All Products
Popular Music
DVD
Videos
Books


Search by Keywords:

 




Disclaimer: This web-site, in no way, has any direct
affiliation with: Billy Joel,
Columbia Records,
Sony Music, Joel Songs,
Inc., Maritime Music, Inc.,
or any other Billy Joel
related entity on the internet.
[ Cold Spring Harbor ]
[ Piano Man ]
[ Streetlife Serenade ]
[ Turnstiles ]
[ The Stranger ]
[ 52nd Street ]
[ Glass Houses ]
[ Songs In The Attic ]
[ The Nylon Curtain ]
[ An Innocent Man ]
[ Greatest Hits: Voume I & Volume II ]
[ The Bridge ]
[ Kohuept ]
[ Storm Front ]
[ River of Dreams ]
[ Greatest Hits: Volume III ]
[ 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert ]
[ The Ultimate Collection ]
[ The Essential Billy Joel ]
[ Fantasies & Delusions ]
[ Movin' Out: Original Cast Recording ]
[ The Harbor Sessions ]
[ 12 Gardens Live ]
[ The Hits ]




[ Live From Long Island ]
[ The Video Album: Volume I ]
[ The Video Album: Volume II ]
[ Live From Leningrad, USSR ]
[ A Matter of Trust ]
[ Live At Yankee Stadium ]
[ Eye of the Storm ]
[ Shades of Grey ]
[ Greatest Hits: Volume III ]
[ The Essential Video Collection ]
[ Rock Masters: Billy Joel ]
[ The Last Play at Shea ]



"John and Joel Go 'Face 2 Face' Again In Two Shows at The Palace"
By: Wendy Case
(May 2nd, 2003)

Elton John and Billy Joel, individually, are two of the biggest concert draws in music today.

But when "Captain Fantastic" and the "Piano Man" throw their lot in together, as they will tonight and Saturday when their "Face 2 Face" Tour hits the Palace of Auburn Hills, it's an unmitigated blockbuster.

Jeff Corey, public relations director for Palace Sports & Recreation, told The News that Sir Elton and Mr. Joel are among the company's top 5 sell-out performers of the last 15 years, with John selling out 9 shows and Joel selling-out 7.

"The fact that there's next to nothing left (ticket wise) shows that there's a tremendous amount of interest in these guys," says Corey, adding that he expects both shows to sell out by today. "They put the trump card down by going out together."

And it's no wonder folks are interested. A set-list from the duo's recent Columbus, Ohio, show reveals a program jammed with jaw-dropping hits. The two open and close the show together, playing individual sets in the middle. Among the staggering chart-toppers are John's "Tiny Dancer," "Rocket Man," "Bennie and The Jets" and "Your Song," and Joel's "My Life," "Just The Way You Are," "Only The Good Die Young" and, of course, "Piano Man." Some songs are performed individually, some together.

Alicia and Darren Thomas plan to attend Saturday's show. Alicia, 24, saw one of the duo's previous three tours together.

"They're both legends, so it's interesting to see two people with such history together. And it's interesting to see them interpret each other's songs," says the St. Clair Shores resident. "With people like them, you want to see them when you can. They've been around long enough that they don't need the publicity, and they don't need the money - it's not a given that they'll keep touring."

Though Joel suffered an auto accident in January and John requires a pacemaker, the tour seems to be rolling along with few complications save a canceled Toronto date due to an outbreak of the SARS virus. And as long as John, 56, and Joel, 54, choose to tour, they will always find a willing audience.

"They're like the last dinosaur," says Warren Westfall, 52, owner of Ferndale's Record Collector. "The nature of modern media would never allow artists like this to develop again. Things are too formatted and controlled in radio and in the media - it's been corporatized. These are the last visible vestiges of rock and roll's folk music roots. These are songs you can relate to in a traditional sense."


"Joel Outdoes John at Legends' Pianofest"
By: Brian McCollum
(May 3rd, 2003)

Billy Joel and Elton John are presumably musical partners on their latest cross-country jaunt - a power piano pairing that gives fans a double dose of the some of the modern era's biggest hits.

But if Friday night's show at a sold-out Palace of Auburn Hills was any sort of competition, Joel was the evening's hands-down winner.

Joel and John started doing these lucrative gigs nearly a decade ago after years of duking it out on the pop charts. Friday's rendition, before a crowd of 20,000, felt like a lopsided affair at times, with Joel displaying an energy and flash missing from the performance of the possibly ailing John.

With Joel's recent forays on Broadway and John's apparent lifetime deal with Disney, the time has long since passed for analyzing these two within the context of rock and roll. Friday's show was best received as a polished evening of pop standards.

The two took the stage together at facing grand pianos, eliciting the audience's roar as Joel handled the opening verse of John's ballad "Your Song." They swapped lines on another pair of tunes before Joel left the stage to John, who worked through an 80-minute set of his own material that matched big hits ("Philadelphia Freedom") with album cuts ("Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding").

John apologized early for his hoarse voice, which affected his delivery. The bulk of the crowd remained seated until the upbeat closing of "Crocodile Rock."

Joel emerged minutes later for his own 10-song set, lively from the get-go. Playfully slipping into his Ray Charles voice, graciously whipping up renditions of Motor City chestnuts like "Stop! In the Name of Love," he showed a vigor conspicuously missing from John's set.


"Celebrity Profile: Billy Joel"
By: Joyce Jillson
(May 3rd, 2003)

Billy Joel (May 9th, 1949) was born under the strict influence of the Virgo moon - an emotionally disciplined placement. With Virgo lunar vibes and three Taurus luminaries, musical precision comes naturally, and his success in the classical world is no surprise. Joel once said he would never return to pop music, but Mercury in Gemini is far too playful for a musical diet of Chopin and Beethoven. Joel could film a controversial music video this year, lambasting the media in a song reminiscent of Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry."


"Scoopsville"
The "Piano Man"...

By: Michael Sneed
(May 6th, 2003)

It was buzzin' at the Redhead Piano Bar on Sunday night when the "Piano Man," singer Billy Joel, tickled the ivories.

Sing 'em: Joel, who is using Chicago as his base while doing gigs in Detroit and St. Louis, was told about the bar by his driver, Diana Fairley. But it was a shocker when Joel decided to tackle the piano himself and played songs at customers' request for 45 minutes. Fairley finally had to pull him off the piano seat.

No Sing 'em: Decked out in black jeans and a black shirt, Joel was asked to play a repertoire of his famous songs, which included "Piano Man." But he eschewed playing "Uptown Girl," which was probably because he wrote it for his ex-wife, model Christie Brinkley. "I love Chicago," the singer kept saying. We love you too, Billy.


"Dueling Elton John, Billy Joel Put Crowd In A Magical State of Mind"
By: Kevin C. Johnson
(May 7th, 2003)

Rock icons Elton John and Billy Joel can no longer be counted on for best-selling CDs, and airplay is mostly relegated to classic hits radio. But bring them together under the same roof at any arena, and magic is bound to take place.

