Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden

Billy Joel played 150 shows at Madison Square Garden between 1978 and 2024. Virtually all were sellouts. The historic run is a testament to the loyalty of Billy’s fans, his team’s logistical and marketing creativity – and, of course, his music’s enduring, generation-spanning appeal.

Starting with the tour his 52nd Street album, each of Billy’s album cycles, except for one, included multiple dates at the world-renowned New York City venue. Those amounted to 30 shows. He played an extended show on December 31, 1999, released as “2000 Years: The Millennium Concert” in May 2000. Then twice in 2002 alongside Elton John as part of the duo’s periodic “Face to Face” tours.

After a lull in the early 2000s, Joel cemented his legacy at Madison Square Garden. First came a dozen shows in 2006. Recordings from these comprised his “12 Gardens Live” release later that year. Next came his monthly residency at the Garden in 2014. The 10-year run featured dozens of surprise guest performers and an Emmy-nominated television special.

Glass Houses: A Billy Joel Podcast celebrates Billy Joel’s groundbreaking Madison Square Garden shows with five episodes covering:

The first Madison Square Garden show in 1978, thanks to a newly-unearthed bootleg concert recording.
The April 2024 CBS television special featuring the 100th residency show.
The album tour shows at Madison Square Garden
The 2006 concerts and decade-long monthly residency
Our recollections of attending the final residency show, plus an interview with Steve Cohen, Billy’s longtime lighting director and producer of the CBS television event.

Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden

EP 119 – Madison Square Garden Part 6 – Behind The 100th with Steve Cohen + The Hall Of Fame Exhibit

EP 118 – Madison Square Garden Part 5 – Billy Joel at The Garden Through The Years (The Final Residency Show)

EP 117 – Madison Square Garden Part 4 – Billy Joel at The Garden Through The Years (2006-2024)

EP 116 – Madison Square Garden Part 3 – Billy Joel at The Garden Through The Years (1978-2002)

EP 115 – Madison Square Garden Part 2 – The 100th show of the residency (TV Special)

EP 114 – Madison Square Garden Part 1 – The First MSG Show (December 14, 1978)