch him kill himself," said Weber, who recalled placing the house key onto a tray in his hospital room. "I just didn't have that in me. And I felt very strongly that that's what was going." When Weber left the hospital, she recalled telling Joel, "You know, someday they may write about us and I hope that they say that we really did something." According to her, Joel responded with, "I hope they could say we went all the way." She added, "And that was it. That really was the final. That was it." The couple were married from 1973 until 1982. "After 'Glass Houses' came out I was always on the road, working, working, I look back on that guy and I don't even know who he was, he had to be so ambitious to work that hard and work that much," Joel said in the documentary. "So, it must have not been easy to be married to me at the time." "I wasn't asking him to change, but I just did not want to live like that. My response to it was to get a place in New York City where you can enjoy anonymity — so it wasn't so much as we separated, but we started to get a little bit isolated from one another and I also knew that he wasn't in a good place. We were all under a lot of stress," Weber said. "All of us dealt with our stresses in different ways. And so there was a lot, a lot of alcohol use and eventually a lot of drug use." Elsewhere in the documentary, Joel also opened up about what led him to attempt suicide twice and fall into a coma. When the musician was in his early 20s, Joel was part of a band called Attila with his best friend, Jon Small, who was married to Weber at the time. He ended up moving in with Small, Weber, and their son, according to People. "Bill and I spent a lot of time together," Weber confessed in the documentary, per People. She added that their friendship was gradual and a "slow build." Joel eventually told his best friend, "I'm in love with your wife." "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Joel admitted in the documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday. "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 betrayal not only ended Joel and Small's friendship at the time but also dissolved their band, Attila. Consumed by guilt and depression, Joel's personal and professional life unraveled, as he began to spiral. "I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats, and I was depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic," Joel 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." Joel's sister shared in the film that she was working as a medical assistant and gave him sleeping pills to help with the restless nights. WATCH: BILLY JOEL'S WIFE ALEXIS JOEL SHARES HOW SINGER SUPPORTED HER DURING HER BATTLE WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS "But Billy decided that he was going to take all of them… he was in a coma for days and days and days," she emotionally said. "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." While Joel acknowledged that he had been "very selfish" during the tumultuous time, he recalled his first thought when he woke up from his coma was that he wanted to attempt suicide again. During Joel's second attempt at suicide, he ingested "lemon Pledge," a furniture polish. Miraculously, he survived both attempts, after Small rushed him to the hospital. "Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life," Joel explained in the documentary. Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this post.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Billy Joel documentary reveals he attempted suicide twice and was in a coma after affair with friend's wife
Warning: This article contains mentions of suicidal ideation. Discretion advised. Billy Joel at one point wanted to 'end it all,' according to the documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes.' The new film, which premiered at Tribeca Festival in New York City this week, revisits the some of the singer's struggles, including two suicide attempts following an affair with his bandmate's wife, according to People. The first part of the documentary told the story of the Joel being in the band Attila with his best friend Jon Small, whom Joel eventually went to live with in a home occupied by Small, his wife Elizabeth Weber and their son. Weber reportedly said in the film that there was a 'slow burn' between her and Joel. Joel said he 'felt very, very guilty' about their resulting affair, which ended in a fight and the band splitting after he confessed to Small that he was in love with Weber. 'They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' Joel told the filmmakers. '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.' Weber left and Joel said he spiraled into drinking, became homeless and was 'depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic,' he recalled. '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,' he said. 'So, I just thought I'd end it all.' His sister, Judy Molinari, was a medical assistant at the time and gave him sleeping pills, which Joel took all of and ended up in the hospital in a coma for days. 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet,' she said in the film. 'I thought that I'd killed him.' He drank a bottle of cleaning fluid the second suicide attempt, Joel said, and ironically it was Small who took him to the hospital. 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' Joel said. He sought help, which Joel said helped him channel his emotions into his music that has brought him success. Years later, Joel and Weber reconnected and married from 1973 to 1982. She still has admiration for him and has been supportive as the superstar musician recently cancelled tour dates to seek treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that affects the brain. 'He's worked so hard all of his life,' she told E! News at the premiere. 'I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together.' 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' is set to air on HBO in July. By Lisa Respers France, CNN If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available: If you need immediate assistance call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Billy Joel opens up about affair that led to two suicide attempts
