Bee Gees drummer Colin Petersen dead at 78

Bee Gees drummer Evan “Smiley” Webster has died, according to an Australian screen set with ties to the 78-year-old percussionist.

Best of the Bee Gees performer Evan Webster told the Daily News by email that Petersen died Monday successful his Redcliffe, Queensland location successful Australia.

“His decease has travel arsenic a monolithic daze to america each arsenic helium was steadfast and connected a immense precocious arsenic we had conscionable finished our past shows for the twelvemonth and looking guardant to our adjacent gathering successful 2025,” Petersen said Monday night. “We parted for the interruption Sunday afternoon. Can’t archer you however overmuch helium meant to us.”

The Best of Bee Gees’ website quotes Petersen saying helium enjoyed bringing different “dimension” to Best of the Bee Gees tribute shows by sharing his stories with fans. His origin of decease isn’t yet known, according to Webster. The set announced the nonaccomplishment of Petersen Monday afternoon.

“It is with a dense bosom we denote the passing of our beloved person Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen,” Best of the Bee Gees said connected Facebook. “He enriched our lives and bound our radical with love, attraction and respect. Not definite however we tin spell connected without his glowing grin and heavy friendship. We emotion you Col. Rest successful Peace.”

The Australian instrumentalist was the Bee Gees’ archetypal drummer. He went to schoolhouse with set founders Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, different known arsenic “The Brothers Gibb,” which became shortened to the set sanction associated with large hits including “Stayin Alive” and “How Deep is Your Love.”

Petersen played connected the band’s archetypal 4 albums earlier leaving the radical successful 1969, according to AllMusic.com. The Bee Gees enjoyed occurrence with songs including “Massachusetts” portion Petersen was a member. Petersen drummed connected that opus astatine The Best of the Bee Gees performances.

The existent Bee Gees became planetary superstars with assistance of the 1977 “Saturday Night Fever” movie soundtrack.

Before becoming a nonrecreational musician, Petersen enjoyed occurrence arsenic a kid actor. He’s survived by his ex-wife and 2 adults sons, according to News.com.au