Countless artists have said, “This is the last thing I’ll ever do,” but they rarely stick to that. However, 21 years ago, Billy Joel said his “Famous Last Words” and he really meant it.

While Joel has explained his decision countless times over the past two decades, he explained himself again to The New Yorker in an epic profile of the “Piano Man.” The singer-songwriter said that frequent touring partner Elton John has asked him several times why he doesn’t record. Joel has a very good answer.

“Over the years, Elton would say, ‘Why don’t you make more albums?’ And I’d say, ‘Why don’t you make less?’” Joel recalled. “Some people think it’s because I’m lazy or I’m just being contrary. But, no, I think it’s just—I’ve had my say.”

Joel, whose last album was 1993’s The River of Dreams, continued, “If I put out an album now, it would probably sell pretty well, because of who I am, but that’s no reason to do it. I’d want it to be good.”

He added that he’s seen his contemporaries continue to make albums each year and they are not getting better. Bad albums later in life could tarnish a legend’s reputation.

Christie Brinkley, who was in the middle of a divorce with Joel when River came out, joked to the New Yorker that he had just lost a great muse, which explained why he stopped. “He wanted to make sure he retained his dignity,” she added seriously.

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As Entertainment Weekly notes, Joel also pointed out that it’s pretty hard to be personal on your albums when you are incredibly famous. Today’s artists, like Taylor Swift for example, get hounded by the press to explain songs that are personal.

“You can’t create something that’s an independent entity, made out of whole cloth. They know who you’re in a relationship with, what your past is,” Joel noted. “They tend to draw their own conclusions. Your image becomes more powerful than the things you create.”

Joel, 65, is currently the first music “franchise” for Madison Square Garden with an open-ended deal he signed last year. Clearly, when you are already a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you don’t need to make more music.

image courtesy of INFphoto.com