My friend Billy just had a stroke and died.

[rbnyc]

Just like that. He was 42!!

Actually, he's brain-dead now. But let's be real-it's just a matter of unplugging him!!

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm at work now. I have to wrap up so I can go home. I'm so freaked out. We're too young to have our friends dying of strokes and heart attacks! My husband was to spend the weekend in New Paltz helping him record his next album. Our friend Jim is in his band, and has been living with Billy for years. He's going to be totally LOST without Billy.



http://www.antifolkonline.com/BillySyndrome.html
http://www.indieville.com/reviews/billysyndrome2.htm
http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue18/syndrom2.html
http://www.slutfishrecords.com/syndrome.html

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

1. That's terrible. Condolences, rbnyc. Our thoughts are with you.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. OMG Rene! I am so so sorry

That's just horrible news. :cry:

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[eyepaddle]

3. Oh, that's terrible news.

I am sincerely sorry
:hug:

[Hugin]

4. Sad news...

Yeah, much too young... Much much too young.

You have my sympathy.

I hope Billy's friend is eventually okay.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

5. Oue thoughts are with you.

[LisaM]

6. Oh my god

how horrible. I'm sorry.

[KitchenWitch]

7. I am so sorry to hear that

My sincere condolences.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. Wow..did he have high blood pressure?

Untreated hypertension is the biggest cause of strokes in his age group.

Really sorry to hear this. :hugs:

[Midlodemocrat]

9. So very, very sorry.

:hug:

[NewJeffCT]

10. wow, I'm so sorry

I'm very sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you & your family.
You have my condolences.

[ps1074]

11. I am so sorry to hear that

Terrible news...

:hug:

[BikeWriter]

12. Oh crap! I'm sorry to hear that!

[GOPisEvil]

13. Oh my, how horrible.

My condolences to his family and to you and Cliff.

[IdaBriggs]

14. Complete and utter heartfelt sympathies.....nt

[Kerrytravelers]

15. I'm so sorry.

We just lost a family friend to a violent car accident. It's such a shock to the system to lost someone so suddenly. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[rbnyc]

28. Sorry to hear about your friend.

Car accidents are just devastating. People don't take driving seriously enough.

The suddenness is just stupefying. My husband is at his practice space with all the guys, so they can smoke. So I'm here alone with the baby. I'd like to be with all the guys too.

My husband has been playing in Billy's bands and on his albums for almost 10 years. There are CDs all over the house.

Check out the picture on the most recent one:



Anyway, thanks for your post.

[Rising Phoenix]

16. I'm very sorry about your friend, my thoughts are with you...

[knowbody0]

17. Way too young

really sad

peace and love

[Tom Kitten]

18. terrible news!

I'm so sorry to hear this...please take care!

[u4ic]

19. I'm so very, very sorry

:hug:

Heartfelt condolences to all his family and friends.

[Shell Beau]

20. I am so sorry! 42 is much too young!

:hug:

[arwalden]

21. What A Tragic Thing To Happen To Anyone...

... but especially to someone so young. I'm sorry to hear the sad news.

- Allen

[Cathyclysmic]

22. I'm so sorry

that's horrible. We are here for you! :hug:

[lavenderdiva]

23. I'm so very sorry for you, your husband, and Billy's family...

hugs and peace to all: :hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug:

[WCGreen]

24. I am so sorry as well.. Peace be with you....

But life is always haunted by death....

Live everyday to the fullest.....

[soleft]

25. God that's terrible. Sorry RB

[In_The_Wind]

26. I'm so very sorry for your loss of a good friend, rbnyc.

[crispini]

27. Wow. My condolences.

(((hug)))

[rbnyc]

29. Thanks for your kind words, everyone.

I was at work when I got the news, and I just had to check in because I couldn't just pick up and leave.

I got what I needed to get done done, and then came home a bit early. My husband is commiserating with all the guys now--but they're at his practice space where they can smoke. So the baby and I are just listening to music.

Check out the cover of Billy's last album:



Wild.

