European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 9, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Magazine Billy Joel pulls no punches by Bucky Fox staff writer Billy Joel that former Boxer came out swinging monday night. He rolled up his sleeves and Shadow boxed through angry Young Man. He threw up his fists Bobbing and weaving through an innocent Man. Joel went 21 rounds and when his two hour show was Over he had knocked Mem out in the packed fest Halle in Frankfurt West Germany in contrast to boxers in Post fight sunglasses Joel sported shades at the Start. He entered through smoke lights and pandemonium then plopped Down at the piano Ray Charles style and banged out storm front the title song of his latest album and tour. Joel and his band shifted Back eight years to play Allentown then Back four More years for honesty. That brought out the fans sparklers not to mention their lyrical accompaniment. If anyone questioned whether they were in tuned the fans answered that with an Exchange with the Star. Joel said in German that it was 10 years since his last visit. The fans mostly Young germans with a sprinkling of americans corrected him with "11  Joel answered with scenes from an italian restaurant. Then off came the glasses. That evidently made it easier for the Singer to see. He noticed the upper tier behind him and called the area Quot great  he pointed to the fans on the floor in front of him and said Quot they got  other than that Joel did t say much. He stuck to singing and playing the piano and keyboard through his 21 songs. The new yorker did no to waver in this time zone he started at 8 . And ended at 10 . On the Button. Joel did throw kinks into his compositions. He tapped out a couple of bars of Beethoven s 9th symphony to staccato clapping As a prelude to angry Young Man. He pumped out a German ditty on the accordion leading into the Dow easter a Alexa. Joel steam cranked up the special effects for goodnight Saigon. The speakers blasted helicopter noise. The spots turned the Hall into a night raid. You could almost feel the choppers Landing. The throng erupted leading one american to note Quot i think they like  they liked Joel a current hit i go to extremes and his 1982 pressure then handed out their loudest applause for Leningrad. Joel preceded the Ballad from his latest up by lauding the crumbling of the Berlin Wall. By the time the fans had quit clapping their hands they were tapping their feet to my life the 1978 Sizzler from his 52nd Street album that still might be his Slickest song. Or Al went the late rounds with the skill from his pre megastar boxing Days. He jabbed with an innocent Man hooked with shameless a dedicated to the late great Jimi Hendrix a and finished with a barrage of we did no to Start the fire it s still Rock and Roll to me Only the Good die Young and you May be right. Finished that is before his two encores. Joel made the comeback with a matter of Trust which included the punch line Quot you can t go the distance with too much  he said goodbye after big shot but he came Back for two More shots that s not her style and piano Man. When Joel left for Good his right Arm was raised As the Champion. Or was he just waving Billy Joel performs in the following Loca Ion eff a Ujj Len Olympia Halle May 9 Hamburg sport Halle May 15, Italy. Milan Palat Lussardi May 11. A amps photo by Michael Abrams wednesday May 9, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 13