These Rock and Roll Hall of Famers still sell out houses on their own, but the excitement reaches a higher level when they do it together, as they did Monday night during a three-hour concert at a sold-out Savvis Center. This was the next-to-last night for this joint tour, a package they've been trotting out on and off over the past decade. (The show was rescheduled from an April date that was canceled when John became ill).

Of the two legendary performers, one still has the time of his life on stage; the other could inject more life into his presentation at times - guess which is which. But, together, these piano men make a hard-to-beat pair, nearly wearing the white off of the piano keys while performing a generous list of songs, among pop's most memorable, dating back to the '70s, as well as choice covers that were even older.

The show kicked off with a pair of black, baby grand pianos rising from beneath the stage, accompanied by a projected image of a joint flag uniting the United States and England. Joel, decked out in black, walked out first to the tune of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," followed by John, wearing the type of hot-pink suit one would expect.

John and Joel faced off on dueling pianos on John's "Your Song," Joel's "Just The Way You Are" and John's "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," with the band coming aboard on the latter song. John and Joel took turns with the verses, and it was remarkable how comfortable each singer was with the other's lyrics, enough to make it sound as if he could have recorded the song himself and achieved the same success.

Both singers remain in fine voice, though John apologized for leftover huskiness in his throat from his earlier illness.

After three songs together, Joel retreated from the stage to give John space to show his stuff solo, beginning with an excessive yet forceful "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding." John earned standing ovations for each classic he polished off including "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Rocket Man." But he went overboard milking the crowd for extra applause, standing up, bowing and posturing after every song, including on "Tiny Dancer" and "Crocodile Rock," which he stopped momentarily to listen to the crowd's "la la la la la."

The same reception failed to greet John after "I Want Love" and "The Wasteland," two time-killing songs from his 2001 release "Songs From The West Coast."

Joel, who recently had the dubious distinction of having his material performed by "American Idol" contestants, came out with an adrenaline rush missing from John's show, beginning with Joel's lengthy "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant."

Say what you will about Joel and those bouts with alcohol - his show still had a boundless, manic energy that surpassed John's on songs including "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," "Allentown," "I Go To Extremes" and "New York State of Mind."

He offered the crowd a choice of three songs at one point, "Summer, Highland Falls," "Prelude/Angry Young Man" and "Don't Ask Me Why," and let the crowd's applause determine which song would make the cut. "Don't Ask Me Why" triumphed, though "Prelude/Angry Young Man" would've been equally strong.

"The River of Dreams," as upbeat as ever, broke down into a bit of "Louie Louie," which Joel did especially for St. Louis. He initially thought he'd drop in "Meet Me In St. Louis," but figured, "That sucks." He also referenced the Checkerdome, saying even hockey games sounded bad there, and recalled a '70s concert when he opened for Harry Chapin.

Joel broke loose for "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me." He took off his jacket, struck a few rock idol poses and had all kinds of fun with the microphone stand.

Joel and John shared the stage again for the show's final segment, which included "My Life," "The Bitch Is Back," "You May Be Right" and "Bennie and The Jets," as well as covers of the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" and Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire."

Even John loosened up by this point. One could've wished only that they'd gotten back together sooner.


"Lost Dog"
(May 7th, 2003)

Well known in the Hamptons, once described as the personification of fin de siecle decadence, artist Carolyn Beegan had dog trouble. Her seven month-old pug, Isabella, a birthday gift from her former boyfriend and former Hamptonite Billy Joel, wriggled out of her collar last Saturday on Three Mile Harbor road (don't ask) and went AWOL for forty-eight hours. La Beegan canceled a planned jaunt to Belize and a general alarm was sent up for le chien perdue. Local radio stations repeatedly announced a $1,000 reward for Isabella's safe return (without mentioning the dog's celebrity provenance) and "Lost Dog" flyers were posted all over the area. Luckily, a kindly neighborhood lady found the dog and while Ms. Beegan and her friends were distraught that the dog would be gobbled by foxes or feral cats in the dark, the teeny pug spent the night sleeping comfortably in the bed of the woman who took her in. Isabella is presently residing back in her Sag Harbor home with people she knows.


"Billy State of Mind"
By: John J. Connolly
(May 11th, 2003)

Let's hear it for a great New Yorker: Billy Joel. He invited my 13 year-old son, John Connolly Jr., who is wheelchair-dependent with cerebral palsy, to his concert in Albany on April 26th, 2003. Billy was a terrific host, very friendly and funny. John Jr. and the rest of our family were thrilled to meet him, hang-out backstage and be introduced to Elton John, with whom Billy was performing that night. We'll surely be Billy Joel (and Elton John) fans for life. Thanks a million, Billy!


"'Piano Men' Rule"
By: John O'Brien
(May 11th, 2003)

Your main worry before seeing two rock stars in their mid-50s perform is whether they can still bring it.

Thursday night, Elton John and Billy Joel showed they still can.

Some of their fans, though, might want to hang up their lighters.

While the two "Piano Men" played for a total of three hours and 45 minutes — and probably could still be playing, more than a few who packed the Allstate Arena in Rosemont seemed ready to be put out to pasture.

Never have I ever seen a concert crowd more concerned with making cell-phone calls, carrying on conversations wholly unrelated to the concert and vigilantly guarding their rights to sit on their butts (and yell at anyone who dared do otherwise).

Luckily for John and Joel, the past three decades must have left them a little nearsighted, for they attacked their pianos and their song catalogs with a fervor to match the enthusiastic throng near the stage.

The evening started with two baby grand pianos rising from under the stage, with John and Joel soon taking their places to face each other and trade off lines of John's classic "Your Song."

After the song, Joel lamented that the concert was the last night of the tour, which included three stops at the Allstate Arena.

The duo then played Joel's "Just The Way You Are" and John's "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me," before Joel retired backstage.

John and his band then tore through energetic versions of many of his classics, including "Someone Saved My Life," "Philadelphia Freedom," "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer," with its oh so appropriate line: "'Piano Man', he makes his stand, in the auditorium."

John seemed like he might welcome the end of the tour, confessing to "sore pipes" and sounding a little hoarse at times. Ironically, Thursday's show was originally scheduled for April 10th, 2003 but was canceled because of "artist illness."

When John finished his set and Joel took the stage with his band, Joel said he was the cause of the cancellation.

"I had really bad pipes," he said. "And for this money," an allusion to the ticket prices that topped out at some $200, "you don't want to see someone (messing) around."

Joel's solo set featured classics such as "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant," "Don't Ask Me Why," "Allentown," "New York State of Mind" and "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)."

Thursday's concert came on the eve of Joel's 54th birthday, and the fit and feisty Joel seemed to be aging better than John, two years his senior. Joel managed to boogie even while seated on his piano stool, one foot on the pedals and the other in an open stance toward the audience.

When he stepped out from behind the piano for "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me," he seemed to divine Elvis Presley. During "Only The Good Die Young," he further clowned around, even managing not to look ridiculous while spanking his own butt while playing.

And while the hit-filled solo sets were worth the price of admission, the reason everyone was there was to see the two "Piano Men" "Face 2 Face," as their tour was called.

