BILLY JOEL's Former Drummer Files Lawsuit, Liberty DeVitto Says He's Owed $$$

MUSIC NEWS -  The "Piano Man's longtime drummer, Liberty DeVitto, has opted to sue his old boss,  Billy Joel, under claims that the Long Island, NY "PIANO MAN" hadn't paid the drummer royalties for the last 10 years !   Liberty DeVitto, Joel's drummer of 30 years, filed a suit against the singer/songwriter and his record company, Columbia Records /  Sony Music, on Tuesday (May 19, 2009) in Manhattan Supreme Court.   Mr DeVitto, 58, says that he was shocked when he was abruptly fired by Joel and thrown out of the backing band in 2005 (after being with him since 1975 during Billy's biggest days).  That's the same year that Mr Joel checked himself into an alcohol rehab center for alcohol abuse.   DeVitto told the New York Post "Everybody always assumes that you make a lot of money because you worked with Billy Joel. It didn't happen that way. People get fired, they get severance or insurance for a certain period of time. I didn't even get a phone call. It was cold."   The Brooklyn, NY drummer now works as a studio musician and believes he was kicked out of the band after he took part in an intervention with Joel over his addictions.   He added, "I thought I could say things to him as a friend...  This is what I would tell Billy: 'If you only had talked to me... this probably never would have happened.'"  "I think he's insensitive to other people," Mr DeVitto said of Joel, a Gold album man, with six Grammys and 33 Top 40 hits.

DeVitto's lawyer,  Brian Gucciardo says, "It's all subject to an audit. We're talking a long period of time and worldwide sales."   Mr Joel has declined to comment on the suit.  He's currently on the road with Elton John on their "FACE to FACE" tour (itinerary below). See news on Elton's Red Piano release.

UPDATE 4/21/10- Joel and DeVitto come to terms, see news on settlement .

ELTON JOHN / BILLY JOEL "Face to Face" 2009 Tour Itinerary -

Tue 05/26/09		Toronto, ON	Air Canada Centre
Sat 05/30/09		Toronto, ON	Air Canada Centre
Mon 06/01/09		Ottawa, ON	Scotiabank Place
Wed 06/03/09		Montreal, QC	Bell Centre
Sat 07/11/09		Washington, DC	Nationals Park
Tue 07/14/09		Columbus, OH	Nationwide Arena
Thu 07/16/09		Chicago, IL	Wrigley Field
Sat 07/18/09		Foxborough, MA	Gillette Stadium
Tue 07/21/09		Chicago, IL	Wrigley Field
Fri 07/24/09		Buffalo, NY	HSBC Arena
Mon 07/27/09		Albany, NY	Times Union Center
Thu 07/30/09		Philadelphia, PA	Citizens Bank Park
Sat 08/01/09		Philadelphia, PA	Citizens Bank Park
Wed 11/04/09		Seattle, WA	KeyArena At Seattle Center
Sat 11/07/09		Seattle, WA	KeyArena At Seattle Center
Tue 11/10/09		Portland, OR	Rose Garden Arena
Sat 11/14/09		Oakland, CA	Oracle Arena
Tue 11/17/09		San Jose, CA	HP Pavilion At San Jose
Fri 11/20/09		Salt Lake City, UT	EnergySolutions Arena