Billy Joel followers ought to all get within the temper for 2 lengthy nights with the piano man in July.
HBO has set the premiere dates for its two-part authentic documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Half one will air on Friday, July 18, adopted by half two every week in a while Friday, July 25. Every half will debut on HBO, and streaming service HBO Max, at 8 p.m. ET/PT and run for roughly two-and-a-half hours, with the complete exploration of the enduring musician clocking in at practically 5 hours.
Billy Joel: And So It Goes, directed and produced by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, premiered its first half on the 2025 Tribeca Competition, however Joel himself was unable to attend the opening night time screening, asserting simply the week earlier than the occasion that he had been identified with mind dysfunction regular stress hydrocephalus (NPH), main him to cancel his upcoming concert events and prompting concern from followers.
Nonetheless, the administrators and producers of the movie indicated there’s no purpose to be too fearful concerning the beloved performer.
“He’s going to be positive,” Lacy instructed The Hollywood Reporter earlier than the doc’s Tribeca Competition premiere. “He simply must get better. He must do the bodily remedy, which he’s doing — the docs had been telling him yesterday he’ll be positive.”
Lacy and Levin added, “He’ll be again,” sharing a message from the performer of their opening remarks earlier than the screening by which he made gentle of his situation, displaying his humorousness continues to be intact.
“Getting outdated sucks, nevertheless it’s nonetheless preferable to getting cremated,” Joel mentioned by way of a message learn by Lacy onstage.
Joel’s longtime lighting director and And So it Goes govt producer Steve Cohen shared that he spoke to Joel the day of the premiere.
“He’s doing nice. He’s engaged on his therapeutic and restoration,” Cohen instructed THR earlier than Wednesday night time’s premiere. “He’s shiny; he’s blissful; he’s thrilled for us. He referred to as me and mentioned, ‘I’m so pleased with the work you’ve carried out. I didn’t anticipate you to get there,’ and simply nice stuff. He’s a superb man, that’s what he’s. I believe he’s going to be spending time with the household. He’s going to be doing what he must do to heal from this situation and the prognosis is nice. Not less than he’s blissful. He’s my boss; he’s my collaborator. On the finish of the day, he’s my greatest buddy and I don’t give a shit about the rest besides him being wholesome and having fun with this a part of his life. Now we have carried out the whole lot. He has climbed the very best mountain. He’s completed something anybody might ever need.”
The movie affords an expansive take a look at Joel’s life and work, that includes unique, in-depth interviews with the artist in addition to entry to never-before-seen performances, dwelling motion pictures and private images.
Along with interviews with Joel, the doc contains interviews with buddy and former collaborator Jon Small, ex-wives Elizabeth Weber (who additionally served as Joel’s supervisor), Christie Brinkley and Katie Lee, daughter Alexa Ray Joel, spouse Alexis Roderick Joel, members of his band and fellow musicians together with Bruce Springsteen, Sting, John Mellencamp, Nas, Pink, Garth Brooks and Paul McCartney.
Billy Joel: And So It Goes is producerd by Emma Pildes and govt produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman via their Playtone banner in addition to Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner via their Hazy Mills banner. Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Sara Rodriguez govt produce for HBO.
Right here’s the official synopsis from HBO: “Billy Joel: And So It Goes is an expansive portrait of Billy Joel, the six-time Grammy-winning, Rock & Roll Corridor of Famer from Lengthy Island, New York. With unprecedented entry to never-before-seen performances, dwelling motion pictures and private pictures, together with intimate one-on-one interviews, the documentary explores the life and work of the singer-songwriter whose music has not solely endured however soared throughout generations. The 2-part movie is crafted round in-depth, unique interviews with Joel, illuminating the important thing moments that cast his character and the occasions and muses that impressed his music for greater than six many years. Exploring revelatory new territory and enriched by dynamic video and efficiency clips from Joel’s musical oeuvre, many by no means earlier than seen, the documentary provides a window into his course of and chronicles his monumental successes, whereas diving into the hidden complexities of his life. From his childhood on Lengthy Island, formed by the absence of his father, to his first bands, the ladies he beloved and the colleagues and collaborators who each supported and betrayed him, Joel’s many years of songwriting mirror his wealthy, sophisticated autobiography. Sharing origin tales about such chart hits as “Simply the Method You Are,” an ode to his past love, and “Uptown Lady,” famously about second spouse Christie Brinkley, the movie factors to the shut symbiosis between his life and artwork, revealing the music that remodeled his profession, sculpted his legacy and saved his life.”
Extra detailed descriptions of every half, supplied by HBO, comply with.
Half One: “Joel admits to being a piece in progress as he heads in direction of his eighth decade and appears again on a childhood because the son of working-class mother and father on Lengthy Island, the loss he felt on the age of eight when his father left the house, and his entry into the enterprise of music. Acknowledging the errors he made alongside the best way, Joel put the whole lot he lived via into his music. As he went from keyboard participant in native bands to putting out on his personal, he discusses the love affair and first marriage with Elizabeth Weber that grew to become the gas for his early songwriting hits, similar to “Simply the Method You Are” and “She’s All the time a Lady.” His collaborators and friends thoughtfully illuminate his musical items, and Joel delves into the enterprise deal he made that led to the writing of “Piano Man.” After signing with Columbia Information, Joel’s profession took off and years of hits and record-breaking excursions adopted, as he continued to channel his private experiences into his music. Whereas he chafed in opposition to the essential response to his music, struggled together with his relationship to alcohol, and navigated a sophisticated private life, a close to deadly bike accident impacted his capacity to play piano and left his future unclear. How would he rebuild his profession and transfer ahead together with his life?”
Half Two: “Along with his eighth studio album The Nylon Curtain, Joel modified his musical focus by reflecting the grit and aspirations of the Everyman with songs similar to “Allentown” and “Goodnight Saigon.” Joel recounts his sophisticated reunion together with his lengthy absent father and discovers the key story of how his Jewish grandparents survived Nazi Germany which he distilled into his philosophical ballad “Vienna.” Recovering from years on the highway, Joel holidays in St. Barths the place he meets his future spouse, supermodel Christie Brinkley, who would develop into the mom of his first little one and the inspiration behind the hit “Uptown Lady.” Devoted to his craft, however uneasy with fame and the highlight, Joel persevered via romantic {and professional} setbacks, selecting to reinvent himself time and time once more. With the assist of spouse Alexis Roderick Joel and their kids, and thru his collaboration with Elton John, a return to his classical roots and his historic residency at Madison Sq. Backyard, he continues to discover a protected house in his music.”