Grammy award-winning singer Billy Joel tried to kill himself by drinking furniture polish, because he was so tormented by an affair with his drummer's wife.

In new book BILLY JOEL: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A YOUNG MAN, the rocker reveals keeping his affair with ELIZABETH SMALL secret left him depressed and prepared to take his own life.

The JUST THE WAY YOU ARE hitmaker was saved by the very man he was betraying when bandmate JON SMALL rushed him to hospital.

Joel was later transferred to a psychiatric ward.

Lover Small notoriously inspired Joel's 1978 hit SHE'S ALWAYS A WOMAN and the pair later married.