I just can't believe I'm never going to see him again.

[Reciprocity]

30. So sorry, please excepted my condolences.

[rbnyc]

31. Billy's Label

http://www.slutfishrecords.com

[freeplessinseattle]

32. what a shock, I am so sorry for you sweetheart

please know we are here for you

[Elidor]

33. So very sad

I don't even have words. A life unfinished and unfulfilled (professionally or personally) is the greatest tragedy I know. I'm sorry for your loss. I hate it when artists die young. Maybe that's irrational, I don't know. It just hits me in the gut.

I'll look for his music. He'd like it that his music lives on.

[rbnyc]

34. Thanks.

I appreciate that.

Baby's crying--gotta run!

[supernova]

35. So sorry, rbnyc

42, :wow: That's a year younger than me! :wow:

If you knew him, I'm sure he was a wonderfully talented person and will leave a big hole because of it. :-(

hug: for your loss.

[JimmyJazz]

36. I am so sorry! That is just horrible news.

:hug: My heart goes to you and to his family.

[OhioChick]

37. I'm very sorry to hear this

Too, too young.

[bigwillq]

38. What awful news.

I am very sorry for your loss.:hug:

[applegrove]

39. So sorry.

[Reverend_Smitty]

40. I'm so sorry for your loss

:hug: My mom lost a dear friend of hers a month ago the same way, she was only 41 years old. Such a tragic loss of a young life

[Darth_Kitten]

41. That's terrible.

I'm sorry. :hug:

[LynzM]

42. ((((((((((hugs))))))))))))

I'm so sorry to hear that :hug: What an awful shock. Love and hugs to you and to everyone who knew and was friends with him.

[Kat45]

43. OMG! That's terrible!

I'm so sorry to hear that. You're right, that is way too young.

[salin]

44. so very sad

warm condolences.

[rbnyc]

45. !!!!!!*******Some SONGS******!!!!!!!!

WHO'S FLYING THE PLANE? (We're Going Down):

http://www.wfmu.org/listen.ram?show=12941&starttime=2:14:07

"Take The Chicken From The Man
And Give It To The People":

http://www.semperlofi.com/radio3/TakeTheC.ram

Unhinged:

http://www.wfmu.org/listen.ram?show=14249&starttime=0:19:57

[bliss_eternal]

46. How tragic--he's still SO young!! I'm so sorry for your loss!

:(

:hug:

How are YOU doing? This must be rather jarring, and shocking...

[rbnyc]

51. Weird.

I'm still in the midst of medical testing, and we haven't yet been able to rule out cancer, because we can't access the tissue in question. I've been thinking so much of my own health lately, then all of a sudden, out of the blue--BAM! Our friend is just GONE.

His roommate and bandmate, Jim, is like his brother. They've been best friends forever. Everything in Jim's life has to do with Billy. Jim is the one who found him. I'm so worried about him.

My husband is all broken up too. All our friends are.

They are all together tonight, but I'm with the baby--so I'm SO GLAD I have you guys.

Thanks so much.

[flamingyouth]

47. Rene, I am so sorry for you.

What horrible, shocking news. You are in my thoughts now.

BTW - how is your health? :hug:

[rbnyc]

52. Hi. Thanks.

I find out results from the camera pill on September 8th, and then the following week I have another biopsy, if the swelling has gone down enough to reach the tissue--so in a few weeks I should have some answers.

I was just saying, it's so weird, I've been in the midst of this cancer scare, so worried about my own mortality, then wooosh! Just like that! Our friend is gone!

Anyway, thanks for asking, and for your kind words.

You are all a big help tonight AGAIN!

[jus_the_facts]

48. I'm so sorry Rene'....

....my sympathies to you and his friends and family. :hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

49. Am so sorry

Lost one of my best lifetime friends at age 44 from a sudden anurysm a few years back...Friends remain in our hearts forever.
:hug:

[Zomby Woof]

50. Oh my

:cry: I am so stunned. So much hard news this week... hang in there sweetie. :hug:

My condolences to all who love him.