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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Billy Joel attempted suicide twice after affair with best friend's wife
In his new documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, the iconic musician recounts a dark chapter of his early life marked by heartbreak, betrayal, and two suicide attempts Music legend Billy Joel has revealed he attempted suicide twice in his early twenties, following a turbulent affair with a friend's wife that left him in a coma. The revelations are featured in the new documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes , where the 76-year-old speaks candidly about the events that drove him to the brink. The affair began while Joel was living with his bandmate Jon Small, Jon's wife Elizabeth Weber, and their child. Joel and Weber grew close, with Elizabeth describing their relationship as a 'slow build.' She would later marry Joel, with the couple together from 1973 to 1982. Joel, who has recently been diagnosed with brain cancer, eventually confessed his feelings to Small. 'I was in love,' he said. The fallout was immediate and painful. 'I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker. I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose which I deserved,' he admitted. 'Jon was very upset. I was very upset.' The confrontation ended their band, Attila , and destroyed the men's friendship. Weber left, and Joel's mental health deteriorated rapidly. '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. 'So I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.'' Joel's sister, Judy Molinari, who was working as a medical assistant at the time, had given him sleeping pills to help him rest. 'But Billy decided that he was going to take all of them… he was in a coma for days and days and days,' she recalled tearfully. '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.' Even after recovering, Joel considered another attempt. He drank a bottle of lemon Pledge and was rushed to the hospital by Small. 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' Joel reflected. Small later forgave him. '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,' he said. Following his second suicide attempt, Joel checked himself into a psychiatric observation ward. The experience, he said, reshaped his life. 'I got out… and I thought to myself, you can utilise all those emotions to channel that stuff into music.' Joel would go on to become one of the best-selling artists of all time but his pain would ultimately become the source of his greatest art. His biggest hits include Piano Man, New York State of Mind, and Just The Way You Are. If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@ or visit their site to find your local branch.
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Bruno Mars Is A Global Powerhouse, Thanks To A Mix Of New And Old Smashes
Bruno Mars has spent nearly the past decade and a half proving that he's not just a star in America, he's a global phenomenon. The pop powerhouse doesn't release new material as often as many of his peers, but when he does, there's a good chance that people will be listening to his tunes – and very few albums – for years to come. This frame, the crooner fills a number of spots on Billboard's two worldwide charts, and several of his biggest wins even manage to return. Mars occupies seven spaces on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. rankings this week. The former chart ranks the most-consumed tracks in the world, using data from virtually every country. The latter excludes American consumption, offering a glimpse into what's performing best outside the United States. That's one of the most impressive accumulations of wins among all acts, and only a handful of Mars' current smashes are even relatively new. Among the two returning tracks on the Billboard Global 200 from Mars, the bigger comeback belongs to 'Uptown Funk.' The Grammy-winning cut, fronted by Mark Ronson and featuring Mars, finds its way back onto the ranking at No. 182. The smash won Record of the Year at the Grammys almost a decade ago, and it continues to get people onto the dance floor. At the very bottom of the tally sits another Mars classic: 'When I Was Your Man.' The emotional ballad returns at No. 200, just barely finding space on the tally. At its peak, the solo hit rose as high as No. 70 on the Billboard Global 200. While his comebacks are notable, it's what's happening at the very top of the charts that really showcases Mars' dominance. The singer-songwriter controls the highest two spots on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. rankings again this week. 'Die With a Smile,' his collaboration with Lady Gaga, remains steady at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200. Over on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., it holds at No. 2. Meanwhile, 'Apt.,' a historic duet with Blackpink's Rosé, manages the exact opposite. That track ranks as the runner-up globally and reigns supreme outside the U.S. Both songs are unmoved this frame. Between the two new arrivals and the pair of chart-topping smashes, three more Mars cuts help round out his seven-slot showing on both global tallies. 'Just The Way You Are,' 'Locked Out of Heaven,' and 'That's What I Like' all manage to improve on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. 'Just The Way You Are' is the highest-rising of the trio and currently resides in the top half of both global charts. 'Locked Out of Heaven' also lands in the upper region, though only on the tally that excludes American data. 'That's What I Like' is nearer to the bottom, but it's holding on — and for a tune released in 2016, that's quite a notable showing.
