Original Bee Gees drummer Colin Petersen dies at 78

Original Bee Gees drummer Colin Petersen | Image: Facebook/Best of the Bee Gees

Global pop rock band Bee Gees’ original drummer Colin “Smiley” Petersen has died at the age of 78, his representatives have confirmed.

Without disclosing the cause of death, The Best of the Bee Gees announced Petersen’s passing on their Facebook page on Monday, Nov. 18. 

“It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen. He enriched our lives and bound our group with love, care, and respect. Not sure how we can go on without his glowing smile and deep friendship. We love you, Col. Rest in Peace,” they captioned their post alongside the drummer’s photo.

In 1966, Petersen joined brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb as part of the Bee Gees. His first contribution to the band was for the “Spicks and Specks” album.

The late drummer then played on all four of the group’s albums, including 1967’s Bee Gees’ 1st, which featured hits like “New York Mining Disaster 1941,” “To Love Somebody,” and “Holiday,” before he left the band in 1969.

Aside from the aforementioned, Bee Gees is known for their hits “How Deep is Your Love,” “Stayin’ Alive,” and “Too Much Heaven,” among others.

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Before Petersen’s death, Robin died in 2012 at the age of 62, and Maurice died in 2003 at the age of 53. Barry, 78, is now the only living member of the group.

In an interview, Petersen opened up about how his drumming helped establish the group as an international sensation. 

“I wasn’t the most technically skilled drummer, but I think that sometimes less is more. When you’re limited, you have to get creative—just like Chuck Berry, who made magic with just a few chords. For me, it was always about serving the song,” he said in a The Strange Brew Podcast with Jason Barnard.

In 2022, the musical icon worked with The Best of the Bee Gees tribute show, sharing that he was initially “reluctant” to rejoin the group until he got reminded of how great the band was.

“I went to see the show. It would have been about the third song in, and I thought to myself, bloody hell, this band is really great, and the voices were so close, and it was well presented, and they all seem really comfortable on stage and enjoying it, which is really important,” he told The Fassifern Guardian.

Petersen is survived by his ex-wife Joanne Newfield and their sons, Jaime and Ben.