They didn't disappoint, ending the evening with a full hour of raucous hits, including "My Life," "You May Be Right," "Bennie and The Jets," and even covers of "A Hard Day's Night" and "Great Balls of Fire."

The final set seemed to wake up even the most comatose fan, with everyone seeming to recall those many moments when the music of Joel and John brought us inspiration.

You could even feel a communal smirk when John - who's, well, Elton John - and Joel - not long out of rehab - sang the line, "The bitch is back, stone-cold sober as a matter of fact," from "The Bitch Is Back."

That feeling didn't end when the duo returned for an encore of "Piano Man." Indeed, one line never sounded so right when sung in unison by an audience: "We're all in the mood for a melody, and you've got us feeling all right."


Billy Joel Rents House Across Street From Old Flame
(May 11th, 2003)

...As wacky as it sounds, Billy Joel has rented a house in Sag Harbor directly across the street from his former flame, artist Carolyn Beegan. The two houses are so close that Mr. Joel and Ms. Beegan can see into each other's windows.

Mr. Joel has been playing the field since he and the titian-haired artist broke up four years ago, but friends think he's never really gotten over her. Ms. Beegan is otherwise romantically engaged with a ship's captain, but Mr. Joel never strays far away.

Now he's just across the narrow street.

The 1800s house Mr. Joel rented belongs to Ivana Lowell, whose mother, Lady Caroline Blackwood, was a writer and Guiness heiress who was married to the painter Lucian Freud and the poet Robert Lowell. Ms. Lowell was asking around $90,000 for the season for the handsome ship's captain's house.

Curioser and curioser, as Alice would say, many years ago the spacious house was also rented to Mr. Joel's ex-wife, Christie Brinkley. It was also once a funeral parlor, and the summer White House for President Chester A. Arthur.


"Hi, Neighbor"
By: Richard Johnson
(May 13th, 2003)

Billy Joel has rented a house in Sag Harbor right across the street from his former flame Carolyn Beegan. "The two houses are so close that Mr. Joel and Ms. Beegan can see into each other's windows," iHamptons.com reports. The "Piano Man" split with the Titian-haired artist four years ago, but friends think he's never really gotten over her. Joel's spokeswoman said the proximity of his $90,000 rental is just a coincidence: "It's near where his daughter lives." Billy's landlady is Ivana Lowell, whose late mother, Lady Caroline Blackwood, was a Guinness heiress who married painter Lucian Freud and poet Robert Lowell.


"Billy, Be A Hero"
By: Michael Riedel
(May 14th, 2003)

Theatre people are starting to get nervous about this year's Tony telecast.

The show, which will be broadcast June 8th, 2003 from Radio City Music Hall, is still without a host and is low on celebrity presenters.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, the star of the movie "Chicago," turned down an offer to take part in the telecast. So did Renée Zellweger, who's said to be "Chicago"-ed out.

The producers of the telecast have three hours to fill on CBS this year (PBS dropped its one-hour slot), which may well be their undoing.

In the past, the Tonys have struggled to maintain viewer interest for two hours. Drag things out for three, and Broadway might lose countless Nielsen families to HBO reruns.

The only solution is to throw out the tired old Tony template of trying to squeeze in a scene from every nominated show (regardless of its chances, its appeal, its familiarity), and come up with original musical segments.

On that score, there is some good news to report: Billy Joel, whose "Movin' Out" was nominated for 10 Tonys, is likely to accept an offer to perform on the telecast.

I have no idea what the Tony producers want him to sing, but here's a thought: Why not a medley of his favorite songs from Broadway musicals?

I'd love to hear Joel's interpretations of Rodgers, Gershwin, Loesser, Porter, Berlin and Sondheim.

He could finish up with one of his hits from "Movin' Out," then pass the song off to "Movin' Out" "Piano Man" (and Tony nominee) Michael Cavanaugh and the rest of the cast for the "Movin' Out" segment.

The League of American Theatres and Producers is trying to bully those poor little Outer Critics Circle nominators into keeping their traps shut.

You may recall that some of those nominators were kind enough to tell me about how "Gypsy" director Sam Mendes met with them privately before a preview performance and tried to get them to cut his show some slack.

I had fun with that bit of gossip, but apparently no one was laughing about it over at the League.

In a letter to Circle president Marjorie Gunner, League president Jed Bernstein reprimanded her for the "rather cavalier way" her members dicussed the nominations in The Post.

He acknowledged that it's difficult to keep people from gossiping (in the theatre? You don't say!), but reminded her that her awards are "dependent on the cooperation of producers (for tickets and access), and the 'recognizability' of each award is very much related to how much various producers publicize it over time."

This strikes me as a rather grandiose way of saying, "Stop talking to Riedel or else we won't give you any more free tickets and we won't mention your piddly little awards in our New Yok Times ads."

But Bernstein insists that's the wrong interpretation.

"It is not at all a veiled threat," he says. "Award shows are a cooperative endeavor, and it is very important that everyone act responsibly. Deliberations are meant to be private."

I called Gunner to get her reaction to the letter, but she got flustered and hung up the phone.

By the way, never let anyone put your phone number in the paper.

Last week, I got more than 30 calls from people who read the now infamous "Where's Bernadette?" article and claimed they'd spotted the "Gypsy" star.

"I saw her at the dry cleaner," one person said.

"I saw her in the CVS in Greenwich, Connecticut," said another caller.

"She was in Carmine's - eating spaghetti!" yet another claimed.

A few show queens thought I was giving their beloved Bernadette too hard a time and left rude messages calling me a "scumbag" and "jerk."

And then there was the deep-voiced fellow who rang and said: "My name is Bernadette Peters and I'm going to..."

I can't print the rest but let's just say if he made good on his threat, I'd be in a lot of pain.


"Couric Interviews Joel"
(May 16th, 2003)

Katie Couric must like working nights. After switching jobs with Jay Leno this week, she'll be seen Tuesday night on "Dateline NBC" in what's being billed as an exclusive interview with Billy Joel. Subjects covered include reports of his alcohol abuse, his recent car crash and his decision to visit a rehab center.


"'Movin' Out' Sweeps Astaires"
(May 16th, 2003)

For the first time in the 22-year history of the Theatre Development Fund's Astaire Awards - which celebrate the "best dance on Broadway" - all three top honors went to "Movin' Out," the musical based on Joel's songs. The awards, presented last night were for best choreographer (Twyla Tharp), best male dancer (John Selya) and best female dancer (Elizabeth Parkinson).


"'Movin' Out' Composer Billy Joel May Perform at The 2003 Tony Awards"
By: Ernio Hernandez
(May 16th, 2003)

"Movin' Out" collaborator Billy Joel - a nominee for the Tony Award for Best Orchestrations - may perform at this year's Tony Awards celebration, June 8th, 2003. The singer-songwriter confirmed he was exploring the possibility at a Tony Award press event, May 14, 2003.

