Music legend Billy Joel is opening up about some of the darkest days of his life, past and present. The Still Rock and Roll To Me hitmaker reveals a series of personal tragedies and poor decisions that nearly cost him everything, including his life.
In July, HBO will air a new documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, that will expose the secret side of Joel, who has done his best to keep it hidden. That is up until now. It has been an emotional few weeks for Billy, who was hit with a devastating brain disorder diagnosis in May.
Since receiving the devastating diagnosis, Billy Joel has reportedly been thrown into an emotional tailspin, dealing with his grim prognosis, but also revisiting the darkest chapters of his past according to Radar Online.
Like most people, Billy Joel has done many things throughout his life that he regrets. One of the singer’s biggest regrets includes a painful affair that left emotional scars and guilt and eventually spiraled into multiple suicide attempts.
“I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,” Joel said of his relationship with Elizabeth Weber, the wife of his former Atilla bandmate and friend, Jon Small. “I was just in love with a woman, and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved,” confess the singer.
“Following the affair, Elizabeth ended her relationships with both men,” Billy recalls. The end of their relationship sent Joel into a deep, dark, depressive state. Things got very out of control for him, and he admits to handling it badly.
Guilt And Heartbreak Nearly Destroyed Billy Joel
“I was depressed to the point of almost being psychotic,” he confessed. “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.”
It was a tough time in Billy Joel’s life. He reveals he attempted suicide twice in his early 20s. The first time, he took a bottle of sleeping pills. He recalls waking up from a coma, with his first thought being that he wanted to do it again.
Joel describes his second suicide attempt after drinking a bottle of Lemon Pledge furniture polish. He was saved once again, this time by his former friend, Jon Small. Joel recalls Small rushing him to the hospital, which ultimately saved his life. It was after that that Billy revealed checking himself into a mental health observation ward for several weeks.
Billy Joel believed that despite the many regrets and heartbreaks throughout his life, he had finally found balance and happiness. That is, until recently. Following a fall on stage, Billy Joel was diagnosed with NPH (normal pressure hydrocephalus).
NPH is a brain condition affecting his coordination, hearing, and memory. For many, this is a grim prognosis, as it affects everyone differently. However, Billy Joel and his family remain hopeful while he undergoes treatment.
Despite the emotional and physical toll, Billy Joel isn’t facing this battle alone. He’s surrounded by the unwavering support of his family, who continue to stand by his side through every setback. Billy and his family remain hopeful that with treatment and rest, he’ll make a strong recovery.
