The primary a part of the brand new Billy Joel documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, premiered at Tribeca Pageant in New York Metropolis on Wednesday, detailing a darkish interval within the singer’s life when he tried suicide twice after he had an affair together with his greatest pal and bandmate’s spouse.
As reported by Individuals, Joel — who didn’t attend the premiere after not too long ago being recognized with a mind dysfunction — and his greatest pal Jon Small have been in a band referred to as Attila whereas he was in his 20s. After Joel moved in with Small, he regularly turned near Small’s spouse, Elizabeth Weber, and their son.
“Invoice and I spent a whole lot of time collectively,” Weber mentioned within the documentary, describing their affair as a “gradual construct.” When Small suspected one thing was occurring between the 2, Joel confessed, “I’m in love together with your spouse.”
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“I felt very, very responsible about it. That they had a toddler. I felt like a homewrecker,” Joel recalled. “I used to be simply in love with a girl, and I obtained punched within the nostril, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I used to be very upset.”
This altercation led to Attila’s disbandment and Weber leaving Small — although Joel and Weber later reconnected and have been married from 1973 to 1982. After the falling out, Joel began ingesting closely and entered a deep despair.
“I had no place to dwell. I used to be sleeping in laundromats and I used to be depressed, I feel to the purpose of virtually being psychotic,” Joel mentioned within the movie. “So I figured, ‘That’s it. I don’t need to dwell anymore.’ I used to be simply in a whole lot of ache and it was kind of like why hang around, tomorrow goes to be similar to at this time is and at this time sucks. So, I simply thought I’d finish all of it.”
In an try to assist, Joel’s sister, Judy Molinari, gave him sleeping drugs so he may get some relaxation. “However Billy determined that he was going to take all of them… he was in a coma for days and days and days,” she remembered. “I went to go see him within the hospital, and he was mendacity there white as a sheet. I assumed that I’d killed him.”
After waking up from the coma, Joel tried to commit suicide once more by ingesting the furnishings polish lemon Pledge. Fortunately, Small was round to drive Joel to the hospital and save his life.
When requested in regards to the incident, Small responded: “He by no means actually mentioned something to me, the one sensible reply I may give as to why Billy took it so arduous was as a result of he beloved me that a lot and that it killed him to harm me that a lot. Finally, I forgave him.”
Following the 2 suicide makes an attempt, Joel checked himself into an “statement ward” and was launched a few weeks later.
As Billboard factors out, Joel addressed this era of his life in 1971’s “Tomorrow Is At present” from his debut album, Chilly Spring Harbor. On the observe, he sings, “Make my mattress, I’m gonna lie in it/ When you don’t come, I’m positive gonna die in it/ Too late, an excessive amount of giving/ I’ve seen a whole lot of life/ And I’m rattling sick of residing it.”
Co-directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, Billy Joel: And So It Goes premieres on HBO in July and also will be out there to stream on Max.
Editor’s Word: When you or somebody you recognize is scuffling with psychological well being, you may contact the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Disaster Textual content Line at 741741, or chatting at 988lifeline.org.