Joel has made appearances in the Broadway staging of the new Broadway musical collaboration between him and choreographer Twyla Tharp, courtesy of the show's Joel interpreter Michael Cavanaugh. "It was my idea. He didn't want to do it at first. He came up and sang 'New York State of Mind' at the end. So I grabbed one of the guitars and played [with him]."

Tony nominee Cavanaugh told Playbill On-Line about Joel's likely Tony performance. "It will probably be him performing with his band separately. I can say he's thinking about it. He's considering it and I think it would be pretty great if he did."

As far as both singers performing together, Cavanaugh revealed, "I don't think there will be a duet. I think they'll separate it because that's really not what the show is." The "Movin' Out" performance at the Tonys is expected to be a medley of the show's numerous songs. "We don't know yet, whatever Twyla puts together," quipped Cavanaugh. "It'll probably be something we have to work out because we're going to have to put together different aspects of the show and explain it in four minutes."

"Movin' Out" garnered ten Tony nominations - second only to Hairspray's 13 - including nods for performers John Selya, Elizabeth Parkinson, Keith Roberts, Ashley Tuttle and Cavanaugh; director-choreographer Tharp; orchestrators Joel and Stuart Malina; designer Donald Holder; and for Best Musical.

The bookless show, currently residing at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre, uses Joel's song lyrics and Tharp's choreography to tell the story of five friends and lovers across three decades through love, war and loss. There is no dialogue and all songs are performed by pianist-singer Michael Cavanaugh, who sings non-stop and heads an on-stage band during the show.

The song-list includes many of Joel's hit songs and even interpolates some of his classical work. "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me" functions as a sort of overture, introducing the characters. The story kicks off with "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" and moves through other songs as the popular "We Didn't Start The Fire," "Big Shot," "Uptown Girl" and "Captain Jack," as well as more obscure early work like "James," "Summer, Highland Falls," and "Prelude/Angry Young Man." As a final curtain coda, Cavanaugh belts out the apropos "New York State of Mind."


"I'm No Drunk, Billy Insists"
By: Michael Starr & Rita Delfiner
(May 20th, 2003)

He's famous for "a bottle of white, a bottle of red," and pop-star Billy Joel is now singing that he's "an alcohol abuser" - but insists he's no alcoholic.

"I can abuse alcohol. If the demons get me, I'll go on a bender," the "Piano Man" tells Katie Couric in an exclusive interview tonight on NBC's "Dateline."

"It's happened to me before. That's why I went into rehab. I was on a binge. I was on a bender. And I said: 'This is stupid. I gotta stop.' And I went and I did stop."

Last year, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter escaped serious injury in a June 12th, 2002 car crash in East Hampton. A cop at the time was quoted as saying, "There were no signs of alcohol."

Days later, Joel checked into Silver Hill, a chic Connecticut rehab clinic.

"Everybody can abuse alcohol," he tells Couric. "Every - anybody can drink too much. But I've cooled that out."

Couric asks Joel if he considers himself an alcoholic.

"No. I'm an alcohol abuser," he replies. "If you drink too much, no matter who you are, whether you're an alcoholic or not, you're gonna do harm to yourself."

On January 25th, 2003, Joel totaled his Mercedes-Benz S600 when he smacked into a tree while driving alone in Sag Harbor - his second car crash in seven months.

Because there was no smell of alcohol on him or in the car, cops did not give him a Breathalyzer test.

Joel's shaken ex-wife, Christie Brinkley, snapped pictures of the crushed car and went public to say their daughter, Alexa Ray, 17, had been riding in her dad's car hours before he totaled it.

"The seat Alexa was sitting in only hours before the latest crash was completely decimated," the supermodel said in a statement.

"I'm worried about Billy, but, like any mother would be, I am alarmed and concerned about my child's safety by this frightening pattern of events."

Joel tells Couric he and Brinkley spoke about her concerns, "And I said, number one, it wasn't the seat Alexa was sitting in. She was sitting in a different seat.

"I'd been driving my daughter that afternoon. There was no alcohol involved with that. I would never put my daughter in any kind of danger like that. Or myself. And that's really the truth of the matter."


"Billy Joel: Movin' On"
With Success, Come Hard Questions. Billy Joel tells NBC's Katie Couric About His Broadway Success and His Personal Lows

Interviewed By: Katie Couric
(May 20th, 2003)

Billy Joel says he wants to set the record straight. It's part of a new chapter in his life - part two, you might say, of a great American success story. It's not that Billy Joel's been away, exactly. He still tours, but he stopped writing songs a decade ago. But now a Broadway musical based on his songs is a smash hit. Along with that new success has come new controversy - and hard questions - about his private life, and his drinking. He answers the questions in this exclusive interview with NBC's Katie Couric.

His songs scored the soundtrack for an entire generation. For three decades, his lyrics have spoken for lovers & loners, friends and veterans. They call him the "Piano Man".

Michael Cavanaugh sings, "There's a place in the world for the angry young man with his working class ties and his radical plans."
But wait a minute. Who's this guy singing? It's a scene from the hit Broadway musical, "Movin' Out," a shimmering stage celebration of Billy Joel songs.

Michael Cavanaugh: "My favorite songs. I grew up listening to Billy's music since the third grade. I used to camp out in the snow for his tickets, you know?"

This isn't your grandmother's Broadway musical. "Movin' Out" is a story told completely through dance - with Joel's lyrics providing the narrative, and the choreography, the dialogue.

Billy Joel: "To watch what they do, it's not - and I don't want to say just dance because as difficult as dance is, it's acting dancing. And dancing it but acting and dancing - I don't even know how to describe it. What do you call this?"

The critics have called it exhilarating, thrilling, and above all, original.

Katie Couric: "Why did this appeal to you, Billy?"
Billy Joel: "Just the fact it was unorthodox. It was untried. It was different. It was risky. It was daring. It was crazy. It was ludicrous. I said, 'This is fantastic. What a great idea.'"

"I can abuse alcohol, if the demons get me, I'll go on a bender. It's happened to me before. That's why I went into rehab. I was on a binge. I was on a bender. And I said this is stupid. I gotta stop. And I went and I did stop." - Billy Joel

The idea was the brainchild of a flower child. Renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp wanted to tell the story about young Americans, ravaged by the war in Vietnam, set on the suburban shores of western Long Island. Luckily for her, this islander had already written it. We first heard about Brenda and Eddie in 1977, in the Billy Joel classic, "Scenes From An Italian restaurant."

Twyla Tharp: "I said, I want to do a narrative. He said, 'What's the story?' I said, 'I don't know but to begin with, Did Brenda and Eddie talk to each other 20 years later?' He said, 'I don't know.' I said, 'Well let's find out.'"

Meet the king and the queen of the prom - embodied in the near-perfect bodies of dancers John Selya and Elizabeth Parkinson.

Katie Couric: "You must be in the shape of your lives. Are you, you two? I mean, do you have any body fat? Because it was really kind of ticking me off, when I was watching you. Because I was like - their bodies are so beautiful. And I mean that in a totally appreciative, non-sexual way."
John Selya: "Oh, shoot."
Katie Couric: "OK, maybe in your case, a sexual way."

