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Billy Joel says he’s ‘spent life looking’ for dad who knocked him unconscious at age 8 and abandoned the family

BBG News

After making his recent documentary, Billy Joel discovered that his estranged father, Howard Joel, significantly impacted both his music and life.

As a devoted admirer, I found the HBO film “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” to be an incredibly insightful portrayal of the Grammy-winning artist’s life. At 76, he bares all, revealing a journey marked by trials and tribulations. His story begins with the turbulent start of his marriage to Elizabeth Weber, who was previously married to his bandmate Jon Small. The challenges didn’t stop there; battles with addiction and a persistent brain disorder have compelled him to cancel concerts.

But it’s his father’s shadow that looms largest. 

In the documentary, Joel narrates an incident where Howard allegedly knocked him unconscious at the age of eight due to a piano error, and later on, Howard left the family to reside in Europe.

Throughout his life, the search for his father was a significant motivator for Joel, as he shared in a recent interview. Even though they eventually reconnected, this quest continued to shape his journey.

In an interview with People on Wednesday, Joel stated that Susan Lacy, his co-director, observed that many aspects he was seeking reflected his father in the documentary. He acknowledged this realization.

‘I said, “You know what? I think that’s true. I was looking for my dad.”‘

Billy’s dad, named Howard but originally known as Helmut, passed away in 2011 at the age of 87. He was born into a Jewish family residing in Nuremberg, Germany.

Born to a thriving businessman and industrialist, Howard spent his childhood in an affluent setting and pursued his education in Switzerland.

Apart from his professional life in business, he also had a remarkable talent as an amateur classical pianist, which probably sparked Billy’s initial fascination with music at an early age.

1957 saw Howard ending his marriage with Rosalind (Billy’s mom) and deciding to relocate back to Europe, ultimately finding a permanent home in Vienna, Austria.

Growing up, Billy and his sister primarily developed a distant bond with their father due to the separation.

During his early twenties, there was a significant gap between Billy and someone else that lingered even after they eventually reunited.

In the course of his life in Vienna, Howard got married again and welcomed another child, Alexander Joel, into the world. As a pianist and conductor, Alexander forged his unique career path independently.

During an interview with People, Billy Joel confessed that his 1977 hit “Vienna” was inspired by his own father.

He mentioned during the process of creating the documentary, “I discovered certain aspects about myself that were quite revealing.

In the movie, Joel shared more personal insights about his father, remembering an incident from his past where he was disciplined for an error on the piano as a child.

Billy mentioned, “I recall a time when I should’ve been performing ‘Moonlight Sonata,’ it must have been when I was around eight years old. Rock and roll had already made its presence known by then.

Billy exclaimed as he descended the stairs, only to be struck, “Bam!” He added, “The blow was so forceful it left me dazed, and for approximately a minute, I lost consciousness.

I recall waking up thinking, ‘He surely noticed that now.’ That’s what I remember about his piano lessons – he didn’t teach me much.

After sharing a personal health update about his struggles with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a brain condition, the interview proceeds with Billy Joel.

In May, the renowned 76-year-old musician revealed he had been diagnosed with a health issue, leading him to postpone various upcoming shows due to difficulties experienced in his recent performances on stage.

His health issue seems to impact his hearing, sight, and equilibrium – aspects he disclosed during the episode of Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast that aired on Monday.

Joel mentioned that he’s feeling well overall, but his equilibrium is poor – it’s as if he’s constantly on a rocking boat. However, the medical professionals haven’t yet determined the source of this condition.

‘They don’t know… I thought it must be from drinking.’

Throughout his life, Joel has been candid about his battles with alcohol, drug use, and mental health issues – even sharing experiences like a suicide attempt triggered by overwhelming professional stress.

He expressed that he’s feeling great, but the frequent mention of his situation as a ‘brain disorder’ makes it seem more serious than how he actually feels.

As explained by the Mayo Clinic, hydrocephalus refers to an accumulation of fluid within the brain that causes the ventricles to expand, which may exert pressure on brain tissues, possibly resulting in neurological injuries.

Currently, Joel is receiving specialized physical therapy aimed at his specific needs, and his doctors have suggested he should avoid performing while he’s healing.

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2025-07-23 18:05

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