Joel talks to NBC News about the decade-long run
This weekend on Sunday Today, Willie Geist sat down with music legend Billy Joel who opened up about his Madison Square Garden residency ending this month after a decade: “I’m kind of sad that it’s ending.”
Joel told Geist, “Ten years in Madison Square Garden is beyond my dreams as a musician… I’ve been all over the world. I played all kinds of stadiums, arenas, coliseums, and theatres. The Garden has the best sound. And it’s in New York, which is usually a crazy audience.”
He added, “I had no idea it would last this long…we could have kept going, but I didn’t want to outstay my welcome.”
The full interview will air on NBC News’ Sunday Today with Willie Geist on Sunday, July 14th. Check local listings.
In December 2013, Joel was named Madison Square Garden’s first-ever music franchise, joining the ranks of the storied venue’s other original franchises – the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. The record-breaking residency began in January 2014 with Joel playing one show every month at The Garden for, as Joel said at the time, “as long as the demand continues.” In January 2015, Joel broke his own record of the “most consecutive performances by any artist” with the 13th show of the residency and a new banner was raised to The Garden’s rafters. In July 2015, with his 65th lifetime show, Joel broke another record for the “most lifetime performances by any artist,” for which another banner was raised. Both of Joel’s banners continue to hang at The Garden and are replaced each month with each performance. Joel’s ten-year run wraps on July 25th with his 150th lifetime performance at the historic New York City venue.
Earlier this year, CBS commemorated the run with Joel’s first broadcast concert special. The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Graden – The Greatest Arena Run of All Time was shot at Joel’s record-breaking 100th consecutive performance at Madison Square Garden as part of his franchise run on March 28th and featured his first single in decades, “Turn The Lights Back On.”
The 74-year-old Piano Man will headline a series of stadiums throughout 2024. Solo dates and concerts with both Stevie Nicks and Sting are scheduled through the fall, including a one-off show at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday, August 9th, joined by special guest Chris Isaak.
