Billy Joel sets record in Madison Square Garden

[alicia-w]

Billy Joel has returned to the concert stage in explosive fashion, highlighted by a historic run at New York's famed Madison Square Garden.

As of January 21, Joel had sold out 11 Garden shows, breaking the record of 10 set by Bruce Springsteen in 2000. Joel's run of shows began January 23 and now it seems the Piano Man will add a 12th show to the stand.

Artists Group International president Dennis Arfa has been Joel's agent for 30 years and knew demand would be high for the artist's first solo tour since 1998. But this high?

"We're always cautious when we begin and we're humbled by our success," Arfa says. "You never think about breaking Babe Ruth's home run record until you get to that point where it's within reach, then all of a sudden you say, 'Wow, we're Hank Aaron here.' "

Joel's tour will have an in-the-round stage setting. With a 19,000 capacity in the Garden, the total attendance for 11 shows will be about 209,000 and the total gross could be north of $17 million.

Ticket prices for the New York shows top out at $89.50. "We're trying to make it affordable for the guy who works in the plant," Arfa says, "not just the guy who owns it."

This is not a first for Joel box-office heroics in New York. "Billy in New York is always special," Arfa says of Joel, who grew up in and has lived most of his life in suburban Long Island. "He played nine Nassau (Long Island) Coliseum shows in 1998. We've done two Yankee Stadiums and two Giant Stadiums on the same tour."

[GalvestonDuck]

The dude rules!

[vbhoutex]

I saw him in a tiny venue in KC in 1972 before he became a household word. I knew then hwe would become a star, but WOW!!!!!