# The Bridge Tour

The Bridge Tour was a 1986–1987 concert tour by singer-songwriter Billy Joel. This tour was the first tour by Joel in over two years, during which he married Christie Brinkley, had his daughter Alexa Ray Joel, and written and recorded The Bridge album.

## Background

Following a performance on Late Night with David Letterman, the tour began on September 29, 1986, in Glens Falls, New York and ended on August 5, 1987, with the last of six shows across the Soviet Union in Leningrad.
The tour continued on October 17 under a new name ("The Encore Australasian Tour") and returned across Australia and in New Zealand. The tour officially ended on November 28, 1987, in Christchurch, New Zealand.

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| North America Leg ||||
| September 29, 1986 | Glens Falls | United States | Glens Falls Civic Center |
| October 2, 1986 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium |
| October 4, 1986 | Providence | United States | Providence Civic Center |
| October 7, 1986 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| October 8, 1986 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| October 10, 1986 | Landover | United States | Capital Centre |
| October 13, 1986 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| October 15, 1986 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| October 17, 1986 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| October 18, 1986 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| October 21, 1986 | Worcester | United States | The Centrum |
| October 22, 1986 | Worcester | United States | The Centrum |
| October 24, 1986 | New Haven | United States | New Haven Coliseum |
| October 25, 1986 | New Haven | United States | New Haven Coliseum |
| October 26, 1986 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum |
| October 27, 1986 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena |
| October 29, 1986 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum |
| October 31, 1986 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon |
| November 1, 1986 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon |
| November 3, 1986 | Saint Paul | United States | St. Paul Civic Center |
| November 5, 1986 | Omaha | United States | Omaha Civic Auditorium |
| November 7, 1986 | Detroit | United States | Joe Louis Arena |
| November 8, 1986 | Detroit | United States | Joe Louis Arena |
| November 14, 1986 | Provo | United States | Marriott Center |
| November 15, 1986 | Denver | United States | McNichols Sports Arena |
| November 18, 1986 | Tucson | United States | Tucson Convention Center |
| November 19, 1986 | Tempe | United States | ASU Activity Center |
| November 21, 1986 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena |
| November 22, 1986 | Inglewood | United States | The Forum |
| November 24, 1986 | Oakland | United States | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena |
| November 26, 1986 | Sacramento | United States | Sacramento Sports Arena |
| November 28, 1986 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum |
| December 1, 1986 | Portland | United States | Portland Memorial Coliseum |
| December 2, 1986 | Tacoma | United States | Tacoma Dome |
| December 5, 1986 | Edmonton | Canada | Northlands Coliseum |
| December 6, 1986 | Calgary | Canada | Olympic Saddledome |
| December 8, 1986 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Arena |
| December 11, 1986 | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| December 13, 1986 | Ottawa | Canada | Ottawa Civic Centre |
| December 14, 1986 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Forum |
| December 18, 1986 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| December 19, 1986 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| December 21, 1986 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| December 22, 1986 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| January 7, 1987 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| January 8, 1987 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| January 11, 1987 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum |
| January 12, 1987 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum |
| January 15, 1987 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena |
| January 16, 1987 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium |
| January 19, 1987 | Worcester | United States | The Centrum |
| January 20, 1987 | Worcester | United States | The Centrum |
| January 24, 1987 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| January 26, 1987 | Landover | United States | Capital Centre |
| January 30, 1987 | Portland | United States | Cumberland County Civic Center |
| February 1, 1987 | Providence | United States | Providence Civic Center |
| February 2, 1987 | Hartford | United States | Hartford Civic Center |
| February 5, 1987 | Ann Arbor | United States | Crisler Arena |
| February 6, 1987 | Louisville | United States | Freedom Hall |
| February 8, 1987 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena |
| February 10, 1987 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverfront Coliseum |
| February 12, 1987 | St. Louis | United States | St. Louis Arena |
| February 13, 1987 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena |
| February 15, 1987 | Ames | United States | Hilton Coliseum |
| February 23, 1987 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium |
| February 24, 1987 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium |
| February 27, 1987 | Tampa | United States | USF Sun Dome |
| February 28, 1987 | Tampa | United States | USF Sun Dome |