Selya and Parkinson are only two of four dancers who've received Tony nominations for, ironically, best actor.

Twyla Tharp: "These guys, as an experiment, are the first of a breed. No dancer has ever carried a show for this length of time at this kind of peak."
Billy Joel: "But people would think being in this kind of shape would make my life easier. But no, it's not. I get accosted on the street, because of the wonderful condition that I'm in. It happens constantly. And I can't finish a meal."


A Life In Songs

The show features 26 songs that span the length of Joel's career. For these classically trained dancers, it's not that much of a stretch.

Elizabeth Parkinson: "You can really feel the groove and get into it. You don't have to familiarize yourself with the music. You already know it. So that was wonderful."
Twyla Tharp: "There was one song that I put on. And John just - this look came on. He said, 'You just saw it. It was like, "Holy shit. I get to dance to 'Prelude/Angry Young Man', yes.'"
John Selya: "I was expecting a mosh pit, though."

But hovering above the stage and the dancers, it's still rock and roll to them. Michael Cavanaugh is this show's "Piano Man", leading a ten piece band through two long sets of Billy's best.

Billy Joel: "These are good musicians. These guys got chops. There's when you hear a song, say, "Movin' Out" - here's four time. But you've got that. There's eights. There's 16ths in it. There's so much math involved."

In his career, Joel's had 33 top 40 hits and sold more than 75 million albums - so you do the math. But he says he's glad Twyla Tharp chose songs that would help sell the story. And not just the best selling tracks.

Billy Joel: "There's a moment in the second act when Brenda is reconciling with Tony. She enters the stage in complete silence and makes these movements with her body. And then it breaks into a piece called "Dublinesque" without words. And I get choked up. I get the chokey thing every time that happens."
Katie Couric: "You get the chokey thing?"
Billy Joel: "I call it the chokey thing."
Michael Cavanaugh: "Rock and rollers aren't supposed to get the chokey thing."
Billy Joel: "Nah, nah. We don't - hey."

But with the euphoria of 10 Tony nominations has come the sadness of two tragedies.

The cast was devastated when John Selya's understudy, William Marrie, was killed in a motorcycle accident last November. But they discovered, first hand, the healing power of "Movin' Out's" music after another ensemble member, Mark Arvin, fell into a coma after complications from surgery.

Katie Couric: "I understand that the doctors had pretty much given up on him."
Elizabeth Parkinson: "They had. It was interesting. His partner and his mother played music for him from "Movin' Out." And they really felt like they saw a reaction in him. And gone over roles with him, next to him in his bed. They've played all the music that he's danced to. And they're getting a lot of response."
Katie Couric: "Is he out of a coma now?"
Elizabeth Parkinson: "Yes. He is out of the coma. He is taking very small steps, to regain control of his body. He has a long way to go. But he's doing well. We're all praying for him."

And for Joel, the experience of watching his enter life flash before his eyes on the Broadway stage feels like coming full circle. It's really not about movin' out. It's about movin' on.

Katie Couric: "Billy, for you, I would think it would be very gratifying to watch a show like this, and to listen, basically, to your life's work. You must feel great, after you see this and think, "Yes."
Billy Joel: "I do. It's very moving for me, because I've always referred to my songs, or the music that I've written, as my children, I feel like. And these songs grew up. And they've gone on to live in a theater, on Broadway. These kids - I'm very proud of them. And, 'Hey, those are my kids. Look at what my kids are doing now.' They're dancing, and audiences are cheering them. And they're being sung. You know, by somebody that's not me. Those are my kids. They have their own life. They don't need their old man any more. And I like that."


Life On The Water

Katie Couric: "I wore my Thirston Howell III for you."
Billy Joel: "Is this your yacht outfit?"
Katie Couric: "It is. Hello Lovey. Let's go shall we?"
Billy Joel: "OK my dear."

It wasn't quite a three hour tour. Nor was this an uncharted desert isle.

Billy Joel: "See that farm house? I almost bought that."

But my skipper was brave and sure.

Billy Joel: "Let's kick some butt here."
Katie Couric: "I was going to say, put the pedal to the metal dude."

Granted, he was just looking to plug his Long Island runabout boat-building company, but hey, that's show biz.

Billy Joel: "This is tough huh? Hard turn."

"The last song I wrote was on the last album of original material that I wrote, called 'The River of Dreams.' And the last song was, 'Famous Last Words.' I was tired of writing songs. And I said, 'I'm just tired of talking about me, me, me, my, my, my, and my friends.' I get bored with it." - Billy Joel

Billy Joel has always been a man of extremes. He went from prize fighter to "Piano Man", with one brief stop in between.

Billy Joel: "I worked on an oyster boat in Oyster Bay - on a dredge, an oyster dredge."
Katie Couric: "Was that fun at all?"
Billy Joel: "It was hard work. It's gave me such an appreciation for how hard those guys work in the middle of the winter. And your hands are cracked and bleeding. And it's freezing and these old guys - making fun of me: 'Ah, there comes the piano player. He's going to be moaning and groaning about his hands. What's the matter, your hands hurt piano player?' And then I met one of the guys years later and he goes, 'I remember you. You were that piano player always bitching about his hands.' I said, 'That's right.' He goes, 'Well what happened? How'd things end up?' I said, 'Ah, pretty good.'"

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's raked in six Grammy's, 14 platinum selling albums, and he's the number three best-selling solo artist of all time, behind Garth Brooks and Elvis. Lately, though, you get the feeling Billy Joel is over himself.

Billy Joel: "Let's look at it this way. If I'd been in a band for the length of my career, I would have broken up with me by now...would have hated each other's guts."


Perils of Fame

Joel has neither written, nor recorded, a pop song in a decade. Back then, some said he had it all - fame, fortune and family. But it didn't last. He divorced uptown girl Christie Brinkley and later vowed he was giving up pop songwriting forever.

Katie Couric: "You haven't really written one since you broke up with Christie, right?"
Billy Joel: "The last song I wrote was on the last album of original material that I wrote, called 'The River of Dreams.' And the last song was, 'Famous Last Words.' I was tired of writing songs. And I said, 'I'm just tired of talking about me, me, me, my, my, my, and my friends.' I get bored with it."

So aside from one classical CD, called "Fantasies & Delusions", Joel's spent much of the last few years on the road with another pop music icon, Sir Elton John.

For the sixth time in nine years, the "Piano Man" and the rocket man have synched up their Steinways, continuing what has become the most successful and longest running concert pairing in pop music history.

Billy Joel: "When I get together with Elton, I get to sing his songs. He sings my songs. We sing both our songs together. It's something different. I like him. He's a good guy."

He's got to like the pay day. Last year, Billy Joel and Elton John's "Face 2 Face" Tour was a top five concert attraction, grossing more than $65 million.

