Author Topic: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?  (Read 6923 times)

Greggulator

  • Achilles Tendon Bursitis
  • Posts: 789
Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« on: January 24, 2011, 01:51:37 AM »
There's a message board on the official Billy Joel website. It's not updated too much but it's pretty good.

http://www.billyjoel.com/content/why-did-liberty-quit-band


My favorite thread is about the interpersonal relationship between Billy Joel and Liberty Devito. The thread is largely driven by a 12-year-old Billy fan who has the "heart attack-ack-ack-ack" line from Movin' Out as his signature.

There's also an amazing passage from a San Francisco-area musician.

Quote
Having had a fantastic diabetic jazz drummer who was completely worthless after his first beer (2nd set) - we reluctantly had to dump a fabulous drummer who couldn't handle (choke) 1 beer and couldn't "not drink" at the sets.

Then there was a great sax player we had - got cocky - wanted "more than the rest of the band" - and that wasn't gonna fly - bye.

We have one of the best guitar players in all of SF here - the guy can make you cry doing a solo ballad set under a single spot and an acoustic - but you'll shed more tears by the start of the third set when you watch this angelic talent turn into a loose lush by the time he's on his 5th or 7th cocktail. So sometimes booze, broads or bucks causes all kinds of relationships to go bust - not just bands.

Sometimes its just one word or sentence: we've all had someone we knew well, say something just "wrong" and never wanted to talk to them again.

And then there's the economic crash that affected everyone: for all you know Liberty asked for something of monetary value, or perhaps some credit for "some drum lick" or rhythm, that Billy didn't think he deserved.
Listen to my basketball podcast! www.theholdingcourtpodcast.com

Greggulator

  • Achilles Tendon Bursitis
  • Posts: 789
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2011, 02:00:45 AM »
Kevrock, the 12-year-old Billy Joel Fan, asked in a thread "If Billy Joel brought you up on stage with him what would you sing?"

Excerpts:

Quote
wow i think i would have a heart attack ak ak ak ak ak, lol. I dont know what i would pick, maybe we didnt start the fire as well because it was the song that got me hooked on billy, or maybe everybody has a dream cause that would be like a dream, or maybe something off the wall like the falling of the rain, or something totally off the wall like hour of the wolf lol. If it actually happened I would probably be speechless and look like a fool though.

Quote
I'm so shy I think I would burst into tears. But seriously, It would probably be 'Code of Silence'. Then I would look him in the eye and think, I get you and he might think, I get you too.

Quote
I actually had this same thought/dream back in the 80's when I heard the Storm Front album and Billy for the 1st time. It's what got me hooked on Billy's music when I was a "kid". I would have to say that I would want not only to sing but play piano with him too, like in the F. 2. F. concerts he does with Elton. I would want to play Summer Highland Fall and Where's the Orchestra. What a great dream.

Quote
We didn't start the Fire - I like this song much, the music, the words, and the memories it brings back and the social/societal implications

Quote
I'd pick either 'Stiletto' or 'Big Shot' and dedicate it to my ex-wife! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote
Some of my favorite moments are walking up to a hotel lobby piano, kicking it off and hoping they don't throw me out - some do - most don't - and if not, and you play for a bit, some other piano player will show up and then we can fill the lobby in a dueling piano show that can last 2 - 6 hours - waitresses suddenly getting a blast of cocktail and food orders in the main lobby from 20 - 50 new patrons - and I've even seen the valets and door men kick open the front doors so it blasts out onto the sidewalk - filling the room even faster.

So - IF - I ran into Billy on stage - hopefully it'd be a scene like that and we'd wow em like that - and while I can usually do a pretty good job of keeping up with the "other professional piano men and women" out there in these kind of duels, the only thing in this scene that would really piss me off is that Billy would smoke my a** with one hand tied behind his back.

Listen to my basketball podcast! www.theholdingcourtpodcast.com

Shaggy 2 Grote

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 3892
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2011, 02:02:11 AM »
Greggulator, thank you for providing all the internet I could ever want.
Oh, good heavens. I didn’t realize. I send my condolences out to the rest of the O’Connor family.

Christina

  • Administrator
  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 2387
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2011, 07:35:11 AM »
I know! Everybody on the internet is just reblogging the same puddy tat and star wars DIY pictures. These kids today don't troll for nutburgers!
Remember how he couldn't stop his leg?

Kim Kelly

  • Achilles Tendon Bursitis
  • Posts: 719
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2011, 08:42:32 AM »
"I'm so shy I think I would burst into tears. But seriously, It would probably be 'Code of Silence'. Then I would look him in the eye and think, I get you and he might think, I get you too."

This is my favorite thing right now.
Too soon?

Sarah

  • Guest
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2011, 04:42:36 PM »
This reminds me of a message board for fans of the TV show Bones that I came across a few weeks ago.  I could not believe the extent of the devotion therein expressed. 

Pidgeon

  • Guest
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2011, 05:07:23 PM »
This reminds me of a message board for fans of the TV show Bones that I came across a few weeks ago.  I could not believe the extent of the devotion therein expressed.

Link, please? I, myself, am pretty devoted to Bones.

Sarah

  • Guest
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2011, 06:26:22 PM »
Oh, crikey, I don't remember.  I happened upon it when I was looking for proof that other people were scoffing at Bones's claim that a knife's being made of carbon steel meant it could not have been forged later than the sixties. 

Why don't you try this, though?  Seems liked you'd find some kindred spirits there.

buffcoat

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 6213
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2011, 11:44:43 PM »
There's a chance - a moderate chance - that I might run into Zoe Deschanel where I've been spending time.  My go to line would be, "I love your work on Bones!"

Even though I've never seen the show, and she and her sister don't look anything alike to me, and it's not funny.
I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!

Sarah

  • Guest
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2011, 07:09:51 AM »
She'll assume you're talking about her guest appearance, anyway.  (Unlike you, I watch almost everything.)

JonFromMaplewood

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 2372
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2011, 02:20:44 PM »
There's a chance - a moderate chance - that I might run into Zoe Deschanel where I've been spending time.  My go to line would be, "I love your work on Bones!"

Even though I've never seen the show, and she and her sister don't look anything alike to me, and it's not funny.

My go to line would be "You and Snoop Dogg played off each other really well in that Candyland-themed porno."
"I'm riding the silence like John Cage up in this piece." -Tom Scharpling

Sarah

  • Guest
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2011, 03:27:22 PM »
How about ,"You are not a very good actress, and neither is your sister"?

buffcoat

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 6213
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2011, 05:09:08 PM »
I didn't know Ms. Z. Deschanel was something of an FOT.  I will use that opening instead, or, more likely, I'll follow LA rules and just not acknowledge that anyone famous is present.
I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!

Christina

  • Administrator
  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 2387
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2011, 05:44:35 PM »
I didn't know Ms. Z. Deschanel was something of an FOT. 

Well, she is married to former WaWa Records recording artist Ben Gibbard.
Remember how he couldn't stop his leg?

buffcoat

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 6213
Re: Billy Joel Message Board -- Why Did Liberty Quit The Band?
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2011, 11:23:19 PM »
I didn't know Ms. Z. Deschanel was something of an FOT. 

Well, she is married to former WaWa Records recording artist Ben Gibbard.


Great, now I have to hang out around the place I know she goes* waiting for him to show up, because it would be actually cool to see Ben Gibbard.





* I will absolutely, positively in no way do this.
I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!