80s Billy Joel The Bridge Tour 1987 USSR Ringer t-shirt Large

Chest 20 in.

Length 25 in.

Content: 50% cotton 50% polyester

Tag Brand: Hanes

This amazing ringer tee is a keepsake from Billy Joel's The Bridge tour dates in Moscow and Leningrad, USSR. The tour was in promotion of his 10th studio album, The Bridge, which included the hit singles "Modern Women" and "A Matter of Trust." The most notable tour dates were in the Soviet Union, at a time when the Cold War seemed to be thawing, thanks to policies of openness put in place by the USSR's new leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. A self-proclaimed fan of rock 'n roll, Gorbachev wanted to make American music accessible to Soviets so he and President Reagan signed a cultural exchange agreement which ultimately resulted in Joel's six-night stint in the country.

Joel played six shows in the Soviet Union, all on his own dime, and he even filmed the concerts for a documentary. His first show in Moscow was a hit with the Soviets, but the real highlight of the tour was his second show. Joel's film crew was trying to get footage of the crowd, but this meant shining bright floodlights on them which triggered a freeze-response in the Soviets, who were used to floodlights meaning police violence. Joel tried to get his film crew to stop but, when they didn't listen, he got so frustrated that he flipped his piano over in an explosion of ivory keys and broken wood. He continued to wreck the stage while, impressively, continuing to sing with his entire backing band still playing. The audience, who had never seen an arena rock concert before, thought this was all part of the act and they loved it.

Regardless of his self proclaimed "prima donna act," Joel's six-night stint in the USSR was a wild success, musically and diplomatically. His shows in Moscow and Leningrad created life-long Billy Joel fans out of the Soviet attendees. The tour also brought about a remarkable cultural shift at a time that was crucial to the outcome of the Cold War. His performance helped pave the way for the 1989 Moscow Music Peace Festival, which saw American bands like Bon Jovi share a stage with Soviet entertainers.


Fits like a modern unisex adult large






23-01-116885