Billy Joel's unusual demand as he shares 'no plans' for retirement
Rock stars are notorious for making extensive backstage demands, but not Billy Joel.
The veteran singer always asks for a fly-swatter for outdoor gigs.
Our picture shows there were no flies on The Piano Man when he played to 65,000 fans at BST Hyde Park in London on Friday night.
He kept the swatter close at hand on top of his piano throughout his two-hour set as he performed hits including My Life, Uptown Girl and We Didn’t Start The Fire.
In a rare interview before the gig, the 74-year-old New Yorker revealed he relaxed before the show by visiting the Churchill War Rooms in the Imperial War Museum.
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The star has also revealed he's been to see Taylor Swift with his childrenHe said: “It was fascinating. I’ve read so much about Churchill. I’m a huge fan of his, I think he saved the world actually. And it’s just great to see in person.”
As well as being a history buff, Billy also keeps up to speed with modern music. In particular, he’s a huge fan of Taylor Swift, who he saw in concert with his children.
He said: “She was phenomenal. She does three and a half hours. The woman’s energy is incredible.
“And every hit song she’s ever done, she’s going to do and she’s running over here, over there. I’m glad I don’t have to start out now, following that act.”
But he’s got no plans to retire after a career that began as a teenager in 1964. He said: “I still write music. I’ve kind of given up on song form because I’ve done it. I tend to like instrumental music, orchestral music.
The music star has 'no plans' to retire from music“I mean, I’m writing all the time, but I’m not always recording.”
He added: “I have this image of ‘I’m the least glamorous popstar there is’. I just sit at the piano.
“I’m in my 70s, I am not a matinee idol, so why are you coming to see me in the first place? But you know, it all has to do with the music, it’s all about music.”
Billy’s eldest daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, 36, has followed in his footsteps as a songwriter.
He said: “She actually became a better pianist than me when she was quite young. She’s up all night writing songs every night.”
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He also has daughters Della Rose, aged seven, and Remy Anne, who is five, with his fourth wife, equestrian Alexis Roderick.
Billy added: “The new ones, they are musical too. Della has perfect pitch. And the younger one is now singing. So we could become the new Von Trapp family.”
Speaking to Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball, he joked the best way to stay young is to not look in the mirror.
Asked if he ate well and exercised, he said: “None of the above. I don’t think I look all that good.
“But I don’t look in the mirror that often, which helps a lot.
“There’s a saying ‘things don’t look half bad with one eye closed’.”
When Billy Joel met Zoe Ball is available on BBC Sounds.
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