Billy Joel fans knew that drummer Liberty DeVitto's autobiography, Liberty: Life, Billy, And The Pursuit Of Happiness, was going to tell the definitive tale of his and the “Piano Man's” nearly 30-year-run — but die-hards are alternating between hysterics and grabbing the tissue box with what's shaping up to be the rock book of the year.
Throughout the book, DeVitto sheds life on his Italian-American upbringing and how he worked closely with Billy on developing his catalogue — helping shape the music, arrange it — even supplying such key elements as album titles and song lyrics.
After years of bad blood and animosity between the two old friends, the pair finally buried the hatchet, revived their friendship, with Billy not only endorsing DeVitto's book, but supplying a poignant and loving foreword to the tome.