“He was a musician that I always loved. He was the best. Jeff Beck just passed away… I couldn’t let the night go by without doing something by Jeff,” Joel told the audience. “This is a recording he did with Rod Stewart, called ‘People Get Ready.'”
Joel and his band then launched into a rendition of the Curtis Mayfield-penned classic, which Beck and Stewart recorded for the guitarist’s 1985 LP Flash, and one of Beck’s greatest songs; Joel’s saxophonist Mark Rivera handled lead vocals for the performance. (Rolling Stone reports)
Beck died Tuesday, Jan. 10, following a short bout with bacterial meningitis. Upon news of his death, Joel tweeted, “I just heard the sad news that the great virtuoso guitarist, Jeff Beck, has died. He was one of my heroes. I was fortunate to meet him recently and I’m very grateful now that I was able to tell him how much I admired his musical skill. This is the end of an era.”
Billy Joel kicks off new season of podcastEveryone loves an underdog story, and despite its legendary status, that’s the story of The Stranger. It was Joel’s fifth full-length, but in some ways it felt like his debut
For more of the Piano Man, stream or download the The Stranger here, and also check out the recently released Live at Yankee Stadium, capturing Joel’s 1990 two-night stand at The House That Ruth Built. You can also snag tickets to Joel’s upcoming concerts, including a 2023 co-headlining tour with Stevie Nicks,
Billy Joel next dates is: Tue, Feb 14, 2023 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices start at $51 and escalate to more than $8,400.
Billy Joel welcomed surprise guest Olivia Rodrigo Wednesday night during his 82nd consecutive sold-out show at New York’s Madison Square Garden last 28th of July.
Decked out in a plunging black top, a brown patterned skirt and black leather boots, Rodrigo saluted Joel’s influence on her songwriting with “Deja Vu,” which references both Joel and “Uptown Girl.” The pair embraced warmly following the latter.
Beyond a steady stream of hits such as “Just the Way You Are,” “Allentown,” “Only the Good Die Young” and “My Life,” Wednesday’s show included rarities such as the opening “A Matter of Trust” (played for the first time since 2019 and featuring Joel on electric guitar rather than piano), “I Go to Extremes” and “The Downeaster Alexa” (with a ripping solo by guitarist Tommy Byrnes). (Variety)
The Piano Man is planning on tickling the ivories in Australia for the first time in nearly a decade, slating a special one-night-only performance this December.
The show will be held in the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, December 10. Joel is partnering with the Victorian government’s Always Live initiative for the performance, which sees high-profile acts perform exclusive shows in the state to encourage economic growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Other partners include Nick Cave, Cate Le Bon, and Tash Sultana.
“What a coup for Victoria, the music capital, to have one of the greatest artists of our era perform exclusively in Melbourne at one of the greatest stadiums in the world,” said Always Live chair and Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski.
Billy Joel’s 2022 Schedule Extends MSG Residency - Joel had also booked his first performance ever at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. However, that show has now been moved to 2022. (The star has lost a reported 50 pounds.)
In the first show of his monthly Madison Square Garden residency since February 2020, New York's own piano man Billy Joel brought back a New York state of mind.
“Good evening New York City!” said Joel when greeting the crowd a few songs into the show. “We’re back in the Garden. I want to thank you for waiting…Sorry that we shut everything down, but we’re back.”