Katie Couric: "Do you still enjoy performing your old stuff?"
Billy Joel: "Some of it."
Katie Couric: "Really?"
Billy Joel: "Not all of it. Some songs - I kind of go on automatic pilot, yes. 'Just The Way You Are.' I've done a lot. Sometimes I'm hungry, because I can't have dinner before a show. You can't eat before a show. So I'm starving. And you're a little bit bugged, because you're hungry. So you should go on a little hungry, little angry. You know, it's good. It's good for the show."
Katie Couric: "Why can't you eat before a show?"
Billy Joel: "Well, you don't want to be digesting while you're trying to sing, number one. Number two, it slows you down. So I'm hungry. And sometimes during a song like "Just The Way You Are," my mind will wander. And I'll think, 'I wonder what's on the room service menu in the hotel.'
'Don't go changing to try and please me. Never let me down before.' (Maybe a - I don't know, a burger?)
'Don't imagine you're too familiar.' (No, it'll be cold and congealed by the time it gets to the room.)
'If I don't see you anymore.' (And the fries will be flat and dried out.)
'Could not leave you in times of trouble.'"
Katie Couric: "Maybe a Caesar salad?"
Billy Joel: "Maybe a club sandwich. You know, because it's toasted, and the bread won't wilt. Yeah, a club."
Katie Couric: "I'll never be able to listen to that song quite the same way."
Billy Joel: "I'm sorry, but it happens."
"She's a great pianist. She's better than I am, technically. And I don't look at it as following in my footsteps. She's going to walk her own footsteps. She doesn't really want to live in my shadow." - Billy Joel

On his daughter's talent On the flip side, Joel says he still enjoys singing the B-Sides like "Prelude/Angry Young Man" or "Summer, Highland Falls."

Katie Couric: "So what are you experiencing more of these days? Sadness or euphoria? Didn't you like how I slipped that in?"
Billy Joel: "Yes, that was good."
Katie Couric: "Thank you."
Billy Joel: "But I can't quote myself. Sadness or euphoria - I think I still experience both. I don't stay in either one for too long. But I have, you know, great joy and I have sadness, too."

But after he cancelled a series of concerts last year, then checked himself into rehab for alcohol abuse, some wondered if Joel's state of mind was more fragile than he was letting on.
Katie Couric: "You find it slightly perturbing that everybody comes up to you and says, 'Are you OK?'"
Billy Joel: "Yes, I get that a lot."
Katie Couric: "Yeah, and you don't like it."
Billy Joel: "You all right? You OK? And after you hear it a couple of dozen times a day it starts to get on your nerves. Yes, I'm OK. I'm all right. I'm fine. Do I look like I'm not all right? So it can nudge you after a while."


Two Car Accidents In One Year

But there's another reason people are asking. Since last June, Joel has had two serious car accidents near his home in the Hamptons. Though police didn't give Joel a sobriety test in either instance, speculation was rampant the accidents were alcohol related.

Billy Joel: "In my whole life, I've only had two car accidents. They happened to happen within the space of one year. Neither one of them was related to the other one. And there was no, you know, illegal reason for those accidents. People have car accidents. Unfortunately, when they took me out of the car, in the last accident, the car had been squinched up against a tree. I had had sinus surgery the week before. So my eyes were all black and blue. The airbag had inflated and it - I have a little cut on my scalp. Now when you cut your scalp, you bleed like Niagara falls. So they looked in the window and they saw this guy with big black and blue face and blood running down - 'Oh, we gotta peel the car open.' So they used this thing, the jaws of life, and they literally peeled the car open like a can of anchovies. That's the photo that they showed in the paper. 'This was Billy Joel's accident, which is not at all what happened.'"

Katie Couric: "As you know, there's been a lot of speculation you were drinking. Do you have a drinking problem?"
Billy Joel: "I can abuse alcohol, if the demons get me, I'll go on a bender. It's happened to me before. That's why I went into rehab. I was on a binge. I was on a bender. And I said this is stupid. I gotta stop. And I went and I did stop. And I've learned to recognize what those signs are. Everybody can abuse alcohol. Every - anybody can drink too much. But I've cooled that out."
Katie Couric: "But would you consider yourself an alcoholic?
Billy Joel: "No. I'm an alcohol abuser. I mean alcoholic is- you can't live without the stuff and it's toxic to you. If you drink too much, no matter who you are, whether you're an alcoholic or not, you're going to do harm to yourself."

Or to someone else. The more recent accident took place just hours after he'd been driving with his 17 year-old daughter Alexa - prompting ex-wife Christie Brinkley to snap photographs of Joel's impounded Mercedes-Benz and then, issue a strong statement.
Christie Brinkley's statement: "The seat Alexa was sitting in, only hours before the latest crash, was completely decimated. I'm worried about Billy, but like any mother would be, I'm alarmed and concerned about my child's safety by this frightening pattern of events."
Billy Joel: "Well-"
Katie Couric: "Now have you all talked about this?"
Billy Joel: "Yeah, we have."
Katie Couric: "Can you understand her concern?"
Billy Joel: "Well sure. We talked about it. And I said, number one, it wasn't the seat Alexa was sitting in, she was sitting in a different seat. I'd been driving my daughter that afternoon. There was no alcohol involved with that. I would never put my daughter in any kind of danger like that. Or myself. And that's really the truth of the matter. There was no alcohol involved with that accident. There was - the people I was with were having drinks at dinner. Somebody did send over drinks. I didn't happen to have any that night. It was not an alcohol related accident."
Katie Couric: "You had absolutely nothing to drink that night?"
Billy Joel: "Somebody sent over a glass of champagne and I might have taken a sip just to say thank you, but that was it."
Katie Couric: "Does she feel comfortable again with you driving your daughter?
Billy Joel: "Well, as far as I know. But you're going to have to ask Christie."

In a statement to "Dateline," Christie Brinkley responded, "I hope that Billy will honor his promise to use a professional driver when he's with Alexa. It eases my concern for the safety and well being of both of them."

Katie Couric: "Do you think your life would be easier, though, Billy, if you just didn't drink at all? In other words, if you have a predilection toward abusing alcohol, when you get sort of sad or depressed or for whatever reason."
Billy Joel: "That's when it's time to stop. You have to be aware of what drives you to excess, what drives you to an overindulgence in anything. I've given up hard liquor. I will, from time to time, have a glass of wine with dinner. That's not problematic. It's when I know that I'm going into a tailspin or a depression, that's when you've got to stop the drinking."
Katie Couric: "And you feel like you can do that?"
Billy Joel: "Yep."

Joel says he's through touring for a while, hoping to remain closer to home and closer to his daughter.

Katie Couric: " It's hard to believe that she's going to be going to college soon, right?
Billy Joel: "That's right. She'll be 18 at the end of this year.

It turns out, Alexa's following in her father's footsteps. She'll be attending the summer music program at the prestigious Berkley School of Music.

Billy Joel: "She's a great pianist. She's better than I am, technically. And I don't look at it as following in my footsteps. She's going to walk her own footsteps. She doesn't really want to live in my shadow."
Katie Couric: "It's really important to you to be a good father, isn't it?"
Billy Joel: "It's the most important thing in my life."

Billy Joel hopes one day he'll get married again and have more children. Now at age 54, he doesn't rule out writing one more pop album down the road. As this former oyster raker once sung, sometimes a fantasy is all you need.

