The Unexpected Metal Chapter of Billy Joel’s Music Career

Most know Billy Joel as the Piano Man, the iconic voice behind 'My Life,' 'It's Still Rock & Roll to Me,' and 'Uptown Girl.' However, not many know that during his youth, Billy Joel harbored aspirations to shred the stage more aggressively. And he did just that with his band Attila, even though their music was infamously loud.

The Birth of Attila: Joel's Metal Endeavor

Attila, formed with his bandmate Jon Small from their previous band The Hassles, was Billy Joel's attempt at a heavier sound. In 1970, under Epic Records, Attila released an acid rock/proto-metal self-titled album, an unusual display featuring the duo donned in medieval armor inside a meat locker on the cover. The intention was clear, they did not seek subtlety but rather a bold declaration of their new sound. Unfortunately, the reception was less than warm.

Billy Joel and Jon Small wanted to create more intense music after The Hassles dissolved. Tracks from Attila's album bore aggressive names like 'Godzilla,' 'March of the Huns,' and 'Brain Invasion.' Joel once described the music as heavy metal and recalled that their performances were so loud, they literally sent audience members fleeing from venues for the sheer volume they produced.

Not the Best, But Noteworthy

Despite some negative critique and Joel's later dismissal of Attila’s work as 'psychedelic bulls**t,' the album did have an unusual edge for its time. It stood out because Attila had no guitarist; all the organ sounds were pumped through heavily distorted amps, a creative move that nonetheless failed to secure the album's success. The album had moments, such as the raucous 'Amplifier Fire / Part II: March of the Huns,' and 'Brain Invasion' which might have introduced an early version of what would become known as the blast beat in rock.

After their tumultuous end due to a personal affair, Joel and Small moved on and eventually found success in their respective careers, with Small becoming a reputed video director and Joel turning into the star we know today. Following Attila's disbandment, Joel released his solo debut, 'Cold Spring Harbor,' and by the mid-70s, he hit his stride with 'Piano Man'

A Nod to the Past?

Despite the rocky past, the duo have since worked together professionally with Small directing several of Joel's music videos. While a reunion of Attila might be an intriguing prospect for fans intrigued by Joel’s hard-rocking past, it remains a fanciful thought. In light of his subsequent fame and success with softer rock and ballads, Attila stands as a curious and loud footnote in Billy Joel’s musical journey.

Joel, Attila, metal