logo

Here’s why Billy Joel refuses to sell a front row ticket to his shows

Rebelander Basilan
Feb 10, 2019
11:42 P.M.

Singer-songwriter Billy Joel revealed the reason why nobody is allowed to purchase front row tickets to his concerts, and it's for a good cause.

Advertisement

In a 2014 interview with Billboard, Joel, who has been a mainstay in popular music for more than 40 years, said that they hold the front row tickets due to the scalpers.

For a long time, Joel and his team have tried to figure out how to beat the scalpers.

"We never sell front rows. We hold those tickets at just about every concert," the 69-year-old musician told the news outlet.

He then explained that scalpers would sell the front row tickets for high prices. "Our tickets are cheap, under $100, some in the $80s, the highest is about $150," he added.

Advertisement

VERY ANNOYED

Advertisement

Joel, commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man," was quite irritated thinking that his fans couldn't enjoy a front row seat at his shows because of the scalpers. The legendary singer said:

"I'd look down and see rich people sitting there, I call 'em 'gold chainers.' Sitting there puffing on a cigar, 'entertain me, piano man.'"

"They don't stand up, make noise, sit there with their bouffant haired girlfriend lookin' like a big shot. I kinda got sick of that, who the (heck) are these people, where are the real fans?"

Advertisement

HOLDING THE TICKETS

Realizing that his enthusiastic fans were always in the back of the concert venue in the worst seats, Joel did something about it.

"We now hold those tickets, and I send my road crew out to the back of the room when the audience comes in and they get people from the worst seats and bring 'em in to the front rows," he said.

"This way you’ve got people in the front row that are really happy to be there, real fans."

Advertisement

For a long time, Joel and his team have tried to figure out how to beat the scalpers. But according to him, it's extremely hard to battle them.

"You can't fight that secondary market. There used to be anti-scalping laws and they let them lapse from the books," the "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" singer said.

"My theory is there's a lot of tax revenue in those secondary ticket markets, these guys selling tickets for $500 to $1,000 gotta pay tax on it, and a lot more goes to government than there would be based on my ticket prices."

Advertisement

HUGELY SUCCESSFUL CAREER

Since the 1960s, Joel has been making music. He released albums throughout the '70s, '80s, and '90s. Across the two decades of his solo career, he produced 33 Top 40 hits in the US.

In 1992, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Seven years later, he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Related posts

Millionaire Mocks Poor Woman with 3 Kids on Business Class Flight until Pilot Interrupts Him — Story of the Day

May 04, 2024

I Found Tickets in My Husband's Old Jacket and Filed for Divorce the Next Day

October 02, 2024

102-Year-Old Lady Is Stunned to Find All Her Retirement Savings Run Out — Story of the Day

April 17, 2024

Clint Eastwood Sparks Fans' Concerns With His 'So Different' Look in Rare Outing: 'He's Unrecognizable!'

April 16, 2024

Woman Is Certain Her Husband Died until She Comes across His New Tinder Profile – Story of the Day

May 03, 2024

5 Stories of How People Had to Become Detectives to Learn the Shocking Truth about Their Loved Ones

April 15, 2024

102-Year-Old Lady Is Stunned to Find All Her Retirement Savings Run Out — Story of the Day

May 16, 2024

This 'Angelic' Child Star Stayed under the Radar — He Looks 'Unrecognizable' & Grew Beard to Hide from the Public

July 25, 2024

Older Man Is Fired 2 Hours after Taking Store Job, Gets $70K for Wife’s Treatment the Next Day – Story of the Day

April 15, 2024

Little Boy Believes His Mom Died in Car Crash, Years Later He Accidentally Meets Her – Story of the Day

May 09, 2024

A Glimpse into Blake Shelton’s Breathtaking 1,300-Acre Ranch Where He Married Gwen Stefani and Now Raises His Stepsons

June 18, 2024

16 Wedding Photographers Reveal the Worst Moments Caught on Camera

May 01, 2024

My Mom Used My Inheritance despite My Protests, So I Decided to Teach Her a Lesson – Am I Justified in My Revenge?

August 09, 2024

Wedding Turns into Hell When Groom Unexpectedly Discovers He's Marrying His Sister — Story of the Day

April 26, 2024