BILLY Joel has revealed he’s suffered a devastating loss – only days after announcing he had brain surgery.
The singer, 77, told fans last year he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) – and cancelled all tour dates due to the condition.
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Taking to Instagram recently, the star paid tribute after the death of his former best friend and longtime collaborator, Jon Small.
Billy and Jon go back to the 1960s when they were bandmates in The Hassles.
The pair eventually splintered off to form the hard-rock duo Attila where Billy played keyboard and vocals while Jon was on drums.
Billy described Jon as being like a brother to him and said: “No matter the distance or how much time passed, we shared a bond that never changed.
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“Jon and I were kids when we decided we wanted to become professional musicians together.
“That decision became a huge turning point in both of our lives.
“We took a huge gamble on a life of creativity, without knowing where it would lead us.
“Jon went on to build a successful company and create extraordinary work film and television, but at the end of the day, we were still those two kids who formed a band together.”
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He continued: “Jon was part of my career long after he stopped playing music.
“In so many ways, he was a founding member of it.
“We made that first decision together – to take a chance on ourselves and devote our lives to creating – and it changed everything that came after.”
One follower commented: “So very sorry for your loss, Billy. What you wrote is beautiful…tears flowing. RIP Jon.”
Another added: “So very sorry for your great loss.”
Meanwhile Billy revealed in a recent update that he had a procedure to help improve his symptoms.
According to the NHS website, a hydrocephalus is a “build-up of fluid in the brain. The excess fluid puts pressure on the brain, which can damage it”, and NPH “usually develops in older people”.
It was suggested to have a shunt (a thin tube) implanted in his brain to help drain excess fluid, and after originally not agreeing to it, he decided that it was the best option for him.