In a recent news conference, Billy Joel confirmed he will be ending his monthly performances at the Madison Square Garden in July 2024. This curtain call marks the conclusion of his record-breaking residency, which began a decade ago and will round off with Joel’s 150th-lifetime performance at the venue.
The singer expressed surprise at the length of his tenure, defying even his own expectations:
“It’s hard to believe we’ve been able to do this for 10 years. I’m now 74. I’ll be 75 next year. It seems like a nice number. 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!“
The streak of concerts, which started in January 2014, broke two records. With one sold-out performance every month at the Manhattan venue, by January 2015, the Piano Man had already set a mark for the ‘most consecutive performances by any artist.’
Just a few months down the line, in July 2015, the singer smashed another record for the ‘most lifetime performances by any artist’ at the Garden. This achievement, like his previous one, was celebrated with a new banner. Both banners are still hanging at the Garden’s rafters.
During the press conference, MSG’s CEO James Dolan commented on Joel’s achievements and time at the venue by saying:
“Billy Joel’s franchise run has made history – not only for Madison Square Garden but also for the music industry overall. 150 sold-out lifetime shows is a remarkable achievement and speaks to Billy’s extraordinary talent, beloved catalog, and dedicated fanbase. Billy always has a home here at MSG even though the residency is coming to an end with his 150th-lifetime performance.”
While this news signals the end of an era at Madison Square Garden, it is important to clarify that this is not a farewell to the stage for Billy Joel. His representative has confirmed that while the residency is concluding, the singer isn’t planning on retiring just yet.
