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Billy Joel Drank Furniture Polish In Suicide Attempt
All Headline News ^ | 10-11-05 | Douglas Maher

Posted on 10/11/2005 4:25:04 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache

Billy Joel Drank Furniture Polish In Suicide Attempt

October 11, 2005 3:01 p.m. EST

Douglas Maher - All Headline News Staff Reporter

New York, NY (AHN) - A new book written by author Hank Bordowitz reveals the lows singer Billy Joel sunk to over the years in a fight with depression and alcoholism.

Joel reportedly drank furniture polish in a suicide attempt.

The new book entitled, "Billy Joel: The Life & Times of an Angry Young Man", quotes the "piano man" as saying, "I drank furniture polish. It looked tastier than bleach."

Joel apparently wrote a suicide note before drinking the polish and was later found passed out in a closet by then drummer and friend Jon Small, who rushed Joel to the hospital where he was admitted to a psychiatric ward and put on suicide watch. Joel then begged his manager to get him out because, "These people are really crazy!" Joel later married model Christy Brinkley and the couple had a daughter Alexa.

The book claims the episode was brought on by the star's secret affair with Jon Small's wife, Elizabeth. Joel later penned several songs for Elizabeth including the hits, "She's Got a Way" and "She's Always a Woman".

Joel is also known for another anti-suicide song entitled, "You're Only Human".


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: billyjoel; furniturepolish; music; suicide
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1 posted on 10/11/2005 4:25:05 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
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To: My Favorite Headache

Why does he go to extremes? har har har


2 posted on 10/11/2005 4:27:14 PM PDT by frankiep
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To: My Favorite Headache

The guy was a musical genius, IMHO.

Sad what's happened to him.


3 posted on 10/11/2005 4:27:25 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: My Favorite Headache

Now if only Barry Manilow would give it a try...


4 posted on 10/11/2005 4:27:51 PM PDT by RightWingAtheist (Free the Crevo Three!)
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To: My Favorite Headache; cyborg
He's got a way about him.

What is it with these Levittown people? Billy Joel, Bill O'Reilly...

5 posted on 10/11/2005 4:28:06 PM PDT by Clemenza (Gentlemen, Behold!)
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To: My Favorite Headache

La.... da da...... di de da.....


6 posted on 10/11/2005 4:30:22 PM PDT by kjam22
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To: martin_fierro

I think the article implies that his suicide attempts took place in the seventies. My parents saw him about three or two years ago when he was touring with Elton John, and they said his performance was fantastic.


7 posted on 10/11/2005 4:30:29 PM PDT by RightWingAtheist (Free the Crevo Three!)
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To: Clemenza

Bill O'Reilly from Levittown? Are you series! Furniture polish... he wasn't really serious. If he was, he would have drank something like bleach or antifreeze.


8 posted on 10/11/2005 4:32:23 PM PDT by cyborg (I'm on the 24 plan having the best day ever.)
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To: RightWingAtheist

Yep..it happened in the 70s..but Joel has been in rehab two times in the last year for alcoholism and crashing his cars into trees while driving drunk.


9 posted on 10/11/2005 4:32:28 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache ("Scientology is dangerous stuff,it's like forming a religion based around Johnny Quest and Haji.")
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To: My Favorite Headache
Another celebrity melt down, color me real concerned.

Firearms work better than furniture polish Billy. Suicide by scotch is also possible if you are gun shy.
10 posted on 10/11/2005 4:33:07 PM PDT by mmercier
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To: Clemenza

Billy Martin, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton,


11 posted on 10/11/2005 4:33:10 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: My Favorite Headache
Furniture polish, eh?

Well, if he had died, he'd have had a beautiful finish.

12 posted on 10/11/2005 4:34:35 PM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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To: Tribune7

None of those guys from Levittown. Billy Martin was from Frisco, Gates grew up in the Sandpoint section of Seattle, Clintigula was raised in Hot Springs.


13 posted on 10/11/2005 4:34:43 PM PDT by Clemenza (Gentlemen, Behold!)
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To: sinkspur

Bwahaa!


14 posted on 10/11/2005 4:35:09 PM PDT by Clemenza (Gentlemen, Behold!)
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To: My Favorite Headache
A bottle of black.
A bottle of brown.
Whenever life has got you down...
15 posted on 10/11/2005 4:35:47 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Clemenza
None of those guys from Levittown.

I don't care. I don't like any of them!

16 posted on 10/11/2005 4:40:50 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: dead

Guy doesn't know the difference between Schlitz and Shinola


17 posted on 10/11/2005 4:47:35 PM PDT by BansheeBill
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To: RightWingAtheist
Now if only Barry Manilow would give it a try...

Your BAD! BAD! BAD! :D

18 posted on 10/11/2005 4:48:07 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
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To: My Favorite Headache

Drinking "Lemon Pledge" reflects badly on his character.


19 posted on 10/11/2005 4:58:47 PM PDT by melt (Someday, they'll wish their Jihad...Jihadn't.)
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To: My Favorite Headache

Joel has been sober since taking the Pledge.


20 posted on 10/11/2005 5:06:28 PM PDT by Roscoe Karns
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