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Comments for this News article
A Monster show!
I've seen a lot of great shows over the years ... The Stones, The Who, Genesis, ELP, and Floyd just to name a few. One of the most memorable concert moments of all time was seeing Billy Joel climbing the rigging cables at the old Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. It was Halloween night 1986, after the release of The Bridge. Billy was dressed like Quasimoto, hunch-back and all, singing The Monster Mash!! Incredible and unforgettable. Thanks for the memories Billy!
ok no pix
that site was another one to sign up for so i bailed!!
well done billy
me and my wife had a great time at your final concert in sydney australia so thanks billy your a great entertainer and im putting some pics i took on a site linked from here!!
Concert Experience
My first Billy Joel concert was in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1978. I was 5 months pregnant with my son. SInce that time I have attended every concert tour, sometimes more than once. Having a job that allows me to travel to other states and cities, as well as plan my own schedule allowed the freedom to attend these concerts.
It was not until I paid a lot for row 2 center stage seats both in Miami, FL that I finally, for the first time in 27 years I had the pleasure of having my hand shook - the following year there was another concert in Miami, Fl and again my hand was shook, and somehow I ended up with the guitar pick - I had asked the security if I could go by the stage, and they told me the song that would allow this - as soon as I heard the first few bars, I was up like a flash - being very short, I was able to really see him perform. Of course, it only took 3,000 + for these tickets, which did not come with a meet and greet pass....but it was worth every penny!
I can't wait for the next one at the Hard Rock in Florida!
The Greatest
I must start this entry by saying that I listened to the Piano Man first in 1974, I was 19, sitting on a couch in a small communal house smoking something other than a cigarette. I have loved Billy ever since. I have been on one of his yatchs at the Fort Lauderdale boat show. I have seen him in concert many time and was in Atlanta for the Billy/Elton concert.
But last Christmas I has the opportunity to go to the Sears Centre in Chicago to hear Billy. A good friend of mine has a suite at the venue and gave it to me for the evening. I took several of my friends and catered the evening. We had 5 people in a 30 person suite and the music was just awesome.
Thank you Billy for a GREAT evening.
Craig
You May Be Right
July 18, was my 24th time I saw Billy Joel. Every concert was great. I saw Billy on Feb. 12 and13, 1990 and April 23 and 24, 1990 at Chicago's Rosemont Horizon. November 16 and 18, 1993 also at the Rosemont Horizon. I was at the opening of Chicago Stadium's first concert on October 19, 1994. That was one of my favorite shows. November 22, 1998 back at the Rosemont Horizon. Traveled to Milwaukee to see him on November 24, 1998 at the Bradley Center. I caught the drumstick thrown by Liberty DeVito after Billy sang "Piano Man." Moved back to New York, where I am staying forever, I saw him at Madison Square Garden December 31, 1999- January 1, 2000. What a show and party. Saw him 11 out of 12 shows in 2006 ( missed the first show, but caught the last 11.) I was at the last "Movin Out" show on December 12, 2005. Billy was in the crowd. I was able to meet and greet him. We shook hands then he played two songs after the show. "Miami 2017" and ended the show with my favorite " You May Be Right." Finally I got tickets to " The Last Double Play at Shea" on July 16 and 18 at my second home: Shea Stadium.
I have been a big Billy Joel fan since 1980. I first heard Billy Joel at my cousin's house on Staten Island and he had an 8 track of Glass Houses. The first song we used to jam was "You May Be Right." To me that will always be my favorite and his best song. When he preforms that song, I say the concert is well worth attending. He sang that song everytime I went. Thank you Billy.