| March 2, 1987 | Tampa | United States | USF Sun Dome |
| March 4, 1987 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium |
| March 7, 1987 | Birmingham | United States | Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum |
| March 11, 1987 | Memphis | United States | Mid-South Coliseum |
| March 13, 1987 | Chattanooga | United States | UTC Arena |
| March 15, 1987 | Murfreesboro | United States | Murphy Center |
| March 16, 1987 | Columbia | United States | Carolina Coliseum |
| March 19, 1987 | Hampton | United States | Hampton Coliseum |
| March 20, 1987 | Atlanta | United States | Omni Coliseum |
| March 21, 1987 | Atlanta | United States | Omni Coliseum |
| March 22, 1987 | Atlanta | United States | Omni Coliseum |
| March 24, 1987 | Jacksonville | United States | Jacksonville Coliseum |
| March 26, 1987 | Charlotte | United States | Charlotte Coliseum |
| March 27, 1987 | Chapel Hill | United States | Dean Smith Center |
| March 30, 1987 | Hartford | United States | Hartford Civic Center |
| April 2, 1987 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena |
| April 9, 1987 | Reno | United States | Lawlor Events Center |
| April 11, 1987 | Las Vegas | United States | Thomas & Mack Center |
| April 13, 1987 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena |
| April 16, 1987 | Houston | United States | The Summit |
| April 17, 1987 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena |
| April 18, 1987 | Lafayette | United States | Cajundome |
| April 22, 1987 | Austin | United States | Frank Erwin Center |
| April 24, 1987 | St. Louis | United States | St. Louis Arena |
| April 25, 1987 | Iowa City | United States | Carver–Hawkeye Arena |
| April 27, 1987 | Toledo | United States | Centennial Hall |
| May 1, 1987 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| May 2, 1987 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| May 4, 1987 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| May 6, 1987 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| May 8, 1987 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| May 9, 1987 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| Oceania ||||
| May 18, 1987 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| May 21, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| May 22, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| May 25, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| May 26, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| May 29, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| May 30, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| June 1, 1987 | Melbourne | Australia | Sports and Entertainment Centre |
| June 2, 1987 | Melbourne | Australia | Sports and Entertainment Centre |
| Asia ||||
| June 8, 1987 | Tokyo | Japan | Yoyogi National Gymnasium |
| June 10, 1987 | Tokyo | Japan | Yoyogi National Gymnasium |
| June 12, 1987 | Osaka | Japan | Osaka-jō Hall |
| June 13, 1987 | Osaka | Japan | Osaka-jō Hall |
| June 16, 1987 | Tokyo | Japan | Yoyogi National Gymnasium |
| June 18, 1987 | Tokyo | Japan | Yoyogi National Gymnasium |
| June 19, 1987 | Tokyo | Japan | Yoyogi National Gymnasium |
| Europe ||||
| July 5, 1987 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| July 6, 1987 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| July 9, 1987 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| July 11, 1987 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| July 12, 1987 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| July 15, 1987 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| July 16, 1987 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| July 26, 1987 | Moscow | Soviet Union | Olympic Stadium |
| July 27, 1987 | Moscow | Soviet Union | Olympic Stadium |
| July 29, 1987 | Moscow | Soviet Union | Olympic Stadium |
| August 2, 1987 | Leningrad | Soviet Union | V. I. Lenin Sport & Concert Complex |
| August 3, 1987 | Leningrad | Soviet Union | V. I. Lenin Sport & Concert Complex |
| August 5, 1987 | Leningrad | Soviet Union | V. I. Lenin Sport & Concert Complex |
| "The Encore Australasian Tour" ||||
| October 12, 1987 | Honolulu | United States | Aloha Stadium |
| October 17, 1987 | Adelaide | Australia | Thebarton Oval |
| October 19, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| October 21, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| October 22, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| October 25, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| October 26, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| October 28, 1987 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| October 30, 1987 | Melbourne | Australia | Kooyong Stadium |
| October 31, 1987 | Melbourne | Australia | Kooyong Stadium |
| November 3, 1987 | Perth | Australia | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| November 4, 1987 | Perth | Australia | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| November 6, 1987 | Perth | Australia | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| November 9, 1987 | Melbourne | Australia | Kooyong Stadium |
| November 10, 1987 | Melbourne | Australia | Kooyong Stadium |
| November 12, 1987 | Melbourne | Australia | Kooyong Stadium |
| November 13, 1987 | Melbourne | Australia | Kooyong Stadium |
| November 16, 1987 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| November 17, 1987 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| November 22, 1987 | Auckland | New Zealand | Mount Smart Stadium |
| November 25, 1987 | Wellington | New Zealand | Athletic Park |
| November 28, 1987 | Christchurch | New Zealand | Lancaster Park |

