Billy Joel to laugh off his Mets banner
The Phils wanted to cover up a logo for his shows with Elton John at Citizens Bank Park.
Billy Joel to laugh off his Mets banner
Michael Klein, Philly.com
In a bid to keep the peace at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies wanted to cloak or replace the 16-by-16-foot Mets banner at the top of the set decoration at the Billy Joel/Elton John concerts tonight and Saturday.
Alas, they could not find anything suitable.
Joel will wear a Phillies jacket for at least part of the show and will make some sort of joking reference to the Mets and their 10-games-back status
My colleague Bob Ford and I hear that the Phillies had reached out to the "Face 2 Face" concert to express concern about Joel's New York-theme set.
It's not that the Phils are worried about any kind of baseball rivalry, we hear; they just don't want some yahoo having too much to drink and throwing something at it or starting a fight. The Mets banner was visible at recent shows at Nationals Ballpark and Wrigley Field.
Perhaps Joel will sing "Philadelphia State of Mind," as well.
John's set includes images of London. Not an issue.
(Semi-related video: Behind the scenes at Citizens Bank Park.)
(This post has been updated.)
you had to be a big shot didn't ya..................— frazier- Billy Joel played the final concert at Shea Stadium. And then he got drunk and crashed his car into it to knock it down.— AreaMan
Comment removed.- Changing the lyrics of "NY State of Mind" to get a rise out of the host city is just wrong. We still have "Philadelphia Freedom", am I right, people?!?— ggc1219
- ahaha AreaMan your hilarious— ckirk255
- Be advised, Billy Joel might be behind the wheel of a car driving around town today--make sure you have your seatbelt on if you venture out!— ChrisInConshy
Billy Joel, I didn't know he was still alive? He's like 70, isn't he?— delcodanno- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- I don't like artists getting a cheap rise out of the crowd by mentioning Philadelphia or especially cheesesteaks. Too easy and an overplayed trick.— richards4captain18
- I have to admit, as a 27 year old, Elton's music is my guitly pleasure.— richards4captain18
- WMMR was one of the stations that made Billy Joel back in the day...he owes us.— cymru
- this is philly, man. he better watch out somebody doesn't fire a couple shots at it.— scorpio27
- I prefer to remember Billy Joel as a talented song writer, musician, and entertainer before he was married three times, had trouble with drinking and driving, etc. Didn't he used to be a Yankees fan?— bgdude18
- tough crowd. both made great songs (mostly before they "had to be a big shot". Elton John's "elton john" album was of singular beauty. Some fun pop hits after that, but never the same. let ol' billy enjoy his affection for his home town team, for god's sake.— seano
