Billy Joel Opens Up About Troubling Past in New Documentary
In a surprising revelation, rock icon Billy Joel shares his emotional turmoil surrounding a relationship with his best friend’s wife. This comes to light in the new documentary, Billy Joel: And it goes, which premiered recently. The 76-year-old singer reflected on falling for Elizabeth Weber during the late 1960s while he was living with her and her husband, John Small.
Joel described navigating the complexities of this situation but ultimately felt overwhelmed and embarrassed. Elizabeth mentioned that their closeness developed over time, which led to an unexpected romantic connection.
Once the reality of their affair set in, Joel admitted feeling “very guilty,” particularly since the couple had children. He likened himself to a “home wrecker,” which only compounded his distress.
The documentary also reveals Joel endured a physical altercation. A punch to the nose, which he didn’t hold against the assailant, left him feeling he deserved it. After leaving his home without a place to stay, he faced difficult nights, even spending time in a laundry room.
Reflecting on that period, Joel said, “I was just feeling a lot of pain.” He described contemplating his existence with a profound sense of hopelessness.
Tragically, this pain led him to attempt suicide. His first attempt involved swallowing a bottle of sleeping pills his sister, a nurse, had given him. Fortunately, she found him before it was too late, and he ended up in a coma for several days.
His second attempt was equally harrowing; he drank furniture polish but was saved by John Small, despite the betrayal that had strained their friendship. Joel acknowledged, “Even though our friendship was exploding, John saved my life.”
After this tumultuous period, Joel ultimately reconciled with Elizabeth, marrying her in 1973. However, their marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce by 1982.
Recently, Joel made headlines again, stepping back from a concert tour due to a rare brain condition known as normal pressure hydrocephalus. This health issue also caused him to miss the documentary’s premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Billy Joel: And it goes is set to air on HBO Max later this summer.
