Rhys Clark Reflects on His Years with the Piano Man

Keeping the Beat with Rhys Clark: Billy Joel’s Original Drummer Remembers

With the recent release of Elio Pace’s stunning live recreation of Billy Joel’s debut album Cold Spring Harbor Live — a performance that also features original bandmates Rhys Clark and Don Evans — there’s renewed excitement around the music that first put Billy Joel on the map.

To mark the occasion, Harvey sat down with Rhys Clark, the drummer who was there from the very beginning, to talk about those early days, the making of the album and his enduring friendship with The Piano Man.

Rhys, originally from New Zealand, brought a distinctive rhythmic drive that powered much of Joel’s initial rise.

Looking back on the sessions for Cold Spring Harbor (released in 1971), he recalls a mixture of energy, innocence, and determination:

“We had no idea at the time that these songs would end up being so special to so many people,” he says. “We were just focused on making the best music we could.”

It was a formative period — small clubs, long hours, and the sense of being part of a young songwriter’s journey toward something bigger.

That drive carried Billy Joel far beyond those humble beginnings, but Rhys Clark himself has also enjoyed a fascinating career.

From growing up in Auckland and playing in successful New Zealand bands – to moving to Los Angeles and working alongside major names across genres, he’s become a respected figure in the global music scene.

Yet it’s his connection with Billy Joel that most fans love to hear about — and one he speaks about with real warmth.

That lasting friendship was on display in Elio Pace’s Cold Spring Harbor project, which reintroduced Rhys Clark’s drumming to new audiences while reuniting him with Don Evans, Joel’s original guitarist.

For fans, it’s been a rare treat to hear those early songs played how they were intended by the musicians who helped bring them to life.

As for Rhys, the memories still resonate as strongly as the beats he laid down over fifty years ago.  

You can listen again right here.