In 1993, my sisters, 3 friends, and I braved a December snow storm to see Billy Joel in Nassau Coliseum on the River of Dreams tour. It was the first Billy Concert we had ever seen after being fans since we were kids. We had the worst possible seats in the house, and wouldn't you know as fate would have it, the 6 of us were brought to the front row for what I thought was the most amazing experience I would ever have in my life. The memories resonate to this day.

On July 18th, My sisters, My wife, Brother in Law, and I arrived at Shea to see what we knew was going to be nothing short of historic. This was my 9th Billy Concert, so I understood the thrill. Once inside though, the atmosphere was different. It was beyond history. It was bigger than that. It was monumental. From the size of the crowd, to the excitement everyone could feel, to the depth of passion that existed among every person in that place, a timestamp was going to be etched that night. Everyone knew it, but no one knew how big it would become.

Billy Joel, in my opinion, is simply magic. He has a way of grounding, rallying, inspiring, energizing, and exciting people with his music that I am sure to him is as natural as breathing. To me, that talent has helped weave a tapestry that helps get me through tough times and create a soundtrack of my life. I know that I can't be the only one. Every song evokes a memory, or holds a meaning beyond the lyrics and for that I am eternally grateful.

When this Magician took the stage, and dazzled with his fantastic band and orchestra, people were saying "How do you top this?". Well, you start by marching out Icons of the music industry to perform for the fans. Steven Tyler, Garth Brooks, Roger Daltry, and Tony Bennett give magnificent performances and drive the crowd into a bigger frenzy. So, how do you top that. Well, you go get a Beatle. Simple enough. Sir Paul McCartney is in London doing a show, jumps a plane, and gets from Kennedy Airport to Shea in 11 minutes to perform. Stunned and on sensory overload, the crowd again wonders "Well, how do you top THAT?" You take a song that you wrote, has probably been performed a billion times, by a million different people, and let 63,000 fans sing it for you. I am always amazed at the gusto with which the fans sing Piano Man, but I have never experienced anything like that! And so now I've seen it all! He simply can't top that!

What I forgot was this was Mr. Billy Joel. For him, it was simple. You get someone who you idolize to come back on stage and thrill the fans like it was 1965. And what did he do? As Sir Paul performed Let it Be, the last song to ever be performed at Shea, Billy became part of the moment he created. He played air piano, and sang along in awe of the moment, and honored to be there. As were we all. He didn't allow ego to override the perfect ending for Shea. The man who opened the Venue, appropriately closed it. He cares about the fans, because he is a fan and he NEVER forgot that.

So I guess that leaves just one question. How do you top this?

Mr. Joel, as I am sure hundreds of thousands of other people would say, I can't imagine what you do next to top this. But when you do it...We will ALL be waiting

It was truly our honor to be there.

Fred Ciccone
Long Island

I don't know if you will see this Mr. Joel. But I want to thank you sincerely for giving me one of the best nights of my life on Friday.
My hubby and I sweat all the way through the LIRR in my creaky loaned wheelchair all the way from the 8th floor of St. Vincent's hospital-to be there on Friday. I knew it would be one of the best nights of our life yet, but I was blown away and still am.
I am in my 20s, and I have cystic fibrosis. I went for a checkup a few weeks ago and things weren't going well. The doc said it might be time for a 'tuneup'...I said fine but on July 18th I will be at Billy's even if I am sitting in a iron lung on the field-so put me in the hospital but get me out for Friday.
She said...'wow, does Billy know how you feel??'
With the help of the rockin staff at St. Vinnys (which by the way Bill you have MANY nurses there who LOVVVEEE you and were also there Friday night, so I had a few soulmates who understood my insanity), plus the help of my cute hubby who pushed the wheelchair all over nyc plus the help of NYPD who helped usher me around NYC...I made it. I traded my nasty hospital wear for a cute black dress....I can't believe I made it.
And on top of spending an evening with you I got to spend it with numerous talents, but like you, my #1 (sorry Bill)...Sir Paul. This was truly a dream come true for me...something I have dreamt of experiencing all my life...once in a lifetime.
Thank you for arranging this concert which was a dream come true for me, and for giving me one night away from IVs, away from the scary people at St. Vincent's and one night with Cystic Fibrosis nowhere near my mind...nothing on my mind but the music and the moment and the history I was watching.

i waited 5 long months for this concert and it was well worth it. i'm only twenty years old but no matter how long i live i will never see a concert as good as this again. billy joel and paul mccartney, enough said.

Still soaking it all in. I can't imagine ever topping that experience...ever!

I'm 36 years old. Have seen Billy 10 times now. And that was by far the sweetest experience of them all.

Still in awe.

- Scott from Dallas, TX

Thank You Billy. You came out 2 nights and brought it both nights. I was one of the extremely luck few to experience both shows. People may not understand now but, 20 years from now we can all say, we saw the last big show at Shea (I say big, because Shea is hosting Latino night on July 25th after the Met game). We witnessed some of the greatest talent the world has to offer. Be it you were their on the first night and saw Tony Bennett, John Mayer, John Mellencamp, & Don Henley. Or the second show with of course Tony Bennett, Robert Daltry, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler, and Sir Paul. We truly got to witness Rock n' Roll history. Thank you for making people who love Shea Stadium and the Mets proud that the last show was by a New Yorker and the last song was sung by one of the people who played the first show in 1966. Can't wait to buy the DVD.

P.S. The second night, I think you were "showing" a little. Could be wrong. I don't know.

I've got tickets for tomorrow night, and I am soooooooooo incredibly psyched! I haven't seen Billy in about 15 years, and we've got what I think are great seats!

Is there anyone who went to the show last night who was in section 169? Is that near the stage? It's not a regular Shea Stadium section, and when I emailed customer service they told me they were on the first base line, so I don't know if that's close to the stage, which is in the outfield?

Thanks!

Sheila

Boy I can not wait till tomorrow night. I have seen Billy three other times but this is going to be the best one yet. The last times I saw him I was still living in CA and they were great but I think seeing him in NY and at Shea is going to be the best of all the times I have gotten to see him.

I drive past Shea every day to and from work. Last night as I was driving home I saw all the people partying in the parking lot and thought I can not wait until I am there Friday night. This morning on the way to work I got a little peak at the set up in the outfield and it got me even more excited.

Boy I can not wait til tomorrow night.

Was suppose to be at the Bon Jovi concert last week but could not make it into the city in time. My sister knows how much I LOVE BILLY JOEL so she got us great tickets for the show Friday night. We will be in Field Level Box Seats.

I am 13. I have been a Billy Joel Fan for just about 3 years. Love him and cant wait to see him friday! I might be young, but I know evryone of his songs!
Cant Wait!

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Been seeing Billy live in the midwest since the River of Dreams tour, but I've yet to get to hear my all time favorite song, "Miami 2017" I'm hoping to finally hear it at this show! Come on, Billy, please!