Billy Joel, who has just reappeared in an intervention recorded for Eurovision on the occasion of its celebration in Vienna – the city that inspired one of his classics – is back in the news. A biopic about his life, ‘Billy and Me’, is in development, but Joel himself has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with the project, that he does not authorize or support it, and has warned that moving forward without his approval would be “legally and professionally wrong.”
The thing is that the film is not based directly on Joel, but on the memories of his first manager, Irwin Mazur, and Jon Small (former drummer and friend of the musician from his youth), who have transferred their rights and are involved in the project. Small maintains that the script faithfully reflects the artist’s initial stage, including his experiences in teenage bands, friendships, difficulties and first musical steps.
The film’s team has responded that they do not need Billy Joel’s permission because they are based on stories experienced by Mazur and Small, and on legally obtained rights. Filmmaker Adam Ripp – who is working on the film – has pointed out that characterizing ‘Billy and Me’ as “legally and professionally wrong” does not reflect the nature of the project or the legal basis of the production.
Billy Joel was a close friend and bandmate of Jon Small (The Hassles and later Attila). At this stage, Billy had a relationship with Elizabeth Weber, who was Jon Small’s wife at the time. When it came to light, the friendship between the two broke up and the band dissolved.
As a result of that personal crisis – the breakup of the group, guilt and the conflict with his friend – Billy Joel went through a very strong depression. In his first years alone he tried to commit suicide twice, something that he himself has acknowledged in later interviews and documentaries.
