Billy Joel is bringing an end to his once-a-month residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden, which he started in January 2014.
It will end in July 2024, which will bring his overall total of Garden performances to 150. The 100th show in the residency takes place in March.
Billy Joel on winding up his MSG residency
“I’m kind of flabbergasted that it did last as long as it did. My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets, but 10 years, 150 shows – alright already! And, despite what you’ve read, I’m selling my house in Long Island but I’m not leaving New York. I’m just spending a little more time down in Florida like all Jewish guys do from New York City. I’ll be 75 next year. Seems like a good number. But, as I said, we’re not abandoning New York, we’re just spending a little more time someplace else.”
And New York Mayor Eric Adams adds, “There’s only one thing that’s more New York than Billy Joel — and that’s a Billy Joel concert at MSG. For more than 50 years, Billy’s music has defined our city and brought us together. On behalf of 8.5 million New Yorkers, congratulations Billy on a historic run of sold-out shows at MSG, and thank you for a lifetime of bringing joy to us all.”
Throughout the course of his run, Joel has sold more than 1.6 million tickets.
Billy’s first performance at MSG was on December 14th, 1978 in support of his fifth album, The Stranger.
In 2006 he did 12 consecutive shows there, which set the venue’s record for “most consecutive performances by any artist.” To commemorate the historic moment, a banner stating “Joel – 12” was raised to Garden’s rafters, making him the first entertainer to join the city’s Knicks and Rangers NBA and NHL franchises.
He has performed at the venue more than any other artist, and his next show is today, Friday.
REUTERS PHOTO
