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Billy Joel has a meltdown after his lighting crew makes an error during a concert in Moscow, 1987.

2,054,527 views • 1 year ago •via X (Twitter)

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All Worlds History's profile picture
All Worlds History1 year ago

Context: While performing "Sometimes a Fantasy," the audience kept getting attention from spotlights, which angered Joel as he felt it was making it harder to connect with them. The Soviet crowd, raised by decades of Iron Curtain austerity, stopped dancing and froze like deer in headlights when they were lit up, petrified that the security guards would crack down on them. Then the lights would go out again and they'd resume dancing. Lights off, dancing. Lights on, frozen stiff. This went on and on like a game of red light, green light, one-two-three. With each flick of the lights, the perfectionist Joel saw his hard earned. connection fading away.[5] He yelled, "Stop lighting the audience!" He then trashed his instruments, overturning his piano and breaking his mic stand.[5] He later claimed that, "People like their privacy. They go to a concert to get that, to be in the dark and do their own thing."[3]

Kimz 🙃's profile picture
Kimz 🙃1 year ago

Billy Joel losing it on stage just proves how much he cares about every detail of his performance.

Mr.'s profile picture
Mr.1 year ago

Billy Joel in 1975, performing "Piano Man" live on the Old Grey Whistle Test. He was 25-26 here, which is pretty unbelievable.

Historical World's profile picture
Historical World1 year ago

This was at the end of an 11 month world tour, he had sunk his own money in to try and make this Russian tour a success and was effectively responsible for his family who traveled with and a crew of over 100+. The crowd weren’t quite as into his show initially as other places in the world as he was used to. On top of all of that, it was being broadcast to the world and there was a distinct pressure in being the first to engage in a full blown stadium tour across 3 cities in the country.

geezer's profile picture
geezer1 year ago

Billy Joel needs to chill!

Remi's profile picture
Remi1 year ago

Billy Joel with Brian Johnson performing "You Shook Me All Night Long" Live at Madison Square Garden, 2014.

Crazy Vibes's profile picture
Crazy Vibes1 year ago

26-year-old Billy Joel performing "Piano Man" (from Tonight - Connecticut 1976).

qunzter (winter arc)'s profile picture
qunzter (winter arc)1 year ago

Stay off drugs kids.

YesKnow's profile picture
YesKnow1 year ago

“Beautiful Day” U2 An iconic song released in 2000 as part of the album ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind.’ The song speaks to themes of resilience, appreciation of life’s simple moments, and the world's beauty, even when things aren’t good.

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