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Billy Joel to play Shea farewell

BY GLENN GAMBOA | glenn.gamboa@newsday.com

February 8, 2008

Billy Joel is set to be "The Last Play at Shea," the final concert at the historic stadium, on July 16.

"This is the hat trick," Joel said Thursday at a news conference at Shea Stadium's Diamond Club. Joel played Yankee Stadium and Giants Stadium in 1991 and will be the only artist to ever perform at all three New York-area ballparks, something that even Shea veterans, the Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band and The Police haven't accomplished.

Joel said playing Shea was important to him because he remembers the impact that The Beatles' playing there in 1965 had on him. "They're the reason I do what I do," he said. "This is something I never even dreamed of back in the day."

Joel said he will plan something special for the Shea show -- more likely a different approach to his songs than a new song for the occasion. "We're not a special effects kind of act," he added. "We don't have dragons or big balloons ... I'm not Mick Jagger. I'm not going to be jumping around like Jumpin' Jack Flash."

Tickets, ranging from $49.50-$95 go on sale at 9 a.m. Feb. 16 through www.507tixx.com. Joel said additional shows may be possible depending on demand, though the number of shows would be limited by the Mets schedule and the need to keep the field ready for baseball.

The July 16 date was picked because it's the day after the All-Star Game and the Mets are on the road until July 22, meaning Joel could presumably do a handful of shows, though nothing like his 12 sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in 2006.

"This is really an honor," said Joel, adding that he has been to more Mets games than Yankees games. "It's another one of those amazing moments. My life just keeps getting more amazing."