Anthony (From Staten Island, NY)
Tremendous concert
I have seen Billy 5 times before most recently at Mohegan Sun 8 floor rows back and a great show. My seats were so far away and back by home plate. I have to say this was still the best concert i have ever been to. I have been to many other concerts before including the Who back in 1982. This was way better. Every single person in the stands sang all Billy's songs together in harmony as if we were all telling an epic story. Tony Bennet showed up and that was nice---great singer he is. Then there was Garth Brooks. Don't know him but I respect him. Then Steven Tyler came. Great rendition of walk this way and he was energetic as hell. Then came Roger Daultry singing my generation---Awesome!! Paul McCartney showing up was the topper and unbelievable. The crowd went wild and the place rocked like hell. His closing the show with let it be may never be seen again. I personally thought Elton John was showing also but that didn't happen. Anyway Billy brought his AAA game with him and the place rocked like no other.
I did think Billy was gonna die in the heat under those lights. I thought he had a hard time playing the harmonica in piano man but he did great. I am surprised none of the news media said much about the concert itself.
Captain Jack
July 18th was incredible. I finally heard Captain Jack in concert. I have been to several shows always missing out on it but no more. Everyone had just sit down from the previous song and then immediatly jumped out of my seat. What an awesome day. Does anyone know who Billy was talking about when he pointed out the chef in the first few rows? I am curious. Anyway anyone who felt slighted by going on Wednesday and not Friday is really selfish and please don't go to see Billy anymore we don't want you and your negative attitude there. I tried to get tickets to both and failed but thanks to my good friend Charlie who was lucky enough to get Friday's show. Unfortunately he had to go to a wedding in Brooklyn and he missed out on one of the best concerts. He listed his tickets on ebay for face value and he only profited a few bucks. He sold them to a fun chick named Dana and she took her brother. I forget his name but we had a blast. I took my wife and we danced and sang with mezzanine section 22 row E. In addition to ALL the special guests we also saw a few good fights in the crowd. I am a Yankee fan and this was my farewell to Shea....Thank God. The Mets really needed a new place. The seats in Shea don't face home plate but were perfect for the concert. I have seen the Jets there, I have seen the Yankees there and now Billy. We also took the Rocksoff cruise on the Jewel from the 23rd street Marina over to Shea (pre concert dinking) and someone pointed out that Billy's boat was there at the dock. It was called the Vendetta. Is this true? I am curious about that as well. To sum up my experience Billy's event was Americana at it's finest. I don't believe I will witness an event like this again except for maybe the final game at Yankee Stadium on September 21st.
definitely duped
What a disappointment. Everyone in my family manned their computers, fingers poised for the second Wednesday's tickets went on sale. We were lucky to get 6 great seats. My Dad is a long-time Billy fan, and a huge New York baseball fan and Wednesday was his Birthday. We were all excited to see Billy again, and to be a part of history. As soon as Friday's show was announced we were disappointed, and felt duped. Why were additional shows not added for earlier dates? There was no way we could all afford tickets for Friday, too. We went to the concert Wednesday very excited, but also with our eyes open wider to what it really comes down to for some people, even when they're local heroes, money. Billy's apology did not help. It couldn't have been less sincere, and insulted all of us who are not and did not purchase tickets from scalpers. As the night wore on, Billy sweated away, and the guests kept coming out, we felt he was going to make it up to us after all. He kept musically and verbally referencing The Beatles; we were SURE Paul McCartney was standing by in the wings. The excitement grew as the night got later, especially when he started up She Loves You during the encore. But, there were no more guests, and the night ended rather anticlimactically with Souvenir. I LOVE Tony Bennett, Don Henley, and John Mellencamp, but we had been first duped, then led on all night into thinking there was a Beatle in the house, then awoken Saturday to news of the Royal send-off Shea ultimately received. It is nothing short of MESSED UP, and I will never spend a penny on Billy Joel again.
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Sabrina
An experience on many levels
When I first got my tickets to Wednesday nights show I was so excited. This was going to be an amazing show. Having seen Billy 2x's before I knew this was going to be special. It was special!! He played great! His guests were great! Shea was rocking! It was incredible! It was all a wonderful tribute to an era that Shea has been through.
