"There was bad blood for a little while": Billy Joel reflects on painful rift with Elton John in new docuseries

Billy Joel is shedding light on a deeply personal chapter of his decades-long friendship with Elton John in the newly released HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes.

In part two of the special, Billy Joel opened up about the fallout from Elton John’s remarks during a 2011 Rolling Stone interview, comments that would leave lasting damage.

The “Piano Man” hitmaker shared:

“Elton had made a comment that he thought I needed real rehab. He chalked it up to, ‘Oh, he’s a drunk.’ And that really hurt me.”

The moment he explained, marked a serious rupture in their bond.

“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 music legends first teamed up in 1994 for their blockbuster Face to Face tour. While Joel admitted in part one of the documentary that he initially “resented” being compared to John, the pair would go on to share a stage for years.

Billy Joel on Elton John's “tough love” intervention: “I was disillusioned”

Still, tensions simmered in the background. Coming off their joint tour in 2010, Elton John told Rolling Stone:

“We had so many cancelled tours because of illnesses and various other things, alcoholism.”

He doubled down in the documentary, adding:

“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 had entered the Betty Ford Center in 2005, reportedly after his then-wife Katie Lee gave him an ultimatum. The two later divorced in 2009.

Following rehab, the “New York State of Mind” singer stepped back from the spotlight.

Looking back on John’s tough-love approach, Joel described feeling devastated.

“I was disillusioned with what I thought it was all supposed to mean. 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.’”

Meanwhile, Billy Joel: And So It Goes marks a rare and raw portrait of the music icon. The first part of the two-part documentary received critical praise across the board, and currently holds a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a rare achievement among music legends.

According to the synopsis, the new HBO series is:

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"an expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting. With unprecedented access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with extensive, in-depth one-on-one interviews, the documentary intimately explores the life and work of Joel, whose music has endured across generations."

Fans can expect an intimate look at the man behind the chart-topping tracks and sold-out shows. With fresh interviews and rare clips, the docuseries continues to explore the heart, drive, and reinvention that have defined Billy Joel’s decades-long career.

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