Billy Joel: The Dark Chapter and Redemption

Billy Joel: The Dark Chapter and Redemption

Billy Joel's new HBO documentary, "and so it goes," delves into a dark chapter of his life where he attempted suicide twice due to an affair with his bandmate's wife. The affair led to the breakup of his band Attila and strained his friendship with his best friend Jon Small. Joel's first suicide attempt involved taking sleeping pills, which put him in a coma for days. His second attempt involved drinking a bottle of cleaning agent, but Small intervened and saved his life. Following these incidents, Joel sought help and spent time in an observation station, which ultimately led him to channel his emotions into music. Despite the turmoil, Joel and the woman he had an affair with, Elizabeth Weber, later married. The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, where Joel was unable to attend due to health issues but sent a message expressing his perspective on aging.