Billy Joel has switched up his commute to work in a big way. Instead of flying in by helicopter, he’s now hopping on the Long Island Rail Road to get into New York City. In a recent chat with Newsday, he shared:
“I used to take a helicopter.”
Joel mentioned safety concerns as a big factor in his change of mind. Plus, back in 2019, the Wall Street Journal highlighted complaints from his neighbors in Oyster Bay, New York. They weren’t too happy about the noise and disruption caused by his helicopter flights.
He’s Happy With The Change
Now, the singer’s journey to the city involves the Long Island Rail Road, taking him right to where he needs to be for his Madison Square Garden residency shows. Speaking of the experience, he said:
“People will sometimes look at me on the railroad and think, ‘Look at this guy, trying to look like Billy Joel. He’s not kidding anybody.’ It’s still a great way to go.”
The Singer’s Fame Doesn’t Cause Problems On The Road
Joel mentioned some hesitations from his team about taking the train, mainly worrying about him getting recognized too much. But it seems he’s okay with blending in with the crowd.
While talking about his decision to take the train with Stephen Colbert earlier this year, the singer explained:
“For two and a half hours, you’re onstage, you’re Mussolini. They’re yelling your name, they’re clapping, they’re cheering, they’re loving. … Then you jump in a car and you drive into New York traffic and you’re just another schmuck in traffic. ‘Wait a minute, I was just Mussolini, what happened to me? And some people can’t handle that transition.’”
The end of Joel’s residency at Madison Square Garden is coming up, with the last show set for July 25.