Billy Joel rocks Shea with some all-star guests

[JacquiO]

He did, but late. He was one credit short of graduating with his class in 1967. By then, he already had become a musician. In 1992, the high school waived the requirement and awarded him his diploma.(see: http://www.answers.com/topic/billy-joel )

[ltown4eva]

I was dissapointed John Lennon and George Harrison were not able to sing the last song on stage, heard they were recording a new album with Luther Vandros, anyone have any info??

[anonymous]

JacquiO wrote:

<quoted text>
Billy never graduated high school.

I agree with you but Paul McCarthney is a real nice guy. Not like Billy Joel a friend of mine said that he was in school and finally raised enough money to get tickets for Billy Joel and when he got there and the concert was ready to start he passed a remark about how he got everyones money and since then I had no use for the man. I guess he needed money to support the bimbo he's with. This happens years ago but the remark was so uncalled for.

[DisneyJoel]

I believe the article on this page misquotes Billy. I was there Friday, and I think he actually said, in regard to the difficulty of singing the high notes on "This Night": "I hope it was worth it." (Not "I hope it was wonderful," as the article claims.) Am I alone on this one? And incidentally, the only thing that could've made Friday's concert better was if Richie Cannatta were playing. Mark Rivera can't touch him.

[DisneyJoel]

anonymous wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with you but Paul McCarthney is a real nice guy. Not like Billy Joel a friend of mine said that he was in school and finally raised enough money to get tickets for Billy Joel and when he got there and the concert was ready to start he passed a remark about how he got everyones money and since then I had no use for the man. I guess he needed money to support the bimbo he's with. This happens years ago but the remark was so uncalled for.

I've heard Billy say similar things in concerts, but they were always meant as humorous sarcasm. Perhaps your friend mistook the tone of his statement. From all I know about Billy, greed is certainly not one of his traits. He might be wealthy, but he's also humble and charitable.

[DisneyJoel]

iliketuna wrote:

<quoted text>you'll never attend another concert at shea? gee, let me guess, you're a brain surgeon. in case you haven't heard , shea stadium will be a pile of dust in the near future. must be a met fan also.

Um, I think his comment "I'm never seeing another concert at Shea" was meant as a joke. At least I HOPE it was. I laughed, anyway.

[DisneyJoel]

Chris wrote:

Wow. Talk about totally screwing over your hardcore fans.
Obviously the most hardcore of the fans would've gotten tickets to the first show. Then he goes out of his way to say that Paul McCartney WON'T be showing up at the shows, so I guess he's just a lier too.

The truly hardcore fans would've gotten tickets to BOTH shows. Guess you're not a hardcore fan. As for Billy being a LIAR (the correct spelling, by the way), I'm sure he wanted to keep it a surprise. I'm glad he did.

[DisneyJoel]

Billy Fan wrote:

I was at Wednesday show with all the REAL Billy fans. I was at my computer and phone the minute they went on sale and it took over 40 minutes to get tickets, in the nose bleeds!! And I too thought it would be the "Last Play at Shea" like it was billed. When the Friday show was added I tried again to get tickets (against better judgement of my wallet) but would have sacrificed food/gas to go to both shows. I was unable to get tickets. The show was fantastic and very happy to be there. Just would have like it to have been the Last Play.

Here's a slightly new perspective for ya. I'm a so-called "REAL Billy Joel" fan, who got up early on the first Saturday and was also late for work (yes, I work on Saturdays) only to watch that annoying 507tixx website refresh itself every 60 seconds.(You all went through it, I'm sure, so you know what I mean.) I watched this for a full hour, without getting access, and then learned from the radio that it was sold out. If not for the second chance the following Saturday, I would've been S.O.L.(short of perhaps winning them off the radio, but what are those chances?).

So, the following Saturday, I deal with the same obnoxious "refresh" loop for about 25 - 30 minutes, and finally get into the site. Because I was unaware of the time limit for buying tix, the website timed out on me, causing me to lose the tickets I had on hold, and I had to re-enter to try again, only to end up one tier higher. I truly feel for all of you legitimate ticket-buyers out there, who went through the same hair-pulling frustration I went thru, and I feel even MORE for people who tried and failed to get ANY tickets at all .. on both attempts! There has to be a better solution than online ticket-buying, especially through a single website, when millions of people are visiting at once. It's madness. I yearn for the old days of waiting in lines at actual ticket outlets, which true fans gladly did, even if it meant sleeping overnight - back when you truly EARNED your concert tickets, and it wasn't just an Internet game of chance and luck. Here endeth the rant. Sorry it was so long.

