Billy Joel Mourns the Loss of Early Bandmate Jon Small

In a brief, heartfelt post on Instagram, Billy Joel let the world know that Jon Small – the drummer who shared a stage with him in the 1960s‑70s bands The Hassles and Attila – has passed away. The exact age and cause of death weren’t disclosed, leaving fans to reminisce about the tumultuous history they shared.

Small and Joel first crossed paths in The Hassles, a modest garage‑rock outfit that roamed the New York clubs of the mid‑60s. After The Hassles dissolved, the two musicians teamed up again, this time as the hard‑rock duo Attila. Their self‑titled debut arrived in 1970, and while they were touring and recording, Small opened his home to Joel – even letting the future “Piano Man” stay with him and his wife, Elizabeth Weber.

It was there that a love triangle unfolded. Joel fell for Weber, and, as Small recalled in the recent documentary And So It Goes, the revelation was a crushing blow. “One day Billy came up to me and said, ‘I’m in love with your wife,’” Small said. “It was devastating – they were my two best friends.” The affair not only broke up Attila but also ended the house‑sharing arrangement and, for a time, the friendship itself.

Joel has spoken openly about the guilt he felt. “I was just in love with a woman, and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved,” he said in the film. “Jon was very upset. I was very upset.” The fallout saw the duo part ways, and Joel was even evicted from Small’s apartment.

Time, however, has a way of softening old wounds. Small eventually forgave Joel, noting that the pain stemmed from how deeply they cared for each other. Their reconciliation led to a new kind of collaboration: Small helped produce several of Joel’s concert films, including Live from Long Island and Live at Shea Stadium, and even directed the music video for “Baby Grand.” He later went on to direct videos for artists like Reba McEntire, Enrique Iglesias, and Brooks & Dunn.

Elizabeth Weber and Joel eventually married, though their union lasted only until 1982. Small’s later years were spent behind the camera, but the early chapters of his life remain intertwined with Joel’s rise to fame.

The news of Small’s death arrived as a quiet reminder of the fragile threads that bind friendships, music, and love. Joel’s tribute was simple, yet full of affection, underscoring a bond that survived betrayal, heartbreak, and decades of change.