Billy Joel wasn’t present at the world premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes, the new HBO documentary about his life, but he still managed to steal the show with a message that drew laughs and applause.
Director Susan Lacy told the packed Beacon Theatre crowd on Wednesday night, “Billy wishes he were here tonight, and he asked us to convey his greetings to you all,” adding, “He said, ‘Getting old sucks, but it’s still preferable to getting cremated.’”
The long-awaited two-part documentary opened the 2024 Tribeca Festival in Manhattan. It chronicled the life and career of the legendary Long Island singer-songwriter who defined a generation with hits like Piano Man, The Stranger, and New York State of Mind.
De Niro Introduces “New York’s Poet Laureate”
Tribeca co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal introduced the film and the festival, with De Niro hailing Joel as “the poet laureate of New York.” He added: “You feel the essence of our city in his lyrics.”
The film traces Joel’s early musical journey from his teenage cover band The Lonely Souls, to his time in The Hassles and later Attila, before his career took off in the 1970s. It doesn’t shy away from his darkest chapters, including a suicide attempt and a fraught relationship with his first manager and ex-wife, Elizabeth Weber.
A Raw, Unfiltered Portrait of the Piano Man
Directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, the documentary pulls back the curtain on Joel’s personal battles, from growing up in a troubled household with a cold, absent father and a mother struggling with mental health and finances, to his rocky start in California’s music scene.
At the heart of the film is Joel’s own voice. The famously private artist granted extensive access for And So It Goes, including never-before-seen performances, home videos, and candid interviews. The result is a raw, often humorous portrait of a musician who was often at odds with the very industry that made him famous.
Joel opens up about being constantly compared to Elton John and his resentment toward the exploitative music business that mishandled his early career. But everything changed when he returned to New York, formed a band, and connected with producer Phil Ramone, ushering in a streak of hit records beginning with The Stranger in 1977.
Star-Studded Praise From McCartney, Springsteen, Nas
The documentary features glowing tributes from music icons. Paul McCartney calls Just The Way You Are the song he “wished he had written.”Bruce Springsteen praises Joel’s melodies, while rapper Nas shares how Piano Man and New York State of Mind shaped his own understanding of storytelling in music.
“He peeled back the layers of his music and life with courage, humor, and vulnerability,” said Lacy. “In this fractured world, Billy’s music continues to connect across generations.”
A Comeback in Progress
Joel has been sidelined recently due to health issues. Last month, he postponed tour dates after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition linked to a fall during a February concert in Connecticut. He revealed the diagnosis had caused “problems with hearing, vision, and balance” and that he was undergoing physical therapy.
His wife, Alexis Roderick, gave fans an update late last month: “The family is hopeful for his recovery,” she said, thanking fans for their support.
Despite his absence at the premiere, the message from Joel, and the film itself, made it clear he’s not done yet. “He will be back,” promised Lacy.
Billy Joel: And So It Goes is an HBO Original Documentary, presented in association with Pentimento Productions, Hazy Mills Productions, and Playtone. The film will debut on HBO and stream on Max in July.