However, my experience is not limited to this. It is also has disappointment. I purchased tickets to the last show. Not the 2nd to last show. And not tickets to part of the 'double play' that Billy Joel referred to during the show. He commented on the scalpers and the lack of NY enforcement on scalping. That is a problem, but by adding a 2nd night did this prevent scalpers from purchasing any of those tickets. No, but it did leave 63,000 fans happy to see him but a bit annoyed.
Regarding the addition of the Friday show
When Billy Joel was trying to organize his concert at Shea Stadium, he was told by the Mets organization that the only date that they could let their field be used was on Wednesday, July 16th. When the concert was advertised, there were no ads that read 'Only New York Appearance', 'Final Show', or One Night Only' , because Joel realized he might have to try to schedule another show if the ticket demand was overwhelming. He even announced this at the Shea Stadium press conference. When the tickets went on sale, the scalpers grabbed off many of the tickets that should have been available to the real fans. Thanks to the refusal of the New York authorities to enforce the scalping laws, ( after Joel had gone to them and asked for their help in preventing that from happening ) Billy Joel knew he had to try and get another date to use the field so at least some of the real fans could have another chance to get tickets for the original asking price of under 100 bucks. When he asked the Mets organization if there was any other night available, ONLY THEN was he told that they would allow him to play on the following Friday -July 18th. That is not Billy Joel's fault. Blame the Mets organization for their short-sightedness, and the New York officials for allowing the fans to get screwed as usual. As for the Paul MacCartney appearance on Friday, no one, including Billy himself, knew that Paul would actually show up until the very last minutes of the concert. Paul had only left London late on Friday and had called Billy saying he would love to come but that his flight wouldn't land at JFK until 10:45, and considering customs and immigration, baggage retrieval, the usual landing delays, and the travel time it would entail getting across the island to Shea stadium, getting backstage, tuning his bass, warming up to sing after a transatlantic flight, etc.,etc., it didn't seem very likely that it would happen. To everyone's surprise, Paul showed up at the last possible moment and Billy was thrilled that he came. What was he supposed to do - tell Paul to pack up his bass and leave because some people might be disappointed that they weren't there ? Billy Joel did everything he possibly could to try to satisfy his fans despite ticket scalpers, the Mets management, and the lack of law-enforcement agencies, and yet still there are people blaming him for not doing enough. There are plenty of people who think that Wednesday's show was actually superior to Friday, particularly because Billy's voice was not as frayed as it was after the long show on Wednesday. Give the guy a break. Both concerts were phenomenal, and the logistical arrangements to organize both of them were staggering. All of Billy Joel's people did a phenomenal job in making them happen. I say CONGRATULATIONS for all their efforts. WELL DONE! Thank You ! Terry Moran
From the high to the low...
I grew up a Mets fan from Queens. My parents gave me my first album when I was 5 years old. It was "Meet the Beatles." Later that year, I remember the Beatles playing Shea. Unfortunately I was too young to attend. I was given the Piano Man album for my 16th birthday and wondered who this Billy Joel guy was. I’ve been a big fan ever since, and seen him numerous times, alone and with Elton.
Billed as the "Last Play at Shea", I was thrilled to buy my full allotment of tickets for me and my entire family. Ultimately, I spent over $1,200 so my children, and my 71 year old mother could see what I was sure would be a once in a lifetime event. I had hoped that guest appearances would cement the concert in history and thus be worth the money.
But "The Last Play at Shea" became the “second to” last play at Shea. Even Billy boldly addressed this issue on Wednesday night when he joked that it was actually the "Last Double Play at Shea." But, while Wednesday night was special and amazing, the once in a lifetime event I thought I was buying tickets to happened on Friday. And while we were all on a high after Wednesday's concert with terrific guest performance by some rock greats, the legends were held for the true "Last Play" on Friday.
I now feel that we experienced one of the great bait and switches of all time. Even Christie knew which night to attend as Friday became “The Last Play” with sir Paul, Roger Daltrey, Steven Tyler, even Garth Brooks.
So from Wednesday night’s high to the lows of what might have been, I am disappointed.
