Attila Biography & Awards

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Artist Info

Formed

1969 Long Island, NY

Disbanded

1970

Members

Jonathan Small, Billy Joel

Biography

Rising from the ashes of Billy Joel's 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 Small's appearance on the cover dressed as Huns. The album's lack of success virtually guaranteed that there would not be another Attila project; the group's demise was also sealed when Joel began an affair with Small's wife, Elizabeth, whom he eventually married. ~ Stacia Proefrock, All Music Guide