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Billy Joel Looks Back At September 11, 2001

By Julie Devereaux September 9th, 2022
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 27: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was converted to black and white using digital filters) Billy Joel performs in concert at Madison Square Garden on May 27, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

We all remember where we were when the you know what hit the fan on September 11, 2001.

I was on the phone with my daughter that morning. She had the Today Show on and told me to put the television on. In a matter of moments, the two of us saw the second plane hit the second tower, live. I knew that was no accident.

Wild day. And the days and weeks after September 11 were surreal.

Here’s Billy Joel and his account of that day, September 11, 2001, the days that followed and how he did what he could to help.

“We’ll never forget. Nah, I don’t think it’ll be forgotten, but I think we’ve recovered a good deal. I know once they nailed (Osama) Bin Laden — that’s another thing that put it behind us,” Billy Joel has said.

“I don’t know, this city has great resolution. There’s a lot of resolve, there’s a lot of character here. You’re not gonna keep this place down.”

Hear more from Billy Joel here.

Billy Joel: 8 Great MSG Residency Cameos

Billy Joel has always tried to keep fans guessing during his monthly Madison Square Garden shows and has welcomed a variety of special guests since his residency at the legendary arena began in January 2014.

In honor of The Piano Man’s birthday today (May 9), here are eight of our favorite residency cameos.

  • Christie Brinkley

    Joel’s August 2014 residency show saw him dust off “Uptown Girl,” which, of course, is about his ex-wife Brinkley, but the audience blew up once they saw the supermodel on the jumbotron in attendance.

  • Jimmy Fallon

    The Tonight Show host joined Joel at his 25 residency gig in January 2016, where he did his best Mick Jagger impersonation for a performance of “Start Me Up.”  It’s equal parts ridiculous and fun.

  • Brian Johnson

    Considering Johnson’s somewhat recent retirement from the stage, this performance of “You Shook Me All Night Long” from Joel’s December 2014 residency show is all the more poignant.

  • John Mellencamp

    Indiana’s favorite son made his second guest appearance during Joel’s residency at the March 2017 show.  This time around, Mellencamp and Joel dueted on “Authority Song” to a raucous crowd.

  • Foreigner’s Lou Gramm and Mick Jones

    During Joel’s January 2018 MSG show, Gramm and Jones surprised the capacity crowd and performed two of their biggest hits, “Urgent” and “Cold As Ice.”

  • Bruce Springsteen

    For Joel’s 100th show ever at MSG, The Boss joined The Piano Man on stage performed “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” and “Born To Run”

  • John Fogerty

    John Fogerty joined Joel for two songs during his March 2019 MSG gig: Creedence Clearwater Revival classics “Up Around The Bend” and “Fortunate Son.”

  • Olivia Rodrigo

    In August 2022, pop star Olivia Rodrigo joined Joel on stage at MSG.

    Joel gave Rodrigo quite the introduction naming off her many accolades and adding, “I like her music and so do my kids.” Rodrigo returned the favor before they performed her song “Deja Vu,” which name-checks the Piano Man in the lyrics. Following “Deja Vu,” Joel and Rodrigo then performed “Uptown Girl,” which Joel noted was requested by Rodrigo.

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