What kinds of books do you read?
BJ:
All kinds of books. Fiction, history books, biographies. My favorite author would probably be Mark Twain. It’s between him and Sinclair Lewis. I also have a dog, a little black pug. She’s a sweetheart. I like hanging out with her. I like just spending time with my friends, riding around on my motorcycles, riding around on the boat.
HS:
Why did you choose Oyster Bay?
BJ:
I’ve always loved that area and I miss the city. I haven’t lived in Manhattan for close to fifteen years.
HS:
Do you think you’ll get a place in Manhattan?
BJ:
It depends. I’m going to live in this house near the city and see how often I come in.
HS:
What did you think of Barbara Kopple’s documentary on the Hamptons? Did you see it?
BJ:
I only saw part of it and I didn’t like it. So I just turned it off. I waited till my daughter’s part came on at the end and I turned that on.
"9/11 was earth-shattering to me … It was an attack on all humanity, all mankind."
HS:
I once asked Alexa if she wanted to be a rock star, and she had the right answer. She said, “I just love to play music.”
BJ:
I don’t think she wants to be a rock star. I think she wants to be able to make a living as a musician and for that to be her life’s work.
HS:
Are you a protective father with Alexa?
BJ:
I think I am. But I can’t protect her from all the vicious attacks of life. She has to have her own experiences as well as become a well-rounded person. And also as an artist she needs my input. Will I try to protect her from bad influences? Yes. But I don’t think I’m overprotective.
HS:
Is she overprotective of you?
BJ:
Yeah, she is.
HS:
Do you take advice from her?
BJ:
She’s an old soul. I do consult with her when I’m going to make important decisions. I respect her opinion.
HS:
What advice would you give aspiring rock stars?
BJ:
I didn’t really set out to be a rock star. I set out to be a writer and composer and I recorded the things that I wrote—and it ended up that I did become a rock-and-roll star sort of serendipitously. But nowadays the music business is in a state of real flux, with all the downloading. It’s in a slump and a period of transition, a difficult time for anyone who’s starting out. I’d just advise them to be true to their own artistic vision—don’t cut your conscience to conform to what’s currently popular. Be yourself and hopefully it will win out.
HS:
Do you still teach your “master classes”?
BJ:
Yes, I still do that all the time at colleges all over the world. I’ve done them at Harvard, Oxford, Princeton—you name it, I’ve been there.
HS:
Did you have a favorite teacher? Has someone influenced you in your music?
BJ:
Yeah, there was actually a teacher in my school who advised me to consider being a professional musician, and no one had ever told me that. To have an adult tell a student that, was a real revelation, and I have to thank that person.
HS:
What do you think you would have become if not a musician?
BJ:
Probably a convict or drug addict. I didn’t graduate high school so it’s not like I had a lot of options. It sort of locked the door for me. I guess I was going to be a musician one way or the other.
HS:
You think luck plays a big part in it?
BJ:
Timing does. You can only go so far on luck. I think you’ve got to have talent and ambition, but the timing of things is important, too.
"People who say they have no regrets I don’t believe have actually lived."
HS:
Do you miss your East Hampton house you sold to Jerry Seinfeld?
BJ:
No, I was ready to go. I’m glad Jerry’s there.
HS:
What do you love the most about the Hamptons?
BJ:
It’s a wonderful place, especially after the summertime, when everything quiets down and it’s still beautiful. The weather’s great, and you kind of have the place back to yourself. [He still has his Sag Harbor digs, among other Hamptons real estate.]
HS:
How would you like to be remembered?
BJ:
I would like to be remembered for never having died.
HS:
Literally or figuratively?
BJ:
Any which way you can think of it. I’d like to be remembered for the guy … you know … “that guy just won’t die! He just won’t die! He just keeps going!”
HS:
Are there revelations you’ve had during the hard times you’ve been through?
BJ:
It’s pretty well dissected. I’m still surprised there’s such a fuss being made about any of the things that happened over the past year with me. It ended up being a pretty damn good year, considering that I have a hit Broadway musical. Go figure! So, all’s well that ends well.
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Margo MacNabb, Billy Joel, Jimmy Nederlander Jr.
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Margo MacNabb, Claire Mercuri
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Carolyn Beegan, Billy Joel
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