
Behind the enduring melodies and sales records, there was once a man broken by love and guilt and despair. Here is the dramatic heart-wrenching account of Billy Joel’s blackest days…
Billy Joel, the man behind “Piano Man” and “Uptown Girl”, always had a charming smile that he wore on stage, but few knew that, behind that smile, was a secret steeped in heartbreak.
A newly surfaced story has shocked fans: in the early 1970s, Billy Joel fell into a coma for several days after a suicide attempt – initiated by a passionate and painful affair with his best friend’s wife…
This was not just any love story. This was a scandal. A betrayal. A love triangle with a tragic twist.
At that point in time, Billy was still a struggling musician. His best friend and band mate, Jon Small, was married to a woman named Elizabeth Weber. But somewhere between jam sessions and bottle after bottle of wine, Billy fell for Elizabeth, fiercely, madly and hopelessly.
Unfortunately, Elizabeth wasn’t his to love. And the burden of that indelicate romance ripped him apart from the inside.
In a moment of unendurable agony, Billy attempted to end his life by drinking furniture polish. When asked why he drank furniture polish, Billy replied with a bitter laugh, “It was the most appetizing-looking thing. It looked like it tasted better than bleach.”
But he wasn’t kidding. He wasn’t looking for attention; he truly wanted to die.
Wow. The most unbelievable part? The person who saved his life was Jon Small, the very friend he betrayed. Jon rushed Billy to the hospital, where Billy fell into a coma for several days and was on the line between life and death.
Billy came back to life. And, in the most unbelievable twist of fate, he married Elizabeth Weber, the very woman who drove him to contemplate suicide. Elizabeth became his wife, his manager, his muse.
Billy and Elizabeth were married from 1973 to 1982, and during this time, Billy wrote emotional and iconic songs, a lot of them relating to Elizabeth.
“She’s Always a Woman”? Yeah, that was about her.
“He survived that and still gave us Piano Man? Legendary.”
“Elizabeth Weber was the drama.”
“Seriously, Billy Joel’s life is more dramatic than a Netflix series!”
Today, Billy Joel is recognized as one of America’s most successful artists. But a successful career is not without its challenges. It has experienced: a love that is not allowed, a sick betrayal of friendship, and a brush with death, along with a comeback that should be legendary.
So the next time you hear a Billy Joel song, listen closely. Because there is always a backstory to every note… and in that backstory is a man who almost lost everything, and still decided to sing.
for more updates, visit panotinews.com