Billy Joel calls his music “Dad Rock” in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly .
The music legend has kept a residence at Madison Square Garden and recently played over 65 concerts, beating Elton John’s record. In recent news, Joel announced that the two piano rockers have patched up a recent “feud” the two musicians had. He even played “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” to honor John during his record-breaking show.
Exclusive photos and video of Billy’s Historic Concert at @thegarden : http://t.co/gUxBVANvg8 pic.twitter.com/cmSM5VEdRN
— Billy Joel (@billyjoel) July 9, 2015
The self-proclaimed “piano man” recalls his extensive career, spanning over 50 years of hard work in entertainment. Billy Joel also reflected on his early years when no one knew him.
“I went to Woodstock. I didn’t play there, but I went up on a motorcycle, which was a good move because the highway was just a parking lot. I wanted to see Hendrix and the Who. But after a day and a half with no real toilet facilities…what am I, a bear? I have to go in the woods? There was a lot of mud and people were smoking a lot of pot and taking a lot of acid. I didn’t do anything back then. I drank a beer or something. The first day, I saw Santana. Or was it Joe Cocker? I was dirty and itchy and covered with poison ivy and I thought, ‘Just get me out of here! I’ve got to use a bathroom.’”
The Inquisitr reported on Joel’s excitement about becoming a dad again with his wife, Alexis Roderick. It seems he also identifies himself this way with regards to his music.
Noting that he still adds new and younger fans to his list of admirers, Joel uses the term “dad rock” to explain that many younger listeners have come to find his music through their own parents. “There’s a lot of stuff I don’t know about, like electronic dance music.”
“But obviously they’ve heard my music somewhere. Whether their parents played it and it’s, like, dad rock, which I love. I love that expression! That’s what I am.”
Joel also adds that he is “writing new music all the time.” However, despite being one of the best pop songwriters of all time, he’s staying away from that genre these days. “It’s not my goal now. I’m writing for the sake of writing music.”
He’s not interested in releasing new music, but he is also not against it, and vows now to use the expression “quitting.” He has not released music since the 1990s, but he enjoys playing and connecting with fans on stage.
[Photo courtesy of Chad Batka, Entertainment Weekly ]