When the lights went up on Broadway for the world premiere of the documentary “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” — at New York’s Beacon Theatre for the opening night time of the Tribeca Competition — the hometown hero was not in the home.
As solely revealed to The Submit final week, the 76-year-old music legend sat out his huge night time after revealing that he was identified with a mind dysfunction known as regular strain hydrocephalus.
However the “New York State of Mind” crooner nonetheless acquired loads of native love from Tribeca Competition co-founders Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro because the twenty fourth version of the pageant that began in 2002 kicked off with the primary half of Joel’s two-part documentary earlier than it premieres on HBO and HBO Max later this summer time.
De Niro, 81, known as Joel “the poet laureate of New York,” whereas Rosenthal, 68, addressed the music man’s ongoing well being battle.
“Billy wanted to be with us tonight, but as you may have heard, he’s dealing with a health issue and had to postpone his performances, including this one tonight. We know you will join us in wishing him a speedy recovery,” Rosenthal stated after the pair quoted lyrics from Joel’s “New York State of Mind.”
“He’s our piano man, a wonderful, integral part of the heartbeat of our city,” De Niro informed the group. “Tonight, we fit to see the man behind the music and behind the legend. You’re in for a real treat.”
Administrators Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin additionally spoke about Joel within the wake of his absence, revealing a joke about dying that the singer informed them.
“We know Billy wishes he were here tonight, and he asked us to convey that to you all. In fact, he said, ‘Getting old sucks, but it’s preferable to getting cremated,’” one in all them recalled earlier than assuring the group, “He will be back.”
“And So It Goes” options uncommon, beforehand unseen footage and candid, intimate interviews whereas charting the five-time Grammy winner’s rise from Lengthy Island to worldwide pop stardom.
Taking its title from a deeply private piano ballad from Joel’s 1989 album “Storm Front,” the documentary additionally options classics comparable to “Piano Man,” “Just the Way You Are,” and, after all, “New York State of Mind.”
Rosenthal and De Niro gave a present of help in an announcement after Joel’s well being disaster was introduced.
“Our hearts are with Billy Joel and his family following today’s announcement,” they stated in an announcement. “As a New York icon and global music legend, he has profoundly shaped the cultural fabric of this city and touched audiences around the world. We send our love and full support and wish him strength and a healthy recovery.”
“We’re deeply honored that this year’s Opening Night celebrates his remarkable legacy and enduring influence on New York’s cultural landscape,” the assertion continued. “This is the perfect moment to recognize a creative force whose work reflects the very soul of our city — and the heart of Tribeca.”
Though Joel was not in attendance, he has let or not it’s recognized that you just haven’t seen the final of him but.
Actually, Howard Stern shared a constructive replace in regards to the Rock & Roll Corridor of Famer on Tuesday, assuring listeners that the hitmaker is “not dying.”
“I saw Billy Joel two weeks ago,” he informed co-host Robin Quivers on SiriusXM’s “The Howard Stern Show.” “We had dinner together.”
“Yeah, he does have issues,” Stern continued. “But he said, ‘Yeah, you can tell people, you know, I’m not dying.’ You know, he wants people to know that. He just, he’s gotta deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful.”
Regular strain hydrocephalus is a mind dysfunction the place cerebrospinal fluid builds up contained in the cranium and presses on the mind, disrupting cognitive functioning.
On account of his situation, Joel additionally canceled all of his upcoming tour dates, which had been to incorporate a “Triple Play” summer time collection of concert events in any respect three New York space stadiums: Yankee Stadium (July 18, with Rod Stewart), MetLife Stadium (Aug. 8, with Stevie Nicks) and Citi Subject (Aug. 21, with Sting).
However fortunately, Joel — who ended his historic Madison Sq. Backyard residency final July after 10 years, 104 sold-out reveals and 1.9 million tickets scanned — isn’t prepared to hold up his piano.
“He is happiest while performing,” a music business insider informed Folks final week. “Music is, has been and will always be his life. He’s not ready to retire.”
