Colin Petersen Dies At 78

Colin Petersen was one of the founding members of the Bees Gees, serving as their drummer from 1966 until their split three years later. The talented instrumentalist was confirmed dead at 78 via a recently released statement from the Best of the Bees Gees, an Australian tribute band.

His passing came days after Dennis Bryon’s, who also served as the band’s drummer in their peak years. Production manager of the Best of the Bees Gees, Gary Walker, noted that Colin was active and playful before going to bed on Sunday night, and it was shocking to find him dead in his sleep the next morning.

Colin Petersen performed the weekend before his death

Confirming Gary’s words, Colin gave an energetic performance last weekend at the final show of the Best of the Bees Gees 2024 tour. He played alongside Evan Webster, who revealed that Colin was already looking forward to the next tour.

Fans and fellow musicians have taken to social media to pay tribute to Colin, who is survived by his ex-wife, Joanne Newfield, and their sons, Jaime and Ben. The cause of his death is still unknown, and no speculations have made the news yet, as the late talent was generally healthy during his lifetime.

Colin Petersen’s legacy

He started his show business career as a child actor, starring in multiple films including The Scamp and A Cry From the Streets. He played with a few bands after high school, but stuck with the Bees Gees after meeting Maurice Gibb, who invited him to one of their recording sessions in Sydney.

Colin was the first unrelated member of the Bees Gees as the rest were brothers, and he joined them to create their earliest albums and hit songs like “To Love Somebody,” and “Words.” The late icon did not consider himself the most skilled drummer, but he credited his prowess to his ability to connect with the songs and keep things simple.