[Tennessee Jed]

I got chills reading this...I hope this comes out as a 2-CD set!

[Irene - NJ]

To Disney Joel:

I was there Friday night and you are correct; he did say "I hope it was worth it" regarding This Night...

GREAT SHOW BILLY!!!!!!

[Arnold_Leo]

Hey, Is Billy still promoting commercial striped bass fishing out in the Hamptons. I stopped listening to him almost 15 years ago because of his participation in an illegal haul-seine with the East Hampton Baymens Assoc.

[docamadeus]

I applaud Billy for adding a 2nd show. It gave twice the number of fans a chance to see the "last" concert at Shea. I was not able to get tickets for Wednesday, but I had a 2nd shot when Friday went on sale. For those of you whining about Wed. not being the last show, I understand to a point, but who were you going to see...Billy or special guests?

[DisneyJoel]

docamadeus wrote:

I applaud Billy for adding a 2nd show. It gave twice the number of fans a chance to see the "last" concert at Shea. I was not able to get tickets for Wednesday, but I had a 2nd shot when Friday went on sale. For those of you whining about Wed. not being the last show, I understand to a point, but who were you going to see...Billy or special guests?

I agree wholeheartedly, docamadeus. I must also take back something I said in an earlier post. I had suggested that Billy deliberately tried to keep McCartney's appearance a secret, so that it would be a surprise. I have since learned that no one, not even Billy, was certain that McCartney could make it because he was flying in from London. As it turned out, Sir Paul's plane had just landed and he was given a police escort from the airport to Shea, while Billy and company were wringing their hands in suspense, no doubt. I'm glad it worked out in the end, and it should make for a more satisfying conclusion to the documentary that's currently in the making.

[DisneyJoel]

Oh, and incidentally, to anyone who claims that Billy Joel said Paul McCartney would not show up on either night, I dare you to show us that quote, because it never happened. Billy DID, in fact, say that Paul and Ringo would definitely not be there to perform together. I challenge anyone to post evidence to the contrary.

As for anyone who's miffed about having tickets to Wednesday night only, you had the same opportunity as everyone else to purchase more tickets for another show, if it was really THAT important to you. If you tried and failed to get tickets to the last show, then blame bad luck or a horribly managed ticketing website, not the Mets or Billy Joel. The promoters and event organizers are the real greedy ones here, with their $39-per-ticket service fees and $30-per-car parking fees. None of that money goes to Billy.

[RoundofApplause]

There isn't a single thing about either show that doesn't credit Billy's good showmanship. He put on, not only concerts, but entertaining SHOWS.
He gave the Beatles the credit they were due. He paid tribute to them by playing songs that he normally wouldn't. Billy put on a hellova good series.
To those that are whining because Billy "lied," boo friggen hoo. He built suspense, sorry if you can't take it for what it ended up being, a surprise for those fans who attended the Friday show. Honestly, those who went to the Wednesday show got an AMAZING song line-up.
Buy the DVD when it comes out.(The show(s) were filmed for a documentary.)
The Yankees got the MLB all-star game with a bunch of old-timers, the Mets got an all-star performance of equal if not GREATER magnitude.
I'll take Billy Joel over Yogi Berra any day.

[Jen]

What Billy did was wrong. I went to Wednesday's show and at the time thought he was amazing. He even apologized for adding a 2nd show. What b/s! I am pissied that the Friday night show included a musical genius and not talking about Billy.

[mighty thor]

christie is still hot

[RoundofApplause]

Hey, I realize a lot of people are mad, but seriously, he made a lot more people happy than he pissed off. Billy did nothing wrong. If putting on the best concerts Shea has seen in years is wrong, then yea, he's guilty.
I think people are pissed because now they don't get to go into work and brag to those who didn't go to either show with the line "Hey, I was there for Billy's show; the last one at Shea. You shoulda been there it was amazing." Honestly folks, look at the big picture here instead of sticking with the "woe is me" bullpoo.