Drummer Liberty DeVitto's new book, 'Liberty: Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness,' reveals why he and Billy Joel split after 30 years performing together.
The book, over a decade in the making, delves into tasty tidbits about life on the road and in the studio as part of Joel’s band, in addition to DeVitto revealing why he and the Piano Man split in 2005 after 30 years of performing together.. “It started out as my notes and memories, which, when me and Billy had parted ways, I put away on the shelf. Then somebody would say, ‘Hey, you know, you should write a book.’ And I would take it out again, and think nobody wants to hear my story.
Realizing he missed Joel, DeVitto reached out. As he recalls: “I felt I wanted the guy back again, so I reached out to him, and said let’s go for coffee or let’s get a meal. He agreed. He said he was very disappointed at the way we ended. And we got together and just spoke about our lives now, and it was just wonderful.”
Little did his parents know that would lead him to his first gig as a teenager to play for Mitch Ryder, and then later as Joel’s decades-long drummer. DeVitto’s first appearance was on the album “Turnstiles,” produced by Jim Guercio and featuring members of Elton John’s band, drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray. Dissatisfied with the initial recordings, the Hicksville, Long Island native said goodbye to Hollywood and decided to produce the record himself using his touring band.
Working with Ramone was inevitable, as Joel already channeled “Be My Baby” and The Ronettes in “Say Goodbye to Hollywood.””I mean, I played the same drumbeat that Hal Blaine played on that record,” DeVitto marvels.
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