Thoughts on what was missing
since there was a member of The Beatles and The Who there, because both had played Shea back in the day, how come Mick Jagger wasn't there, because The Rolling Stones also played Shea back in the day?
Also, did anyone else notice that out of all the special guests Billy had, not one was a female?
Christina Aguilera would have been perfect. She is from Staten Island and has a great voice. She could have done an awesome duet with Tony Bennett.
From Glasgow to Shea
I live in Scotland and have been a huge Billy Joel fan for nearly 25 years now. I have seen Billy 4 times in my home city of Glasgow but it was always an ambition of mine to see him in his home city.
Well, I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the Shea gig on 16 July and made the journey to NYC to fulfil this ambition. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. He always gives 100% but I still felt there would be something special about a Billy Joel concert in New York. I loved the full 3 hour set, special guests and the additional string section.
I hear the Shea concerts will be made into a full documentary. I just hope it is released here in the UK.
My concert story goes back to 1994 when Billy was playing at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow. On the eve of the gig, I was in a famous Glasgow bar called "The Horseshoe" when I spotted Billy having a quiet drink. I don't usually like to bother celebrities when I see them but I could not miss this opportunity. We briefly chatted (although I'm not sure he fully understood my Scottish accent!!) and I asked him what piano intro he would play before "My Life." He wasn't sure and I suggested "Scotland the Brave." Billy asked me how it went and I then found myself in the bizarre situation of humming it to him. The next night he did indeed play "Scotland the Brave" as an intro to "My Life." Now, he may have been intending to play this all along but please humour me!!!
PS. I do share some of the frustration others have articulated about not actually getting to the final Shea concert on the 18th especially after having travelled so far. Whilst I was quite far back in the Mezzanine section, I do think the sound was excellent. And Tony Bennett, John Mayer, Don Henley and John Mellencamp wasn't bad! Would have been nice to have seen Paul McCartney though. Hey, we can't have everything (but a full length DVD of the concerts would be good)!!!!!!!!
Scott
2nd to Last Play At Shea
This was my first change to see Billy Joel Live and I have to say that I was highly disappointed. I was able to pull money together with the help of my family and snag two tickets to the Last Play at Shea only to find out later that a later date was added, making this show the 2nd to Last Play at Shea. My Dad and I have been to Shea so we know exactly where our seats are (left field 3rd to last row from the top) and know that we won't have the best view. Not only could we only see the very front of the stage but we couldn't hear anything! All of the speakers were set up to push sound directly to the back of the stadium. None were set up to send sound to either of the left or right field sides. All we heard were echoes. We didn't even notice when Billy switched out lyrics to songs! The only way we knew that anything big was going on was by the roar of the back of the stadium behind home plate. Thank goodness for binoculars! So after being robbed of seeing the LAST play, being there and not being able to see or hear anything, the icing on the cake was finding out that the one special guest I wanted to see showed up on Friday. I don't know about other folks who bough tickets for Wednesday's show, but I feel like I got screwed over but good. I waited 25 years to see Billy perform and it was no easy feat for me to get there. I will not be making that same mistake again. I paid a lot of money to wait for the newspaper articles and eventual DVD to tell me about the show since I heard about as much as anyone out on the walkway to the LIRR. Thanks Billy. You really stuck it to your fans this time. Next time, if you add a date, make it earlier instead of later. No one likes false advertising.
Paul McCartney
When we got our tickets for the "Last play at Shea" I couldn't have been more excited at being able to go to this historic event because Billy is the the heart and soul of NY and one of my favorite artists ever. I was never able to get tickets to any of his previous shows. I was a little disappointed when the second show was added because I felt that I didn't really have tickets to the final show. Anyway, Wednesday's concert was truly an experience not to be missed and the addition of Don Henley and John Mellencamp was almost too much for my heart to bear! But this morning I heard that Paul McCartney was at last night's added-on concert and I can't even tell you the disappointment I felt to have missed that since Paul's presence truly represented the full circle of performances at Shea, from beginning to end, and all of the "final" concert-goers should have been able to experience that.
