Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen, Original Bee Gees Drummer, Dies at 78

The Better of the Bee Gees introduced the drummer’s demise on Monday, Nov. 18

Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen, finest often known as the unique dummer of Bee Gees, has died. He was 78.

The Fb web page introduced his demise on Monday, Nov. 18. The web page didn’t disclose when Petersen died or his reason behind demise.

“It’s with a heavy coronary heart we announce the passing of our expensive pal Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen,” started the heartfelt message.

“He enriched our lives and certain our group with love, care and respect. Undecided how we will go on with out his glowing smile and deep friendship. We love you Col. Relaxation in Peace.”

As an unique member of the musical group, he contributed to 4 albums and to a number of hit songs, together with “Massachusetts,” “To Love Someone” and “Phrases.”

Petersen joined the group when the Gibb brothers moved to London in 1966. Earlier than Petersen’s demise, on the age of 62, and on the age of 53. , 78, is now the one residing member of the group. Dennis Bryon, former Bee Gee drummer who performed for the band from 1974-1980, died on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

Born Frederick Colin Petersen in Queensland, Australia. He attended the identical college as Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, though they weren’t enrolled on the identical time. Petersen left college to star within the traditional Australian movie 1956 movie Smiley — which is how he earned his nickname. Years later the brothers linked with him earlier than all of them left Sydney for London.

In 1966, he moved to England with hopes of continuous a profession on the display. However, issues weren’t in his favor for that lengthy, and he linked with the brothers, once they proposed he develop into the fourth Bee Gee. Vince Melouney additionally joined the group across the identical time. Then from 1967 to 1969, Petersen carried out on a number of albums.

Petersen’s drumming helped set up the group as a global sensation. “I wasn’t essentially the most technically expert drummer, however I feel that typically much less is extra. Whenever you’re restricted, it’s a must to get artistic—similar to Chuck Berry, who made magic with only a few chords. For me, it was at all times about serving the tune,” he mentioned in a The Unusual Brew Podcast 2022 interview with Jason Barnard, per .

“We’d typically go into the studio with out a tune, which gave me the possibility to experiment with tempos and rhythms,” he added of the group’s signature sound. “These tracks had an actual spontaneity as a result of we labored on them as a bunch. We by no means recorded our elements individually — it was all achieved collectively, with the orchestra coming in later.”

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He and the group parted methods in 1969. That yr, he went to work with one other former Bee Gees member, Jonathan Kelly, and shaped Humpy Bong band. The group stayed collectively till 1970. After they disbanded, Petersen managed Kelly as a solo artist through the early Seventies.

Petersen married Joanne Newfield in 1968. They welcomed their first son, Jamie, in 1971, and their second son in 1976. Petersen and his household returned to Sydney in 1974.

Extra lately, he labored with The Better of the Bee Gees tribute present. In 2022, he advised that, at first, he was “just a little bit reluctant” to rejoin the group. “I went to see the present. It will have been concerning the third tune in, and I believed to myself, bloody hell, this band is basically nice, and the voices have been so shut, and it was nicely offered they usually all appear actually snug on stage and having fun with it, which is basically necessary.

He’s survived by his ex-wife Joanne and their sons Jaime and Ben.