Billy Joel Makes Bold Statements Dragging the Beatles’ ‘White Album’ originally appeared on Parade.
Rock icon Billy Joel is a total music legend — but it turns out that he doesn’t exactly share that viewpoint about The Beatles, or at least about their 1968 album The Beatles, better known as The White Album. The beloved pianist, 76, made some bold statements dragging one of the renowned British rock band’s most revered records.
“I’m not a big fan of the White Album,” Joel told Bill Maher during a recent appearance on his Club Random podcast. “I hear it as a collection of half-assed songs that they didn’t finish writing, because they were too stoned or they didn’t care anymore.”
The “Piano Man” songwriter even went on to place some specific blame on John Lennon and Paul McCartney for how the album turned out. “I think John was kind of disassociated somewhat at that point,” Joel speculated. “I think Paul was carrying the weight.”
He even went a step further and explained his own hypothesis about the band’s sound. “I have a theory,” Joel added. “I think they almost broke up a couple of times. Just like a marriage. But it was never talked about – it had to look smoothed over for the 10 years that they were famous.” Joel noted that he could hear the results of those fights throughout their discography.
Later in the interview, the composer opened up about an opportunity he had to work with legendary Beatles producer George Martin in the early days of his career. Despite his respect for the music icon, Joel didn’t feel like they jived.
“I loved the Beatles more than anybody… and he was the fifth Beatle,” Joel said of the opportunity in the early days of his career, claiming people said, “‘Wait, you’re not going to have George Martin produce you? Your big problem is production.’” But Joel was adamant. He claimed he said at the time, “‘‘I know, but he wants to not use my band, and that’s part of my sound.’”
Back in May, Joel cancelled a slew of shows due to being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder that affects balance, hearing, and vision. During the same interview with Maher, 69, Joel revealed he is improving and that his condition is treatable.
Billy Joel Makes Bold Statements Dragging the Beatles’ ‘White Album’ first appeared on Parade on Jul 30, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
