Billy Joel's Early Bandmate Jon Small Dies

Jon Small, an early bandmate and collaborator of musician Billy Joel, has died. Joel announced Small's death on social media, posting a brief message that read "RIP Jon Small." The cause and age of death were not immediately available. Small and Joel first joined forces in the late 1960s as members of the psychedelic rock band The Hassles. After releasing two albums, the pair departed to form the hard rock duo Attila, which released a self-titled album in 1970. Their musical partnership dissolved the following year under tumultuous personal circumstances. During the period when Joel was living with Small and his wife, Elizabeth Weber, Joel confessed his love for Weber. This revelation led to the breakup of Attila and a significant rift in Joel and Small's friendship. In the 2025 documentary "Billy Joel And So It Goes," both men reflected on the painful episode. Small described the situation as devastating, stating, "These were basically my two best friends." Joel expressed deep guilt, admitting, "I felt like a homewrecker.