Billy Joel: "I've had 'The Career.' What I would like for the next ten years is to have 'The Life.' Because I've had an amazing career. It's been wonderful, fantastic, beyond my wildest expectations. Now I want the life - a life."
Katie Couric: "And what is in a life to you?"
Billy Joel: "A relationship with someone, a family, a home. You know, all those normal things that are not part and parcel of being a rock star or celebrity or show biz or any of that stuff. It's time for me to start living my life at this late date."
Katie Couric: "You can almost taste it."
Billy Joel: "It's right there. It's just right there."
After three decades of enormous success, it may seem a bit odd to say he needs to get a life. But Billy Joel says he's working on it. And he does have a new girlfriend, but so far no wedding on the horizon.


"Elton John & Billy Joel Donate Concert Tickets To Musician's Relief Fund"
(May 20th, 2003)

Elton John and Billy Joel have donated concert tickets for shows on their current tour to an auction that will benefit the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The organization offers assistance to financially strapped artists in need of medical help. The online auction is already taking place on the website eBay.com and offers bidding on tickets to see rock, pop and country performers at select shows.

Meanwhile, five Elton John studio albums released from 1979 through 1984 - "Victim of Love," "21 at 33," "The Fox," "Jump Up!" and "Breaking Hearts" - have been reissued with new liner notes.

While all the recordings have been digitally reasserted, no bonus tracks have been added to the albums.


"Billy Joel: What I Need Is A Life"
By: J. Grant Swank, Jr.
(May 21st, 2003)

William Martin Joel, better known as Billy Joel, born May 9th, 1949 in the Bronx, now wonders what's missing.

In his TV interview broadcast Tuesday evening, Billy confessed that, though he's hit it big, he's a lonely fellow. He yearns to have his life complete. He made no bones about it. It was just out there.

His bio web-site states his surveillance of his life's meaning as follows: "I look in the mirror and say, 'Well, you ain't Cary Grant, but you ain't in the junkyard, either.' But I'm happy with my life. Very happy. It's nothing at all like I pictured it would be."

When was that written? Don't know. But it's not exactly what he gave forth in the telecast. Very happy? Not really. He said that he is looking for family, "even at my age (54)."

There was a sad cast to his eyes as he sat in his impressive residence surrounded by manicured lawnscapes. The camera, typically, was right up close. There was no escaping the hunger in his look.

His marriage to Christie Brinkley (March 23rd, 1985 - August 25th, 1994) could have worked out ok? We don't know the inside scoop for we just weren't there 24/7. But what the legal records show is that the nuptials closed down the show in divorce, unfortunately.

Before Christie, Billy was married to Elizabeth Webber, divorced in 1982.

He proudly stated that the real star in his eye is daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, born December 29th, 1985. Christie is quite protective of Alexa, particularly her physical safety, with Billy having had an auto accident, totaling the vehicle. Just a short time before the accident, daughter Alexa had been in that very auto. Christie was shown on the telecast taking her own snaps of the auto damage, going after ex-hubby to be more careful, especially when driving with Alexa.

Billy also confessed that he has a drinking problem, protesting that he is not actually an alcoholic but a person with "an alcohol problem." Billy's been to rehab for his problem. That worries Christie, particularly when Billy is managing a vehicle, perhaps with Alexa in that car.

Musically, of course, Billy slips off the top, easily. Billy and none other than Elton John have maxed out with millions of dollar takes in hitting the concert rounds with the "Face 2 Face" Tour.

Last October, Billy came out with his long-expected classical album, "Fantasies & Delusions." It is quite the genre change for the artist. The album shot to #1 on the Billboard Top Classical Albums. In the first week, sales were more than 14,000 units. It is music composed by Billy and set loose by piano virtuoso Richard Joo.

As Billy walked across his perfectly clipped lawn, casting his gaze at the gorgeous home, he set his sites on a boat ride with TV interviewer Katie Couric. Most of the exchange was smiles smiles smiles and lots of gasps at Billy's career success. However, the dialogue closed out on a forlorn note.

Billy sat back in his chair, reflecting on his life and said that he had indeed made it as a career envy; however, he was not at all shy about letting out that he was missing "a life. I have a career. Now, even at my age, I want a life." Billy needs a life.

Now figure that one out.


"Tonys Are In A Billy 'State of Mind'"
By: Michael Riedel
(May 21st, 2003)

Looks like Billy Joel will indeed open the Tony Awards. He'll sing "New York State of Mind" and then the cast of "Movin' Out" will perform its musical segment, which Twyla Tharp will choreograph especially for television. That should give the show a nice boost at the box office.

Tony producers, trying to find a way to capitalize on the success of "Chicago" (the movie), may put together a salute to songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb. Current cast members from "Chicago" and "Cabaret" (the shows) would perform, as well as longtime Kander and Ebb pals Joel Grey, Ann Reinking and Chita Rivera.

Big question: Will Liza sing for her beloved boys, too?

Footnote: It would be nice if the Tonys, with three long hours to fill, could find a way to recognize departed Broadway greats Adolph Green and Peter Stone.

Last Friday, I reported that Hugh Jackman (who'll soon be swishing around Broadway as Peter Allen) would be asked to host the Tonys but would probably just agree to sing a song and be a presenter.

Well, send me down to Rio - it appears that Tony producer Elizabeth I. McCann managed to persuade him to shoulder hosting responsibilities.

A triumphant McCann, who always threatens to pull my Tony tickets every time I take a swipe at Bernadette Peters, sent me the following note:

"Besides the inaccuracies in your story...it was a generally positive piece. You have moved up from the last row in Radio City Musical Hall to the front row of the mezzanine. If you keep up the good work, you might make it into the orchestra by June 8th, 2003."

She added: "From now on you will receive one piece of information each week from this office that no one else will receive - whether it is accurate or not."

OK, Liz, can you confirm this?

Bernadette will sing at the Tonys, but not a song from "Gypsy" - she'll do "A Person Can Develop a Cold" from "Guys and Dolls."

(Guess I'll be watching the Tonys from my couch!)

Thomas Meehan, up for a Tony for "Hairspray," just turned in a first draft of a new book for "Bombay Dreams."

The show, produced in London by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is slated to open on Broadway next spring.

Sources say Meehan has completely overhauled the show, which charts the rise of a Bombay street urchin who becomes a Bollywood star.

He's cut characters, streamlined the story and created production numbers that will explain Bollywood to American audiences who've never heard of the place.

The show should also be redesigned for Broadway, since the London production looked about as appetizing as a day-old plate of curry.

Dick Latessa, the lovable Wilbur in "Hairspray," will have his caricature unveiled tomorrow afternoon at Sardi's. Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur are hosting the bash.


"Billy Joel Battles Booze"
(May 22nd, 2003)

Singer Billy Joel yesterday told of his battle with alcohol, but insisted he was not an alcoholic.

The Grammy winner said he checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic last year to "cool out" after drinking too much.

"I can abuse alcohol. If the demons get me, I'll go on a bender," he told US television network NBC.

