CityLife

Uptown guy fulfils his promise

MUSIC fans will no doubt be delighted at news that Billy Joel is heading Manchester's M.E.N. Arena for a live concert in July.

Particularly so, as the last time the Uptown Girl star was due to perform here - in the summer of 1998 - there was something akin to chaos when he had to cancel his show at the very last minute.

Back then, after a previous show in Glasgow, Billy suffered an acute attack of asthma brought on by an upper respiratory infection.

The announcement came on the day of the gig as fans from across the country poured into Manchester in anticipation of a legendary performance.

Re-schedule

Billy was apparently so upset by the cancellation and failure to re-schedule the gig that he phoned the Manchester Evening News to apologise in person to all his fans. He said at the time it would almost certainly be the last tour he would do.

And he made this promise - if he ever changed his mind and toured the UK again, the first concert he would perform would be in Manchester.

So imagine the surprise when he announces a new UK tour, eight years after he said he wouldn't play live here again, and pencilled in a show in Manchester on July 19 - after gigs in Birmingham and London.

Ah well, at least his Manchester concert comes before Glasgow on his itinerary this time.