Billy Joel has slammed a new film about his life as ‘professionally misguided’ in a scathing statement.
Billy Joel has blasted plans to bring his life to the big screen in a new film as “legally and professionally misguided”. The iconic performer, 77, known as the ‘Piano Man’ is the subject of new movie Billy & Me which will chart his early years in music through the eyes of his first manager, Irwin Mazur.
Significantly they film will concentrate on his life before he found super stardom with the song and 1973 album Piano Man. But Billy has criticised the project and made it clear it does not have his support, revealing the filmmakers will not be allowed to use any of his music.
In a statement, a spokesman for Billy said: “Since 2021, the parties involved have been officially notified that they do not possess Billy Joel’s life rights and will not be able to secure the music rights required for this project.”
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“Billy Joel has not authorized or supported this project in any capacity, and any attempt to move forward without it would be both legally and professionally misguided,” they added to US magazine Variety.
According to the outlet, the movie is based on manager Mazur’s life story as well as the story of Billy Joel’s long-time pal and drummer Jon Small. Mazur discovered Joel in 1966 and signed him in 1970 and then oversaw his career until 1972 when he signed a breakthrough deal with Columbia records.
Small is working on the film as a consultant, co-executive producer and second unit director. He said of the project: “This is the most honest, heartfelt, and authentic portrayal of Billy’s early life and rise to becoming one of the greatest musical voices of our time.
“Billy and Me is grounded in truth, shaped with care, and built with the insight of people who genuinely know and love Billy. As someone who was there from the very beginning, I can say this script captures not just the music, but the friendships, struggles, humor, and creative spark that defined those years …
“Too often, stories about artists get lost in exaggeration or mythmaking. Billy and Me reflects the real history with integrity and respect.
“I first met Billy when he was 16 years old, and after reading the script, I felt the filmmakers truly understood who he was before the world knew his name.”
Billy & Me will be directed by John Ottman who recently worked on the Michael Jackson biopic Michael. He has insisted he’s looking forward to making the movie. He added: “I’m really proud of the development work Adam Ripp [who wrote the script] and I did to shape Billy Me into both a deeply emotional and fun story.
“This is the formative years of Billy and his relationship with Irwin Mazur, the man who recognized Billy’s amazing talent even before Billy did himself.
“Sure, the long hair, cigarette smoke and authentic look of the period turns me on as a filmmaker, but what truly drew me to the material was the humanity at its core. It’s funny, heartbreaking, and ultimately very inspiring.” Casting is currently underway, with production slated to start before the end of the year.
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