## Setlists

* "Rhapsody in Blue" (Opening Music)
* "Running on Ice"
* "Pressure"
* "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"
* "Piano Man"
* "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
* "Vienna"
* "Allentown"
* "Goodnight Saigon"
* "This Is The Time"
* "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
* "Baby Grand"
* "Prelude/Angry Young Man"
* "Stiletto"
* "An Innocent Man"
* "The Longest Time"
* "Just The Way You Are"
* "Only the Good Die Young"
* "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
* "Sometimes a Fantasy"
* "You May Be Right"
* "A Matter of Trust"
* "Uptown Girl"
* "Tell Her About It"
* "Big Shot"
* "Keeping the Faith"
* "This Night"
* "Rhapsody in Blue" (Opening Music)
* "A Matter of Trust"
* "Pressure"
* "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"
* "Piano Man"
* "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
* "Vienna"
* "Allentown"
* "Goodnight Saigon"
* "This Is The Time"
* "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
* "Baby Grand"
* "Prelude/Angry Young Man"
* "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"
* "An Innocent Man"
* "The Longest Time"
* "Just The Way You Are"
* "Only the Good Die Young"
* "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
* "Sometimes a Fantasy"
* "You May Be Right"
* "Uptown Girl"
* "Tell Her About It"
* "Captain Jack"
* "Rhapsody in Blue" (Opening Music)
* "A Matter of Trust"
* "Pressure"
* "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"
* "Piano Man"
* "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
* "Allentown"
* "Goodnight Saigon"
* "Don't Ask Me Why"
* "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
* "Baby Grand"
* "Prelude/Angry Young Man"
* "An Innocent Man"
* "What's Your Name?" (unreleased song)
* "The Longest Time"
* "Only the Good Die Young"
* "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
* "Sometimes a Fantasy"
* "You May Be Right"
* "Uptown Girl"
* "Keeping the Faith"
* "Back in the U.S.S.R."
* "Big Shot"
* "Rhapsody in Blue" (Opening Music)
* "Prelude/Angry Young Man"
* "Honesty"
* "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"
* "She's Always a Woman"
* "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
* "Allentown"
* "Goodnight Saigon"
* "Stiletto"
* "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
* "Baby Grand"
* "An Innocent Man"
* "The Longest Time"
* "A Matter of Trust"
* "Only the Good Die Young"
* "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
* "Sometimes a Fantasy"
* "You May Be Right"
* "Uptown Girl"
* "Big Shot"
* "Back in the U.S.S.R."

## Personnel

* Billy Joel – lead vocals, piano, keyboards, harmonica, rhythm guitar (only on "A Matter of Trust")
* Mark Rivera – saxophone, flute, clarinet, vocals, percussion, keyboards, rhythm guitar
* Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar, vocals
* David Brown – lead guitar, vocals (North American leg only)
* Kevin Dukes – lead guitar, vocals (both Oceanian legs and European leg)
* Russell Javors – rhythm guitar, vocals
* David Lebolt – keyboards
* Liberty DeVitto – drums, percussion
* Peter Hewlett – percussion, backing vocals
* George Simms – percussion, backing vocals