Billy Joel has no plans to retire soon, as he is eager to stress to Rolling Stone.

"I did an interview, I think with an Australian newspaper," he says. "I said I'd consider retiring if I didn't think I could do it well anymore. I never said I intended to retire. I never said, 'I'm gonna hang it up.' I was just kind of wondering, 'Gee, I wonder what happens when a musician gets to a point where he realizes he's not as good as he used to be?' That turned into 'Billy Joel May Retire After His Next Gigs.' I just want to put those rumors to rest because people keep asking me if I'm going to retire. ... I just love the game too much to not play it well."

He played a private show earlier this year, and later this month, he is flying to Australia to headline the Stone Music Festival. "I had success in Australia before I was successful in America," he said. Six days later, he's returning to Jazz Fest in New Orleans.

Future shows with Elton John are also not out of the question, even though Elton vented some frustration with Billy Joel in the pages of Rolling Stone in 2011. "It's absolutely possible I'd play with Elton again," says Billy. "Sometimes he runs off at the mouth. But ... I haven't even heard from him since [he gave that interview]. I guess that 'Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.'" He gives a huge laugh at that. "But I would always work with him again. I still love the guy. He's a great guy."

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