If you’ve seen Billy Joel in concert, you know he often drops Led Zeppelin‘s song “Rock and Roll” into the set. But on New Year’s Eve, he got to play another classic Zep song with the son of the band’s drummer.
Billy’s opening act on Dec. 31 at UBS Arena in Long Island, New York, was Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, a band led by drummer Jason Bonham, son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham, who died in 1980. Jason also came out to join Billy for a cover of Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” during Billy’s set.
According to Billboard, Billy told the crowd, “You all know this song. It’s not a piano song.” Jason played drums and while Billy did play piano, but he didn’t sing — his guitarist Mike DelGuidice did.
Billy also covered some other rock classics during the set, including Derek & The Dominos‘ “Layla” — which he played to run out the clock to midnight — plus a brief version of The Rolling Stones‘ “Start Me Up,” which is almost always in the set list.
Plus, Billy performed a couple of deep cuts, including “A Room of Our Own,” from 1982’s The Nylon Curtain, and “Souvenir,” from 1974’s Streetlife Serenade. He also performed “Souvenir” on New Year’s Eve 2024, when he rang in the year at the same venue, since the lyrics are so appropriate: “Every year’s a souvenir/ that slowly fades away.”
Billy’s next scheduled show is Jan. 17 in Hollywood, Florida.
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