Here's why Billy Joel bans the sale of front row tickets to his concerts
Billy Joel explained the reason why no one is allowed to purchase front row tickets to his concerts - and it's for a good reason.
In a 2014 interview with Billboard, Billy, 69, said that they hold the front row tickets because of the scalpers.
"We never sell front rows. We hold those tickets at just about every concert," he explained. "For years, the scalpers got the tickets and would scalp the front row for ridiculous amounts of money. Our tickets are cheap, under $100, some in the $80s, the highest is about $150."
The legendary singer, also known as the "Piano Man," was very annoyed thinking that his fans couldn't enjoy a front row seat at his concerts because of the scalpers who were selling the tickets at expensive prices.
"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,'" he said. "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?"
Knowing that his dedicated fans were always in the back of the concert venue in the worst seats, Billy did something about it.
He said: "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."
According to the Cold Spring Harbor singer, the fans now filling the front row have huge smiles on their faces.
Billy has been making music since the 1960s. He released albums throughout the '70s, '80s, and '90s.
The singer produced 33 Top 40 hits in the US across the 20 years of his solo career.
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.
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