Dear Lord... who would have thought Billy Joel was one to get mixed up with drugs?

So I won't jump to conclusions yet, but they're calling it "substance abuse." It's probably nothing more exciting than Vicodin.

I'm still hoping he'll hit the Bay Area for a tour again...


Billy Joel checks into substance abuse and psychiatric hospital for 'personal problem'

[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 6/19/02 ]

NEW YORK -- Billy Joel has checked himself into a substance abuse and psychiatric hospital for a "personal problem," his record label said Wednesday.

The 53-year-old, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is staying at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Conn. Joel's stay was first reported in Wednesday's The Advocate of Stamford.

A brief statement released by Columbia Records said: "Billy Joel recently checked himself into Silver Hill Hospital for a planned 10-day stay to deal with a specific and personal problem that had recently developed.

"Joel scheduled his stay in Silver Hill several weeks ago and expects to leave in a few days, as planned."

A publicist for Joel was unavailable for comment. The Advocate, citing unidentified sources, said the singer was receiving counseling at Silver Hill's chemical dependency treatment center.

Joel, whose hits include "Piano Man," "Just the Way You Are," "Only the Good Die Young" and "Uptown Girl," in March rescheduled a joint tour with Elton John, saying he was ill. The tour is to begin again in September.

A review in The New York Times of a show shortly before the postponement described him as rambling and bellowing, and said Joel "seemed to have ingested something quite a bit stronger than cough syrup."

He was placed under a doctor's supervision for acute laryngitis, inflamed vocal cords and an upper-respiratory infection, according to Sony Entertainment's Billy Joel Web site, www.billyjoel.com.

A long list of celebrities have spent time at Silver Hill's psychiatric and substance abuse treatment center. Pop star Mariah Carey checked in last summer after an "emotional and physical breakdown," according to her publicist. Other patients have included Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Gregg Allman and Joan Kennedy.

Diana Ross is also having the same problem.Hmmm...

Wow...

I saw him in concert two years ago. It was a great show.
He's such a great pianist and songwriter.

He has written so many pop classics. Then he turns classical. Now he's drugged up. Unbelievable. I remember reading something about Elton John having a talk with him at one of their joint shows and saying that he was really worried about "him and his drinking". Of course, we all know that Elton spent something like 20 years as a die hard drug addict before kicking it altogether.

This is really interesting.

jtgillia said:

makes ya wonder who gives him the greatest grief? The WASP princess, Chistie Brinkley, or the WASP queen, Elton?

I'd kinda expect the duets to have run out of gas after hearing "Your Song" and "Just the Way You Are". I'd be dozin' on 'em

I saw him at the San Jose Arena about a year ago for the Face to Face tour with Elton John. Billy was incredible - Elton was only mediocre.

The fact that he's in the hospital for whatever reason really saddens me... I thought he was one of the only ones in show biz who had managed to dodge the substance bullet.

When Billy Joel was younger, he was discouraged artistically, starving emotionally and contemplated suicide. Obviously he did not go thru with his plan, 'cuz here his is, still with us.

He wrote this song as a message 2 those who r considering giving up. You can find it on his "Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II" 2 disc set.

Here's a couple verses of the song.

Read this:

---

"You've been keeping to yourself these days
Cause you're thinking everything's gone wrong
Sometimes you just want to lay down and die
That emotion can be so strong
But hold on
Till that old second wind comes along

You probably don't want to hear advice from someone else
But I wouldn't be telling you if I hadn't been there myself
It's alright, It's alright,
Sometimes that's what it takes
We're only human
We're supposed to make mistakes

But I've survived all those long lonely days
When it seemed I did not have a friend
Cause all I needed was a little faith
So I could catch my breath and face the world again...

Don't forget your second wind
Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in
Dont' forget your second wind
Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in..."

- Billy Joel from "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"
(c) 1985 Joel Songs

---

I think he's taking his own advice, and just getting his "second wind".

Ur in our prayers, Billy.

June7 said:

I love this song. The video, albeit corny, is cool too.

I sincerely hope Billy will be back on his feet soon. A few years ago, my little sister wrote him a letter telling him what a huge fan I was. He sent me an autographed photo for my birthday. He has held a special place in my heart ever since.