Billy Joel: The New & Unlikely Champion of Mass Transit?
Billy Joel truly is a man of the people, especially since he’s ditched his private helicopter in favor of using a train.
The Piano Man shared with Newsday that he now opts for taking the Long Island Rail Road when he heads to Manhatten for his residency shows at Madison Square Garden.
Joel said, “People will sometimes look at me on the railroad and think, ‘Look at this guy, trying to look like Billy Joel.’ He’s not kidding anybody.”
Ultimate Classic Rock noted Joel mentioned his travel preference when he appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in February. At that time, he mentioned members of his staff were concerned about him getting recognized on the train. However, Joel has no issue with being just another person making their way to their destination.
“For two and a half hours, you’re onstage, you’re Mussolini. They’re yelling your name, they’re clapping, they’re cheering, they’re loving. … Then you jump in a car and you drive into New York traffic and you’re just another schmuck in traffic,” quipped Joel. ” … And some people can’t handle that transition.”
Billy Joel and His CBS Special
In February, Joel announced an upcoming CBS special.
The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden — The Greatest Arena Run of All Time will air on Sunday, April 14 at 9 PM ET. The special is in honor of Joel’s 100th Madison Square Garden residency show, which takes place on March 28. CBS notes in a press release that this is the Piano man first concert to air on a broadcast network.
Joel announced last year that he would be ending his Madison Square Garden residency in July 2024. The final show has been announced for July 25, 2024, which will be Joel’s 150th career performance at the legendary venue.
The remaining MSG residency shows are as follows:
-March 28, 2024
-April 26, 2024
-May 9, 2024
-June 8, 2024
-July 25, 2024
![(L-R) Alexis Roderick, Della Rose Joel, Billy Joel, and Remy Anne Joel attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.](https://sunny1063.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/GettyImages-1986267822.jpg)
(L-R) Alexis Roderick, Della Rose Joel, Billy Joel, and Remy Anne Joel attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)