Billy Joel wants to set record straight

NEW YORK, July 13 (UPI) -- The Piano Man, Billy Joel, wants to set the record straight about his accident last year.

Of the East Hampton car crash that fueled his notoriety, he said, "It was blown so far out of proportion, it was insane."

Photos of his Mercedes wrapped around a tree "made it look much worse than it was, Joel told The New York Post.

"I had no injuries. Nobody was hurt. No alcohol was involved," he said.

Talking to The Post as he surveyed the waters of Northwest Bay from his 36-foot boat, the Alexa, he idly massaged his goatee and said, "My life is good, I have no complaints."

He added that his new girlfriend, Kate Lee, is not the maitre d' at the popular Long restaurant Jeff and Eddy's but a fishmonger in a fish store.