When Billy Joel performed his first concert at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Dec. 14, 1978, he had no idea he would turn that venerable venue into his home theater. In January 2014, he started an unprecedented monthly residency that would bring a parade of A-list surprise guests, a barrage of hit songs and a euphoric wave of nostalgia to an audience of more than 18,000 fans per show. After 10 years, however, Joel, at 75, will end his stay as a Garden franchise with his 150th lifetime show on July 25, 2024. Before that happens, he, daughter Alexa Ray Joel, his eight band members and his tour team speak about his musical legacy in this special Collector’s Guide.
New York STATE OF MIND • A BIG APPLE BOOSTER THROUGH AND THROUGH, BILLY JOEL HAS SPENT HIS CAREER BOTH INSPIRED BY AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO HIS HOMETOWN
LEGENDARY performances
A GARDEN of MEMORIES • AS BILLY JOEL’S HISTORIC, RECORD-BREAKING RESIDENCY AT NEW YORK’S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENDS ON JULY 25, 2024, WITH HIS 150TH LIFETIME SHOW AT THE “BIG SHOT” OF ALL ARENAS, THE 75-YEAR-OLD HOMETOWN HERO LOOKS BACK ON 10 YEARS OF PIANO-MAN MAGIC
MAKING HISTORY at MSG • TEN YEARS AGO, BILLY JOEL JOINED THE NBA NEW YORK KNICKS AND THE NHL NEW YORK RANGERS AS A MADISON SQUARE GARDEN FRANCHISE, KICKING OFF AN EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL RESIDENCY
And the band PLAYED ON • MEET THE MUSICIANS WHO HAVE BEEN AN INTIMATE PART OF JOEL’S MASSIVE MSG AND STADIUM GIGS
Playing to THE CROWD • WHETHER IN THE FAMILIAR CONFINES OF THE GARDEN OR IN MORE MASSIVE ARENAS AROUND THE WORLD, JOEL CONTINUES TO DELIGHT AUDIENCES, FREQUENTLY JOINED BY ROCK LEGENDS AND RISING STARS
A matter of TRUST • BILLY SHINES A LIGHT ON HIS MUSICAL FRIENDS
Owning THE STAGE • FROM AWARD SHOWS TO DIPLOMATIC ROAD TRIPS FAR AND WIDE, A BILLY JOEL CONCERT IS BOUND TO INSPIRE
One for the ROAD • A LEGENDARY ROCK PHOTOGRAPHER GOES BACK (IN TIME) TO THE U.S.S.R. TO RECOUNT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK ON BILLY JOEL’S GROUNDBREAKING TOUR
JUST THE WAY he is • ALTHOUGH HE HAS TALKED ABOUT RETIRING FROM POP MUSIC, JOEL — ON TOP OF RAISING YOUNG CHILDREN—RELEASED A NEW SINGLE ON THE EVE OF TURNING 75
To Dad, WITH LOVE
Billy Joel IN REVIEW • THE 15 ESSENTIAL TRACKS THAT PROVE HE’S MORE THAN JUST A PIANO MAN
Billy Joel: Live at Madison Square Garden
PHOTO CREDITS