Billy Joel Losing His Sh*t

[MathOfInsects]

Have you all seen this? A friend just sent it to me. Happened during the Russia tour. He made some BS excuse that "the Russian people have been under the spotlight for too long" or some nonsense, but it seems pretty clearly to be a good old-fashioned diva-stylez sh*t-losing of epic proportions. I laughed and laughed.

 

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl3E-cwA6y8

[Morizzle]

Here's a way too long article explaining why:

 

https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/bjxq74/30-years-ago-billy-joel-had-a-meltdown-in-moscow

 

I preferred the video without context, though

[zxcvbnm098]

I actually found the article interesting. It puts it in perspective for sure.

[wd8dky]

Why would the loser go there (oh, wait, $$), considering his "opinion?" My wife is a middle-school teacher, and I think her drama queens could see this as education in the art of being a drama queen.

[Bill H.]

I remember it well. It was a huge deal when it happened- making all the newscasts, considered a big embarrassment for the US entertainment industry, a black eye for glasnost...

 

Revisionist history (like that article written 30 years later) paints a different picture than initial reaction to the concert at the time. And it probably does look better now. So much has happened since then.

 

I remember an interview with Soviet musicians (who couldn't get shit for equipment back then) appalled that anyone would trash a CP-80 like that.

 

Like I said, times have changed.

[Fleer]

I remember him back in 1994 throwing a tantrum in Harvards Sanders Theatre when someone in the audience accused him of plagiarism. Should have just ignored the guy. Not cool.

[SteveCoscia]

Glad I read the article - it adds much-needed objectivity. Brought back many memories too.