Billy Joel says that comments Elton John made about him needing to go to rehab was “rock bottom” for him.
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The singer-songwriter spoke about the ordeal in his new two-part documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. During the documentary’s second part, which premiered on Friday (July 25), the singer shared how John’s public comments that he needed rehab strained their friendship.
“Elton had made a comment that he thought I needed real rehab,” Joel said in the film, referencing an interview the ‘Your Song’ hitmaker did with Rolling Stone in 2011. “He chalked it up to, ‘Oh, he’s a drunk.’ And that really hurt me.”
John told the publication at the time: “When I went to rehab, I had to clean the floors,” adding: “He goes to rehab where they have TVs. I love you, Billy, and this is tough love. Billy, you have your demons and you’re not going to get rid of them at rehab light. You’ve got to be serious. People adore you, they love you and respect you. You should be able to do something better than what you’re doing now.”
In the documentary, Joel added: “I said, wait a minute? Don’t you know me better than that? And there was bad blood for a little while. There was a dovetailing of things that happened during that time.”
The two musicians first co-headlined a stadium together in 1994. In the first part of the documentary, Joel admitted that he once “resented” the comparisons between him and John, but eventually grew to embrace them as they continued to perform onstage together.
John told Rolling Stone that they had “so many cancelled tours because of illnesses and various other things, alcoholism” coming off their joint tour in 2010.
John said of Joel in the film: “He’s going to hate me for this, but every time he goes to rehab, they’ve been light… I love you, Billy, and this is tough love.”
Joel went to rehab in 2005 after his then-wife Katie Lee issued an “ultimatum.” The couple divorced in 2009. After rehab, Joel took a break from the spotlight and stopped touring.
In the documentary, Joel described John’s comments as making him feel “clobbered” and said that it was “rock bottom” for him. “I was disillusioned with what I thought it was all supposed to mean,” he said. “It was like all the signs were pointing to me: Enough. And I wrote this letter to the band. ‘I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m gonna stop.”
Elsewhere, in the documentary, he revealed that he attempted to take his own life twice after having an affair with his best friend’s wife.
The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 4, but Joel was not present due to his current health struggles. Earlier this year, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
The singer cancelled all of his upcoming tour dates – including his headline UK shows – after receiving news of the diagnosis in May.
During a recent podcast interview, Joel gave an update on his health and said that the disorder “sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling”, sharing that he currently feels “fine” but his “balance sucks”, likening it to “being on a boat”. “It’s not fixed, it’s still being worked on,” he added of the condition.
When asked what causes the disorder, Joel shared: “Nobody knows. They don’t know. I thought it must be from drinking. I don’t anymore, but I used to like a fish.”
Elsewhere, Joel recently that he thinks The Beatles‘ ‘White Album’ is a “collection of half-assed songs”.
