Colin Petersen, Bee Gees’ original drummer has recently passed away.
The news was confirmed by his current band Best of the Bee Gees on Facebook, which read, “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,” it added.
However, no cause of death was given.
Petersen, nicknamed Smiley, was one of the two original members of the group who was not part of the Gibbs family and played on classic tracks such as “I Started a Joke,” “To Love Somebody” and “I Just Gotta Get a Message to You”.
However, he left the group amid a dispute with manager Robert Stigwood following 1970’s “Cucumber Castle”.
He was 78.
