Bee Gees' original band member Colin Petersen has sadly died at age 78.
The Best of the Bee Gees Facebook page announced the Australian musician's death on Monday (November 18). The page did not disclose when Petersen died or his cause of death.
“It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin 'Smiley' Petersen," the post read. “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."
Petersen was hired as the band's first drummer in 1969 after they were formed by brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb.
As an original member of the group, the late musician played a key role, featuring on six albums, including Spicks and Specks and Horizontal.
He also contributed to their classic songs such as 'To Love Somebody', 'Words,' and 'Massachusetts,' and helped to establish the group's international stardom.
The drummer's death comes a few years after Gibb passed away 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 Bee Gees.
The late star, who began his career as a child star in the 1956 film Smiley, opened up about his time with the Bee Gees during a 2022 interview with Jason Barnard on The Strange Brew Podcast.
"We'd often go into the studio without a song, which gave me the chance to experiment with tempos and rhythms," he shared, cited by The Mirror. "Those tracks had a real spontaneity because we worked on them as a group. We never recorded our parts separately—it was all done together, with the orchestra coming in later."
He spoke about his drumming ability, stating: "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 added.
Tributes have also been paid by Petersen’s fans on social media, with one user on X writing: "Condolences to Colin Petersen’s family, friends, those who cared about him, the musicians who worked with him, fans, and the Gibb family. @GibbBarry#BeeGees."
Another user penned: "Colin Petersen RIP An integral part of the early Bee Gees sound. Such sad news @BeeGee @GibbBarry."
Petersen is survived by his ex-wife Joanne and their sons Jaime and Ben.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this loss.