"It's happened to me before. That's why I went into rehab. I was on a binge. I said, 'this is stupid, I gotta stop'. And I went and I did stop."

Joel said he did not consider himself an alcoholic. "If you drink too much, no matter who you are...you're gonna do harm to yourself," he said.

In January, Joel crashed his car into a tree outside New York, his second car accident in seven months.


"Joel Battles Drink Demons"
(May 22nd, 2003)

Singer Billy Joel has told of his battle with alcohol but insists he's not an alcoholic.

The Grammy winner said he checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic last year to "cool out" after drinking too much.

"I can abuse alcohol. If the demons get me, I'll go on a bender," he told US network NBC in an interview.

"It's happened to me before. That's why I went into rehab. I was on a binge. I said 'This is stupid. I gotta stop'. And I went and I did stop."

He said he did not consider himself an alcoholic.

"If you drink too much, no matter who you are, whether you're an alcoholic or not, you're gonna do harm to yourself." he said.

In January, Joel crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a tree outside New York, his second car accident in seven months.

His former wife, model Christie Brinkley, said she was concerned about the safety of their teenage daughter who had been a passenger in the car a few hours earlier.

But Joel, 54, said he had not been drinking before the accident.

"I would never put my daughter in any kind of danger like that...and that's really the truth of the matter."


"My One Night Stand With Boozing Billy Joel"
Georgia Shop Girl Tells Globe Her Story
(May 27th, 2003)

For Billy Joel fan Betsy Brown, the letdown of a lifetime began September 16th, 2002, as the "Piano Man" himself sat down at a piano at the antiques shop where she worked and played her favorite song. Invited to share lunchtime "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant," the then-31 year-old Georgia peach became witness to one of Joel's hellacious drinking binges before falling into bed with him for a sexual encounter that forever changed her mind about the performer she'd always considered "sexy." Here, in a Globe world exclusive, is a former fan's heartbreaking confession about the 54 year-old pop-icon she adored, who first treated her like a princess only to drunkenly discard her like a used groupie.

"Billy Joel looked nothing like the pop-star whose songs I had grown up with - a little paunchy in a white undershirt, khakis and suede slip-ons and his little pug dog scampering a few steps ahead of him."

"Still, with his hair cropped close to his head and a little grey goatee, he looked like a cute professor of something cool and exotic. I confessed what a thrill it was for a big fan like me to meet him and asked if I could have a hug to remember the moment."

"That was at 10:00am. Nearly three hours later, Billy was still in the store, playing 'Piano Man' on our antique piano, smiling my way and repeatedly asking me for more hugs. He must have done that six times, each hug getting more nuzzly and enthusiastic. Then, in front of everyone, Billy asked if I'd be his guest at lunch."

"I was on cloud nine when we entered Pricci's Italian restaurant in the fancy Buckhead section of Atlanta. We were joined by his stage manager and a guy from his entourage and Billy ordered three bottles of expensive red wine. I thought at the time that that was a lot for just four people. Little did I know the wine was mainly for HIM and would set the pace for an 18-hour bender that would show me a dark side I wish I'd never seen."

"After the meal, I went back with them to the Four Seasons Hotel, where, as I was handed a drink at the bar, Billy whispered in my ear, 'Come on up to the Presidential Suite when you're done. I think you'll like it.'"

"Billy answered the door in a pair of boxers and undershirt. He gave me the grand tour of the place, pointing out the view of downtown Atlanta. Just when I began to feel it was probably time for me to go, Billy looked me in the eyes and held my hands. He showed me a magazine story quoting him saying how deep-down lonely he was. Billy hugged me then and it was different than the hugs he'd given in the store. I feel foolish saying it today, but at the time, his words and actions made me think that I might just be that long-lost soul mate he was looking for."

"Then, incredibly, he called for even more wine to be brought up to his room. He poured me some and polished off the rest himself."

"Though Billy's more than 20 years older than me and looks nothing like the curly-haired guy I remember from the album covers, I still found him to be an incredibly sexy man. When he kissed me on the lips for the first time, it felt so good that I couldn't help wondering if making love would likewise be a gentle and beautiful experience."

"We started making out heavily. Billy kissed me passionately, swaying a little on his feet and rather clumsily fumbling for the buttons on my blouse and skirt. He whispered, 'Let's do this thing right,' and led me to the master bedroom. We both undressed quickly and fell into each other's arms on the king-size bed. Billy has small hands with incredibly hard calluses. He said it was from pounding the piano keys."

"He had trouble staying aroused and the more he tried to make something happen down there, the more it didn't - and the more upset he became. At one point, he laid back with his eyes tightly closed, making strange little gurgling noises and I wondered what images he was calling on to help the situation."

"Sweat was pouring down his face, his eyes were bulging out of his head and looked to be in great distress. I begged him to sleep a while, but soon he started running his hands all over my body with urgency. Finally, I began performing oral sex on him."

"It took quite a while for his body to respond. Then after we were done, Billy fell into a deep, drunken, snoring sleep. He woke up early the next morning when the phone rang and made dinner plans with his show people. We went to yet another fancy Italian restaurant, this time in the Virginia Highlands area of the city, where we were joined by about eight others."

"Billy suddenly came alive as he ordered vast quantities of food and still more red wine. And just as before - only about four hours earlier, in fact - Billy was drinking again."

"After noticing that empty wine bottles kept being silently replaced, I half jokingly asked if he was going to be sober enough to play with Elton John the following day. Billy picked up a full glass of red, looked me in the eye and said, 'I don't get drunk and I don't have hangovers.' He then swallowed the whole glass in one shot and put it back on the table without taking his eyes off me. In seconds, the glass was refilled and he picked it up without looking, drank it down again and winked at me like he'd done something clever."

"It was late in the evening when we left the restaurant and Billy could hardly stand, let alone walk. Back at the hotel, he staggered inside his suite, but when he began tearing his clothes off, I still half-hoped he was in the lovemaking mood. But just as I slid into bed beside him, he grabbed his pug dog and set the animal between us. Almost immediately, he began snoring loudly."

"As I laid next to his dog, it was hard to hold back the feeling of emptiness. I panicked because I'd already missed one day's work and my car was still at the store. All I had was $5.00 and the concert tickets and backstage pass he'd given me at dinner. Though I hated to do it, I had to wake Billy up to ask for cab fare. Easier said than done. When he finally came to and I asked him for the cab fare, he peeled off two 20s from a roll, tossed it on the bed and said, 'See you at the show.'"

"It was a mistake to go, but I did. I even got all dressed up because Billy had invited me and I thought it meant something. But when I tried to get backstage after the concert, the same people who'd been at the restaurant the night before barred the way. I said, 'It's me, Betsy. Billy's expecting me.' But they just shook their heads as if I was the dumbest moron on the planet."

"I went from being treated like a princess to being treated like a groupie and it was very demeaning. I'm not a bad girl, but Billy really hurt my feelings and made me feel like a cheap slut. Those 18 hours with him changed my view of him forever."

"Billy Joel is no longer my idol. Now, I think he's a drunken pig."