A newly announced documentary is giving fans a rare look at Billy Joel before he became one of New York’s most recognizable performers. The 20-minute film, titled 1971: Billy Joel’s Lost Interview, is built around audio from Joel’s first radio interview, recorded when he was 22 and promoting his debut album, Cold Spring Harbor.
In the restored conversation featured in the film, Joel shares an unexpectedly critical view of Madison Square Garden. He describes the massive venue as unappealing for performers and audiences, especially for fans seated far from the stage. At the time, he had no interest in playing there.
That perspective became especially striking in hindsight. Joel later developed one of the strongest associations with Madison Square Garden in modern music history, including a long-running residency and more than 100 performances at the venue.
Because no video of the original interview exists, the documentary uses AI-generated visuals to recreate Joel and the other participants. The film is scheduled to premiere September 25 at a music documentary festival on Long Island.