Attila

by Stacia Proefrock
Rising from the ashes of Billy Joels Long Island-based rock & roll band the Hassles, Attila was an embarrassingly discordant duo that also featured the Hassles Jon Small. Described by Joel at the time as psychedelic bullsh*t, their self-titled debut album came out in 1970. A critical and commercial disaster, it featured Joel on a heavily distorted B-3 organ, with an Attila the Hun theme that included Joel and Smalls appearance on the cover dressed as Huns. The albums lack of success virtually guaranteed that there would not be another Attila project; the groups demise was also sealed when Joel began an affair with Smalls wife, Elizabeth, whom he eventually married.