Billy Joel is one of the most iconic musicians in history. The “Piano Man” star appeals to all ages and continues to appeal to younger generations. In light of this, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Billy Joel. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: He Has Never Conducted an Interview. In an interview Joel did with Don Henly and Howard Stern, he admitted that he had never been on the other side of the mic and had only been the subject of interviews. He proceeded to interview Don Henley.
Number Fourteen: He Does Not Write New Songs. While Joel is insistent on saying that he’ll never say that he will never write new songs, it is not something he actively pursues. He says that he doesn’t really want to write new songs.
Number Thirteen: He Did Heroin. Joel has said that the meaning of the song “Scandinavian Skies” is about heroin. He tried it in the 1970s. He said the following about his experience with heroin: “[Heroin] got me so high I didn’t know how to deal with it. You just get way out, just go to another place, and you’re into the blues…You start drooling, and you get sick.”
Number Twelve: He Is Good at Impressions. Joel is capable of impersonating both Elton John and Frank Sinatra, and he can even do an acceptable impression of Johnny Cash. However, the impression he is most proud of is Rod Stewart.
Number Eleven: He Embraces His Lack of Hair. Joel doesn’t exactly love the fact that he’s lost his hair, but he said that he will never wear a toupee. He said, “I saw too many bad rugs in my life; if you’re gonna go bald, embrace it.”
Number Ten: He Has Influenced a Lot of People. Many other famous musicians have used Joel’s music in pivotal moments of their lives. For example, Pink walked down the aisle to “She’s Always a Woman.” Idina Menzel even admitted that she “got felt up” while listening to “I’ve Loved These Days.”
Number Nine: He Admires Tony Bennett. Joel was speechless when Bennett performed “New York State of Mind” in front of him. Bennett was a surprise guest for Joel.