Last Play @ Shea
Wow! Wow! Wow! What an amazing show Billy put on!!
This was my first Billy Joel concert and I am so glad I got to see him live.
He was truly breathe taking. I was just so blown away by how amazing and talented Billy is.
I have always been a big fan. I went with friends and we stood the whole time. I sang along and by the end of the concert had not much of a voice. We had such a great time. I can't wait to buy this album from the concert or to see him next time he performs. Billy thank you for such a great a memorable concert. I will always remember it.
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Last Play at Shea - well almost!!!
Show was one of the best concerts I have ever seen, Billy blew the place away, I took my kids who were raised on Billy's music and they were totaly blown away. I am sorry I cant afford to pay the scaplers a second time for Fridays show, I spent WAYYYYYY tooo much for the tickets thinking it was the last show, so no money left for another show WAHHHH
All I can say is - even after 15 years with no new album, you still know how to blow the crowd away, your right Billy, you do have the best job, and I am greatful that you love your job,
You keep playing, we will keep listening
Awesome Show!!!
Awesome Show!!!
______________________
Dan from Long Island
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Too many great memories of Billy Joel concerts to list
I became a fan of Billy Joel in 1985. I was 11 years old. I remember trading a cassette tape with a friend. I gave him a Huey Lewis and the News tape. He gave me Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2. I immediately started listening to it. It became my favorite album. I played it so much that I eventually wore it out. I purchased another copy of it and also other albums as well. Over the years, my Billy Joel collection grew and so did my love for his music. I started going to Billy's concerts in 1988 and I havent stopped. To this point, I have been to 23 Billy Joel Concerts. Ive seen him perform all over the country. Mostly in the New York area. (i live in North Jersey). Ive seen him in Long Island, Yankee Stadium twice, MSG several times, and the Meadowlands several times and Ive seen him on tour in Phillidelphia, California, Texas, and most recently in Chicago. I am looking forward to seeing him tomorrow night when he does the "last Play at Shea" I feel like a little kid at Christmas time when I get to go to a Billy Joel concert. I can't wait to see what Billy does tomorrow night. Im sure it will be an amazing show.
Great Show @ SHEA BUT....
It was an amazing show last night, with the guest performers, Billy playing all the crowd faves, but the jumbo screens were HORRIBLE and whatever we were looking at was OFF to what we heard. Everyone in the upper deck felt like we were experiencing an old school Godzilla Movie.
But, despite the technical difficulties, the concert was one to remember and Joel can perform a great show! He actually SINGS, unlike other music stars that go on tour.
Wish I had tixs for tomorrow night too!!
Best Concert I Ever Went TO
I went to the shea stadium show on 7/16/08 it was amazing i'm only 15 and this was my first billy joel concert and i hope i can see him again. He played such a great show and i liked when he brought out the different musicians. Concert rate 10 out of 10
Shea Stadium Concert- July 16th, 2008
The concert last night was the most amazing concert that I've ever too. The special guests were really great. I've never seen someone play for almost three and a half hours straight and only take a five or ten minute break. He had the crowd so wound up that even when wasn't on the stage, people were still screaming and cheering. The seats on the floor were spectacular and the view was really good. I went to his Concert at MSG with Elton John on 2002 and this was so much better. I would definitely go again if I was able to get tickets for tomorrow night's concert.
Shea Stadium was the best ever !!!!!!!
I went Wed., 7/16/08 @Shea Stadium and I have to say it was just fantastic....... The surprise guest appearances were awesome....... I've seen Billy twice in NY, MSG, and I thought they were great, but this totally blew me away. I really can't explain the experience but I can tell you I will never forget this concert ever. The BEST.....
