Movies

Bombshell documentary exposes Billy Joel’s struggles with alcohol and money amid health woes

BBG News

An upcoming HBO documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at Billy Joel’s life and career, uncovering key milestones in his music, as well as challenges he faced with finance and alcohol.

The two-part documentary series titled “And So It Goes” was unveiled on HBO this past Friday, earning positive feedback from both critics and enthusiasts.

As reported by Variety, initially, the artist known for Honesty wasn’t eager about making a documentary. However, after some persuasion from his management team, he came to believe it was the appropriate moment.

Despite his hestiations, the 76-year-old is an open book in the docuseries.

He dives into his failed marriages, battle with alcohol, financial troubles and much more.

The singer also opens up about pre-fame suicide attempts and his mother’s alcoholism.

And So It Goes has already gained glowing reviews from Rolling Stone, Variety, and Newsday. 

In my role as a lifestyle expert, I find it intriguing to discuss the recent unveiling of a docuseries that sheds light on an artist’s struggle with memory loss over the past decade. This artist, who is well-known for his chart-topping hits, has unfortunately had to postpone all scheduled concerts due to a brain disorder, causing him to forget lyrics to his beloved songs.

The well-known artist behind “The Piano Man,” now aged 76, disclosed in May that he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).

As mentioned in a recent update on social media, I myself have been experiencing challenges with my hearing, vision, and balance.

The representative of the singer stated that his health situation had worsened due to his recent concerts.

Excessive buildup of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles (spaces inside the brain and spinal cord) results in abnormal pressure that causes various symptoms such as difficulty walking, loss of bladder control, and memory issues.

In my understanding, this issue arises when an abundance of fluids exerts pressure on brain tissue, causing it to both compress and stretch. This compression affects the brain’s ability to manage muscle functions and hampers the usual communication between nerve cells.

Concerned supporters flocked to offer their support for the singer online following the recent news, an update that was made public three months after Joel had a fall during a concert in Connecticut.

For over a decade, it’s come to light that Joel has confessed to experiencing memory issues – following his well-known incident of forgetting lyrics during his performance of We Didn’t Start The Fire at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on March 9, 2014.

At that moment, he informed the crowd that the melody was one of the “least appealing tunes I’ve ever composed,” and even paused his band mid-performance before the audience encouraged him to finish the song.

Pausing for a moment, I interjected: “Hold on a second. Something’s not quite right here. Just one minor mistake in that song, and the whole performance could come crashing down.

During a 2023 interview, Joel implied that it wasn’t a single occurrence, confessing that he depended on the crowd to help him ensure he was singing the correct lyrics in his songs.

During an interview with Zoe Ball on the BBC 2 Radio Breakfast Show, he mentioned that at times, he finds himself observing others singing, hoping they can help him find his way.

‘While in Toronto, I momentarily lost my words and had to halt the song. It was as if I were balancing on a tightrope, and when I faltered, I simply cried out, “Stop the music! Stop…” The audience reacted with an audible “Ahhhh…” showing understanding and empathy.’

If identified promptly, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is typically manageable through a surgical procedure that removes excess brain fluid, easing pressure and alleviating symptoms; however, it’s important to note that in its early stages, NPH can easily be misdiagnosed as conditions like dementia.

However, if left untreated, the condition may lead to permanent damage in its later stages.

Billy started his successful musical journey right in the mid-60s, culminating in the release of his first studio album, Cold Spring Harbor (1971).

However, it didn’t pick up much momentum until after the achievement of his subsequent release, “Piano Man” (1973), which reached number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and position 4 on the Adult Contemporary singles chart.

Joel has solidified his place in the music world, but it was the release of Streetlife Serenade in 1974 that earned him million-selling status. However, it was with the launch of The Stranger in 1977, which contained popular hits like Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), Just The Way You Are, She’s Always a Woman, The Stranger, and Only The Good Die Young, that Joel truly broke through commercially, establishing himself as a bona fide star.

Instead of releasing his 13th album, he debuted “Fantasies & Delusions” in 2001, marking the first time he incorporated classical compositions into his work throughout his musical journey.

Billy Joel, with more than 160 million albums sold globally, ranks among the most successful musicians on a global scale, and holds the fourth position among top U.S. solo artists in terms of sales.

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2025-07-19 03:24

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