Billy Joel's Struggle: Suicide Attempts After Affair with Best Friend’s Wife

Billy Joel opened up about his suicide attempts following a painful affair, revealing deep emotional turmoil in his new documentary.

Billy Joel Opens Up About His Dark Past

Legendary singer-songwriter Billy Joel has courageously shared the raw details of his darkest moments—two suicide attempts that followed an intense personal crisis. This revelation comes as part of his two-part documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, which premiered recently and will air on HBO this summer.

The Affair That Shattered Friendships

Back in the early 1970s, Joel was part of the hard rock band Attila, alongside his best friend Jon Small. During this time, Joel fell deeply in love with Jon’s wife, Elizabeth Weber, resulting in an affair that tore apart their friendships and families.

“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. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.” – Billy Joel

This heartfelt confession highlights the emotional chaos and guilt Joel experienced during that period.

The Fallout: Homelessness and Depression

The band's split left Joel without a home, forcing him to live transiently. Joel recalls, “I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic.” The pain was so overwhelming he contemplated ending his life. His words reveal the depth of his despair:

“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.’ So, I just thought I’d end it all.”

The Suicide Attempts and Near Death

Joel’s sister Judy, a medical professional, had given him sleeping pills to help with his rest. One day, overwhelmed by his anguish, he decided to take all of them at once. The result was a coma that lasted several days.

“He was in a coma for days and days and days,” Judy recalls. “I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was lying there white as a sheet. I thought that I’d killed him.”

Refusing to give up, Joel attempted a second suicide by drinking an entire bottle of Lemon Pledge cleaning product. Miraculously, despite their fractured relationship, it was Jon Small who took him to the hospital and saved his life.

“Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,” Joel said.

Jon later shared insight into Joel’s pain:

“He never really said anything to me, 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. Eventually I forgave him.”

Turning Pain into Music

After these traumatic events, Joel committed to healing and self-care. He entered an observation ward for several weeks. Emerging from this dark chapter, Joel found a new outlet for his pain: music.

“I got out of the observation ward, and I thought to myself, you can utilize all those emotions to channel that stuff into music,” he shared.

This powerful transformation underscores how Joel turned his personal suffering into creative energy.

A Glimpse Into the Documentary

Watch the official video for the song "And So It Goes," which gives a heartfelt sense of Joel's reflective journey:

Current Health and Recovery

The documentary debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 4, although Joel himself was absent due to health issues. Recently diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a brain disorder affecting fluid buildup, Joel has canceled all upcoming tour dates to focus on recovery.

His daughter Alexa Ray has expressed optimism about his condition, sharing that he is “entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength.”

Joel has reassured fans, insisting, “I’m not dying,” a sentiment echoed by his friend Howard Stern, who said:

“He’s doing fine. He does have issues, but he said, ‘Yeah, you can tell people: I’m not dying’. You know, he wants people to know that.”

Reflecting on a Journey of Pain and Healing

Billy Joel’s story is a raw testament to the power of confronting one’s darkest moments and finding hope through creative expression and support. His honesty sheds light on the complex emotions behind personal struggles and the path to recovery.

Conclusion

Billy Joel’s journey through heartbreak, guilt, and near-tragic decisions shows the importance of compassion, forgiveness, and resilience. Have you ever faced a moment where pain pushed you to your limits? How did you find your way back?

Frequently Asked Questions

• What caused Billy Joel to attempt suicide?
  His suicide attempts were triggered by the emotional fallout from an affair with his best friend's wife, which deeply affected his friendships and personal life.
• How many times did Billy Joel try to take his life?
  He attempted suicide twice, once by overdosing on sleeping pills and a second time by drinking a cleaning product.
• Did Jon Small forgive Billy Joel?
  Yes, Jon eventually forgave Billy, understanding that Joel’s actions were driven by his love and the pain he was experiencing.
• What is Billy Joel’s current health status?
  Billy Joel was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus and has canceled tour dates to focus on recovery but assures fans he is not dying.
• Where can I watch Billy Joel’s documentary?
  The two-part documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes is set to air on HBO this summer.

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