Billy Joel marked the end of his monthly residency at Madison Square Garden with his 150th show last Thursday. To commemorate this milestone, MSG gifted Billy, a collector of vintage motorcycles, a 1978 Triumph Bonneville. The motorcycle was uniquely adorned with piano keys, Joel's signature, and the MSG logo on the gas tank. It also featured "Billy Joel 150" on the oil tank and the dates 1978-2024 on the gas cap and key chain. A helmet listing all the dates he performed at MSG, starting from 1978, completed the gift.
In addition to the motorcycle, a new banner was raised during Thursday's show, reading "Billy Joel 150 - Most Lifetime Performances by Any Artist." This was a fitting tribute to Joel's one-show-a-month residency, which began in January 2014 and totaled 104 shows.
Despite the end of his residency, Joel has no plans to slow down. He expressed his excitement about the opportunity to perform at other venues in and around New York City. He mentioned potential performances at Yankee Stadium, Giants Stadium, and Citi Field, where the Mets play. Joel reassured fans that he would continue doing shows, stating, "That's what I do." Billy mentioned that he has a schedule laid out into 2025, indicating a promising future of performances.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]