BEE Gees star Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen has died aged 78 after playing a role in the band’s early success.
Petersen was the Bee Gees’ first drummer and contributed to the group’s rise to stardom.
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Colin Petersen of the Bee Gees photographed in London in 1967. Credit: Getty
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Top L-R: Vince Melouney, Maurice and Barry Gibb, Bottom, Robin Gibb, Colin Petersen Credit: Getty
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Petersen tinkering under the hood of his carCredit: Getty
He performed hits such as Massachusetts, To Love Somebody and Wordsand.
His time with the group included the seminal Bee Gees’ 1st album.
The Best of Bee Gees announced: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen.
“He enriched our lives and bound our group with love, care and respect.
“I’m not sure how we can go on without his bright smile and deep friendship. We love you regiment. Rest in peace.”
Petersen started his career as a young actor starring in the Australian film Smiley, from which he got his nickname.
In a 2022 interview with Jason Barnard on The Strange Brew Podcast, he explained the band’s creative process.
He said: “We would often go into the studio without a song, which gave me the opportunity to experiment with tempos and rhythms.
“Those songs had a real spontaneity because we did them as a group.
“We never recorded our parts separately. It was all done together with the orchestra that came later.”
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Describing his approach to drumming, Colin said: “I was really quite imaginative in my playing, but at the time there were a lot of drummers who were much more technically advanced than me.
“Look, Chuck Berry probably only knew four chords, right? So sometimes when you’re limited, you have to be creative.
“I think you can overdo the technique and get to the stage where you can’t see the wood for the trees.
“I’ve always been a drumming song guy.”
In recent years, Petersen has worked with The Best of the Bee Gees tribute show.
He is survived by his ex-wife Joanne and sons Jaime and Ben.
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Petersen and his ex-wife Joanne Newfield pictured outside the High Court Credit: Getty
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Petersen was the first drummer of the Bee Gees Credit: Getty
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He is survived by his ex-wife Joanne and their sons Jaime and BenCredit: Getty
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