Music’s golden age is fading away by the year.
The musicians who brought the world so much joy through their music are aging and passing away.
And tragedy struck the music world with the loss of a 78-year-old legend.
The Bee Gees original drummer, Colin “Smiley” Petersen, has died at the age of 78.
From the movies to the Bee Gees
Petersen’s death was announced by the Best of the Bee Gees Facebook page.
“It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen,” the page wrote.
As of the writing of this article, no official cause of death has been released.
Petersen was born in Queensland, Australia, on March 24, 1946.
He got his nickname after starring in the 1956 British-American comedy film Smiley.
Petersen was nine at the time the movie was filmed.
He began his acting career at age seven and starred in two other films.
But his mother felt his acting was interfering with his education by the time he turned 12.
Petersen then attended Humpybong State School at the same time as Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.
While at school, Petersen developed an interest in music and played the piano and the drums.
He played in several bands after he left school, including Steve and the Board where he became better acquainted with Maurice Gibb.
At age 20, Petersen moved to London where he joined Maurice and brothers Barry and Robin to become a member of the Bee Gees.
Petersen was the drummer for the Bee Gees from 1967 to 1969.
“A very sophisticated person”
Petersen performed on six of the group’s first seven albums, including Spicks and Specks (1966), Bee Gees’ 1st (1967), Horizontal (1968), Idea (1968), Odessa (1969) and Cucumber Castle (1970).
“Sometimes we’d spend hours in the studio, and nothing would come together, so we’d pack up and try again another day. But when inspiration hit, we could knock out three backing tracks in one night,” Petersen said about making music with the Bee Gees on The Strange Brew podcast in 2022.
He added that “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. For me, it was always about serving the song.”
Petersen left the Bee Gees after a dispute with the band’s manager, Robert Stigwood, in 1970.
Despite their disagreements, Stigwood described Petersen as “very level-headed” and “a very sophisticated person” with “a good appreciation of good food and wines.”
Petersen was an equal partner in the group and the Gibb brothers said his drum playing was “essential to their sound.”
After leaving the Bee Gees, Petersen joined with Irish singer-songwriter Jonathan Kelly and British rocker Tim Staffell to form the band HumpyBong.
The group broke up after one year.
Petersen then started a management company with his wife, Joanne Newfield.
They have two sons, Jaime (born in 1971) and Ben (born in 1976).
Petersen and his family moved back to Australia in 1974 and he became a painter.
Of the original Bee Gees members, Barry, 78, is now the only one still alive.
Brother Robin died in 2012 at age 62 and Maurice died in 2003 at age 53.
Patriot Political will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
