Elton John and Billy Joel have much more in common than a favorite instrument. They have both played Madison Square Garden a lot. John had the record for most performances at the World’s Most Famous Arena, but that’s about to change in a month.
John has played 64 shows at MSG, a mark that Joel will pass on July 1 with his 64th show at the arena.
“There are a lot of venues out there, but only one Madison Square Garden a my home away from home,” Joel told The Associated Press.
Joel has been able to beef up his numbers because he is the first music franchise of the arena. He plays as many shows as fans want every month since 2014. Plus, he’s passed the record for most consecutive sold out shows with 17, breaking his own record.
In 2006, the “Piano Man” singer famously played 12 consecutive sold out shows and even released a live album to mark the occasion. The Garden even put up a banner to mark that milestone and now they have to change it once a month.
Despite his Garden shows, Joel still finds time to tour outside of New York. He’s set to perform at Bonnaroo on June 14.
Lastly, Joel is auctioning off the original 2006 “12” banner for the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which helps create scholarships and projects for children.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com