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Madonna (64) has spoken out for the first time since the passing of her older brother, Anthony Ciccone (66), on Sunday 26 February.
The queen of pop praised Anthony, the eldest of her five siblings, for opening her mind to a range of different influences when she was growing up, from religion to writers and music.
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“Thank you for blowing my mind as a young girl and introducing me to Charlie Parker, Miles David, Buddhism, Taoism, Charles Bukowski, Richard Brautigan, Jack Kerouac, expansive thinking outing the box,” she captioned a throwback picture posted on her Instagram stories.
“You planted many important seeds.”
While the cause of his death has not yet been revealed, Anthony battled with alcoholism for years, which left him living on the streets at times.
Madonna grew up in Michigan and in 1978 she left to pursue a career in New York while Anthony remained in their home town.
For years he lived rough under a bridge and accused Madonna of not caring about him, despite her repeated offers of help.
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“Madonna supported him in every way she could when he was willing to take the support,” said a source.
Their younger brother, Christopher Ciccone, told The Mirror in 2017 that Anthony was “back home and recovering” after spending time in a rehab shelter for homeless addicts.
Anthony's former girlfriend, Carolina Gengo (59), described him as "a lost soul trying to find his way, but he was a good person".
“He was into reading about life and philosophy. He talked about what it was like being the brother of Madonna. He didn't like being known as the brother of Madonna.”
Shortly after Anthony’s passing, Joe Henry, the husband of Melanie Ciccone, Madonna's sister, posted a poignant statement on social media, describing Anthony as a “complex character”.
“My brother-in-law, Anthony Gerard Ciccone, exited this earthly plane last evening. I’ve known him since I was 15, in the spring of our lives in Michigan so many years now gone.
“Anthony was a complex character; and god knows: we tangled in moments, as true brothers can. But I loved him and understood him better than I was sometimes willing to let on.
“But trouble fades; and family remains - with hands reached across the table. Farewell, then, brother Anthony. I want to think the god your blessed mother (and mine) believed in has her there, waiting to receive you. At least for today, no one shall dissuade me from this vision.”
Madonna liked the post but did not comment on it.
The singer is gearing up for her international greatest hits tour, which launches on 15 July in North America.
Music is clearly her focus nowadays after it recently emerged that she broke up with her toyboy lover, Andrew Darnell (23), who has reportedly found romance with someone closer to his own age.
The singer is having a bit of a “crisis of confidence”, said a source, especially after she was widely mocked for her puffy, taut face at the recent Grammy Awards, a result of going under the knife.
Sources: dailymail.co.uk, people.com, mirror.co.uk, Instagram
