Billy Joel Talks Depression, Alcohol and how AA Doesn’t Work for Him.

Billy Joel is known for uplifting people through music, making people dance and sing. However, Joel has had his fair share of struggles in the past. The 64-year-old music legend has been to rehab for substance abuse on two different occasions. Once in 2002 and once in 2005, citing a long battle with depression and alcohol abuse as the cause. However, in a new interview with the New York Times, Billy Joel claims that it was never really a problem with an alcohol. He says that all of his issues go back to the tragic events on 9/11.

“I was kind of in a mental fog, and it had nothing to do with booze. My mind wasn’t right. I wasn’t focused. I went into a deep, deep depression after 9/11. 9/11 just knocked the wind out of me, and I don’t know even now if I’ve recovered from it.”

The singer said after being asked about his three car accidents before his stay in rehab. He states that he used the alcohol as medication for his depression.  Joel said,

 “It really, really hurt that man could do that to man. And then there was a breakup with somebody, and it took me awhile to get back on my feet again.”

Joel seems to be doing a lot better, but that doesn’t mean he has completely quit drinking alcohol. He says that the “A.A.” stuff just doesn’t work for him. He admits to still drinking a glass of wine with dinner on occasion.

Sadly, man has been doing that to man for a long time. You can’t let it get you down, though. You just have to focus on the good in the world. Like, puppies and kittens, how could you be depressed while looking at puppies and kittens? It’s impossible – see!