When Billy Joel says it's still rock and roll to him, we should believe him.
Despite being known as the piano man, if you pay attention to his vast catalogue of originals, you'll hear dynamic drumming, fiery sax playing, and solid guitar leads.
On New Years Eve (12/31) at New York's UBS Arena, Joel jammed with the world-class drummer, Jason Bonham, the son of the Led Zeppelin legend.
Bonham was probably thrilled to make a guest appearance with Joel after being unceremoniously dumped by Sammy Hagar in mid-November. The drummer had supported Hagar for a decade in several projects, most recently in a lineup that included Joe Satriani on guitar and Michael Anthony on bass.
While Bonham was visiting his ailing mother, Hagar reportedly called to let him know he was going to replace him with 71-year-old Kenny Aronoff who has played with many huge acts from the Stones to John Mellencamp.
"I was a little shocked, I must say," the 58-year-old drummer told Ultimate Classic Rock. "I’d be lying to you if I wasn’t a little sad, because we were on fire at the end of the tour. And I got a little upset. That was strange, after 10 years of being with him.”
Jason probably could have used a little love a few weeks after his pink slip.
What he got instead was a whole lotta love.
The ever-generous Joel allowed his rhythm guitarist Mike DelGuidice to belt out the opening track from Zep's second album as Bonham banged out the familiar beats.
Not only was it a sweet gesture, but it helped add some heft to the 28-song setlist that was heavy on the keyboards.
It was the third time Bonham has appeared on stage with Joel. The first was in 2019 when they did "Whole Lotta Love" as well as "Good Times Bad Times" at a Joel show at the Citizen's Bank baseball stadium in Philadelphia.
The UBS Arena in New York is far more cozy than Citizen's Bank. Fewer than 20k fans fill the place. It's much more like the 150+ gigs Billy performed at Madison Square Garden.
Another upbeat song Billy brought to the set was the rarely performed "A Room Of Our Own" from The Nylon Curtain.
He only plays it, on average, two or three times a year and has only played it 40 times after live debuting it in 1982.
Making the night a truly special one, Billy dusted off "Souvenir," from his 1974 LP Streetlight Serenade. It's a track that has only been played 16 times over the last 42 years.
As the countdown to midnight began, Billy's wife Alexis Roderick joined him and kissed his head, and then his lips when the new year rang in.
Now unlike Morrissey on the other side of the country in Hollywood, as the confetti fell from the ceiling, Billy sang "Auld Lang Syne," and then he went a step further: he continued to give the fans more songs.
Freshly into 2025, Joel cranked out four more tunes ending with "Piano Man." Then for an encore he knocked out five additional hits beginning with "We Didn't Start The Fire" and concluding with "You May Be Right."
That's what you call giving the audience their money's worth, Moz.
Billy is back at it next week in Florida at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood. He will be doing a show or two a month this year. Go to his website to grab tickets.