)
Philadelphia Concert Many years ago
During the late 70's Billy performed at the then Philadelphia Spectrum. My boyfriend at the time took myself and my sister (I think I was 18 and she was 16) to the concert. We made our way up close to the front of the stage. It was awesome to see Billy right there banging away on those piano keys! Anyway, of course my sister decides to climb up on the stage where she was quickly pulled down by a security guard. We had such a great time and I will never forget it! My sister was killed by a drunk driver in 2001 and though we had many memories together, this is one of the best! Thank you Billy.
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Pam
Finally....
When I was a baby, the only songs that would put me to sleep were all Billy Joel, they were so soothing to me, they were my lullabies, and I would dance in my crib before I finally went to sleep. My mom would put the record on repeat and I would sleep all night, they were comforting. I really think it was because billy Joel was all my mom listened to while she was pregnant. I know all of the words to all of the songs thanks to this. My mom went to several Billy Joel concerts while I was growing up and a hated her for leaving me with my grandmother.
Time went by, and as a grew up, the only concert I ever wanted to go to was to see Billy Joel. I got married to a soldier, and I never was in the same place where I could go to a concert, until this year. I heard on the radio that he was coming, I tried and tried to get the money to buy the tickets, but couldn't since we were moving from VA to TX just a few weeks later. I was so mad. On our anniversary, my husband decided to surprise me, all of my friends had chipped in and bought two tickets. He planned that he got a phone call from his boss saying that he had to leave for our anniversary, being the good Army wife that I am, I took it in stride. The next morning, I got up for work, and then came home for my lunch break. My friends were all there with anniversary cards. I went into the kitchen, and when I came out, my husband was there with a card, inside where two Billy Joel tickets. I pretty much knocked him over!!! I was so happy. Everyone was in on the surprise, even my husband's boss.
The concert in VA Beach on the 21th of June was incredible, it was everything that I thought it was going to be. I was not disappointed, even though I really wish it was my 2nd, 3rd, or maybe 10th concert, I was so happy to be there. It has honestly been one of the top highlights of my life. Thank you for being The Entertainer!
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Mantra...in disguise...
2007 Greenville, S.C. /Bi Lo Center
I surprised my neighbor, who was diagnosed with prostrate cancer...and bought us tickets.
It was a challenge for me to get back home... as a regional manager..and gone 25 days out of
the month...but we had a blast..especially when we continued to cheer Billy back on stage...we really didn't want him to leave........at that particular concert I had an epiphany..
SO...in 1980 I was working " like a man with gasoline underwear running thru Hell"... in my 20's
with a 5 year old son...suddenly left with debts..a husband who had a topless dancer girlfriend...
who was in trouble with the law...it was all in the newspapers...and I was this sweet little "church
girl" who was in a small town where she was a cheerleader and popular in high school...ha!!
Suddenly left with no child support...and no one to help me...
Well...it hit me in the concert...as I looked back...before Louise Hay's Love and Approve of Yourself...
I was singing...to myself..in the midst of my despair, broken life..and of course LOW self esteem...
I would sing only that phrase to myself..."I love you just the way you are>>"
Since that time I finished college ...went to the top in my field...my son..now a successful network engineer
and great father and husband...and I look back at that mid 20's scared young single mother...and
say...Damn...girl...with God's help you made it thru...and a little help from Billy Joel's music.....
He is so original...he is an old soul with a good heart...
Thanks ...Billy Joel for putting that "chick" song on the album...it really helped me..get thru a terrible
time in my life...
Carolina Chick,
Kae
2 Drummers
It was a 1984 Billy Joel concert at Reunion Arena in Dallas, me and my friend thought it would be cool to sneak in a bottle each of scotch. A great idea at the time. It was a great concert, but scotch right out of the bottle turned out to be not such a great idea. About half way through the concert and the bottle, Liberty Divitto split into to drummers, that is when I realized, I was in trouble. I ran up the steps to the bathroom and after 3 or 4 trips like that, I had another great idea, just throw up in a big cup and save the trip up the steps. I ran off 3 or 4 people until finally I was kicked out. See it wasn't that great of an idea. Hey but the concert was great and I got to see 2 drummers at the same time. Being a drummer, that was cool, at the time.