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Billy Joel is sharing the most haunting chapter of his life – a chapter that nearly silenced his music forever. The "Piano Man" singer, who is currently battling a brain disorder, revealed in the first part of his documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," what led him to attempt suicide twice and fall into a coma. When the musician was in his early 20s, Joel was part of a small band called Attila with his best friend Jon Small. At the time, he moved in with Small, his wife, Elizabeth Weber and their son, according to People. "Bill and I spent a lot of time together," Weber confessed in the documentary, according to People. She added that their friendship was gradual and a "slow build." Joel eventually told his best friend, "I'm in love with your wife." "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Joel admitted in the documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday. "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." "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker." The betrayal not only ended Joel and Small's friendship at the time but also dissolved their band, Attila. Consumed by guilt and depression, Joel's personal and professional life unraveled, as he began to spiral. "I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats, and I was depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic," Joel 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." Joel's sister shared in the film that she was working as a medical assistant and gave him sleeping pills to help with the restless nights. "But Billy decided that he was going to take all of them … he was in a coma for days and days and days," she emotionally said. "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." While Joel acknowledged that he had been "very selfish" during the tumultuous time, he recalled his first thought when he woke up from his coma was that he wanted to attempt suicide again. During Joel's second attempt at suicide, he ingested "lemon Pledge," a furniture polish. Miraculously, he survived both attempts, after his friend Small rushed him to the hospital. "Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life," Joel explained in the documentary. His friend 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." Following the second suicide attempt, Joel shared that he had felt like a "lost soul" and admitted himself to an "observation ward." There, he confronted his inner demons and began the long road to recovery. The singer called the experience life-changing and was released several weeks later. "I got out of the observation ward, and I thought to myself, 'You can utilize all those emotions to channel that stuff into music,'" Joel said. Joel and Weber reconnected and eventually tied the knot years after the affair. The couple were together from 1973 until 1982.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Billy Joel admits he attempted suicide twice and ended up in a coma after falling in love with bandmate's wife
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. 3 3 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.
CNN
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Billy Joel documentary reveals he attempted suicide twice and was in a coma after affair with friend's wife
Billy Joel at one point wanted to 'end it all,' according to the documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes.' The new film, which premiered at Tribeca Festival in New York City this week, revisits the some of the singer's struggles, including two suicide attempts following an affair with his bandmate's wife, according to People. The first part of the documentary told the story of the Joel being in the band Attila with his best friend Jon Small, whom Joel eventually went to live with in a home occupied by Small, his wife Elizabeth Weber and their son. Weber reportedly said in the film that there was a 'slow burn' between her and Joel. Joel said he 'felt very, very guilty' about their resulting affair, which ended in a fight and the band splitting after he confessed to Small that he was in love with Weber. 'They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' Joel told the filmmakers. '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.' Weber left and Joel said he spiraled into drinking, became homeless and was 'depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic,' he recalled. '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,' he said. 'So, I just thought I'd end it all.' His sister, Judy Molinari, was a medical assistant at the time and gave him sleeping pills, which Joel took all of and ended up in the hospital in a coma for days. 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet,' she said in the film. 'I thought that I'd killed him.' He drank a bottle of cleaning fluid the second suicide attempt, Joel said, and ironically it was Small who took him to the hospital. 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' Joel said. He sought help, which Joel said helped him channel his emotions into his music that has brought him success. Years later, Joel and Weber reconnected and married from 1973 to 1982. She still has admiration for him and has been supportive as the superstar musician recently canceled tour dates to seek treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that affects the brain. 'He's worked so hard all of his life,' she told E! News at the premiere. 'I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together.' 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' is set to air on HBO in July.
