Watch Billy Joel Perform Surprise Set With Cover Band on Long Island
Every month, Billy Joel performs in front of a sold out crowd at New York’s Madison Square Garden. On Friday night, the “Piano Man” singer took the stage at Huntington, New York’s intimate Paramount for a surprise three-song set alongside Joel cover band Big Shot, who were performing at the venue.
With Big Shot, Joel performed Joe Cocker’s version of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women” and his own “You May Be Right” interpolated with Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll.”
While performing with their hero would be a huge deal to most cover bands, for the members of Big Shot, it was just another day at the office: guitarist/singer Mike DelGuidice, guitarist Tommy Byrnes and drummer Chuck Burgi are all members of Joel’s touring unit, the same one that plays at the Garden every month. With Big Shot performing nearby Joel’s Long Island home, the singer dropped in to watch his cohorts in action from the audience’s perspective before joining in, Newsday reports.
“My man Mike!” Joel said to DelGuidice during the surprise set. “I only live down the road from here.” This wasn’t Joel’s first visit to the Paramount: Joel has made both announced and surprise appearances at the venue for benefit concerts.