Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium, PBS March 7, preview

By April MacIntyre Mar 1, 2011, 4:37 GMT

"Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium" captures the singer in peak form during his memorable July 2008 concerts at the historic arena prior to its demolition. THIRTEEN\'S "Great Performances" presentation airs during March Pledge.Credit:Kevin Mazur

Tune in alert for Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium. See the Piano Man's electrifying farewell to the historic arena, with special guests Sir Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, and Garth Brooks.

This historic event airs on PBS stations in March on Great Performances (check local listings). In New York, THIRTEEN will air the program Monday, March 7 at 8 p.m.     

Shortly before the demolition of New York City's Shea Stadium in July 2008, superstar Billy Joel electrified audiences with two memorable concerts at the historic arena.   

Joel and his band offer definitive and often transcendent versions of hits, rarities, personal favorites and crowd-pleasing surprises, including duets with guests McCartney ("I Saw Her Standing There," "Let it Be"), Bennett ("New York State of Mind"), and Brooks ("Shameless").

Built in 1964, Shea Stadium was the home of the New York Mets for 45 years. Designed as a multi-purpose stadium, Shea became the birthplace of arena rock when the Beatles appeared there on August 15, 1965, establishing the ballpark as a pinnacle venue for rock's biggest names. The Who, The Police, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and others have all played Shea.

Chosen as the last rock act to play the venue, Billy Joel staged his "Last Play at Shea" concerts on July 16 and July 18, 2008, rocking a combined audience of 110,000 fans with one of the most emotionally charged shows ever played at the historic stadium.

Watch the full episode. See more Great Performances.