During a press conference on Thursday (6.01,) Billy Joel confirmed that he would formally conclude his decade-long residency at Madison Square Garden come July 2024.
In a statement about his tenure at the famed New York City venue, Joel said “I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did. My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets, but 10 years, 150 shows – all right already!” “I do remember the first time we played Madison Square Garden, it was the pinnacle of my career. I thought, ‘My God, I’m headlining Madison Square Garden.’ Everybody in the world knows when you play The Garden, it’s not just New York.”
“To our audience, I want to thank them for coming to our shows for this long. It’s hard to end, even at 150 lifetime shows,” continued Billy “I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful thing that’s happened here.” “I never imagined anyone could have a residency here. It’s just been one crazy exhilarating night after another… To me, my band, MSG is more than just our office. It’s home. If you Google Billy Joel’s house, they show Madison Square Garden, which is kind of cool.”
Billy’s first-ever gig at The Garden was in 1978, and he has since set the record for the most consecutive performances by any artist at MSG in 2006, and the record in 2015 for the most lifetime performances by an artist at the venue.
Notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, the iconic singer/songwriter has performed almost monthly at the arena since January 2014 and his final show would cap off his 10-year anniversary with his 150th lifetime show.
For the final homestretch of his Manhattan residency, Billy Joel has scheduled 10 shows from October 20, 2023 thru July 2024.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Rob Mieremet / Anefo – Public Domain