Billy Joel says working with Elton John was 'terrible idea'

Billy Joel has opened up about being compared to Elton John and being part of the fellow piano man’s band.

In the 2025 documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, Billy said that joining Elton’s band was a "terrible idea."

He said, "Why would I want to work with the other well-known piano player’s band?"

"The lack of imagination was staggering and I was already having critical issues with people comparing me to Elton," he added.

He went on to explain that his style of playing piano is very different from Elton, saying, "Elton’s style is very rhythmic."

"It took a while for people to get away from using the Elton John comparison. I think it's pretty much died down at this point — I hope so!" Billy added.

He revealed giving a chance to Elton John’s band to work with him, saying, "They were good musicians, but they didn’t get it. It sounded like Elton and I said, 'I don't want to sound like Elton, I want to sound like me.' I left. I said this isn't gonna work."

"They were good musicians, but they didn’t get it. It sounded like Elton and I said, 'I don't want to sound like Elton, I want to sound like me.' I left. I said this isn't gonna work," Billy Joel added of Elton John’s band.