Billy Joel Concludes Decade-Long Residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden

Billy Joel performs onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 04, 2024. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Billy Joel, best known for his 1973 hit song “Piano Man,” concluded his decade-long residency at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Thursday evening.

The 75-year-old singer-songwriter took the stage of the famed Midtown Manhattan arena for his final performance, marking the 104th show of his monthly residency and his 150th show at the venue.

“This is our last night of the residency that we’ve been doing here,” the Grammy Award-winning singer said as boos rang out from an audience comprised of nearly 20,000 fans, reported WNBC.

“I know, I know. We don’t want to go either, but, it’s time,” he continued. “It’s 10 years. None of us knew we were going to be able to do this for this long. This has been the most amazing gig that we’ve ever done.”

Jimmy Fallon, host of “The Tonight Show,” made an appearance during the occasion, surprising the pianist with a banner that read, “Billy Joel 150: Most lifetime performances by any artist.”

“We are witnessing history here tonight,” Mr. Fallon said in a video shared on Mr. Joel’s Instagram page. “This is the last night of your residency here at Madison Square Garden, and we are honored to be here,” he said.

“Madison Square Garden wants to thank you. We’re going to raise a banner in honor of you and it will live in the rafters,” the television host continued. “No one but Billy Joel can do this.”

Toward the middle of the set, Axl Rose, the frontman of Guns N' Roses, joined Mr. Joel to perform his band’s 1991 cover of Paul McCartney and Wings’ 1973 song “Live and Let Die” and AC/DC’s 1979 hit “Highway to Hell.”

Mr. Rose also joined Mr. Joel at the end of the show to help him close out his historic run at Madison Square Garden with the final song, “You May Be Right,” from Mr. Joel’s 1980 album, “Glass Houses”.

Madison Square Debut

On Dec. 14, 1978, Mr. Joel gave his debut performance at the popular Manhattan arena, which is home to the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers and the National Basketball Association’s New York Knicks.

In 2006, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer became the first entertainer to set the record for the most consecutive performances by any artist at Madison Square Garden after performing a run of 12 sold-out concerts, per his website.

The world-famous venue announced Mr. Joel’s residency seven years later.

In a Dec. 3, 2013 press release, the “Uptown Girl” singer said his performances at Madison Square Garden have been an especially “thrilling experience.”

“I’ve played different venues all over the world, but there’s no place like coming home to The Garden,” Mr. Joel said. “Since my first show in 1978, I’ve always looked forward to the energy of the crowd.”

Billy Joel performs in concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 27, 2016. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

The New York native officially kicked off his residency on Jan. 27, 2014, reported Billboard. Over the years, he invited a slew of artists to join him on the Madison Square Garden stage, including Elvis Costello, Tony Bennett, John Mellencamp, Sting, John Mayer, and Miley Cyrus.

In 2018, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo celebrated Mr. Joel’s 100th-lifetime performance at Madison Square Garden by proclaiming July 18 as “Billy Joel Day.”

“Billy Joel has had an immeasurable impact on the entertainment industry as a singer-songwriter and performer during an extraordinary, accomplished career spanning nearly half a century,” the proclamation read.

“All New Yorkers are proud to join in recognizing Billy’s historic accomplishments and the indelible impact he has had on not only music but our state and nation’s cultural landscape.”