Former Bee Gees drummers Colin “Smiley” Petersen and Dennis Bryon, who performed with the final word disco group within the Sixties and Seventies respectively, have died inside days of one another.
The demise of Petersen, the unique drummer for the best-selling group, was introduced Monday in a put up on Best of the Bee Gees Facebook web page.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our expensive buddy Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen,” the put up learn. “He enriched our lives and bonded our group with love, care and respect. I’m unsure how we might go on with out his vivid smile and deep friendship. We love you Colonel Rest in Peace.
Evan Webster and Sue Camilleri, who labored with Petersen on the tribute present “The best of the Bee Gees” stated to New York Times that Petersen died from a fall. He was 78 years outdated.
Bryon, who was the drummer for the band “Saturday Night Fever” beginning in 1973 and throughout the peak of its disco renaissance, has died at 76. Former Bee Gees keyboardist Blue Weaver, who additionally performed with Bryon in Welsh rock band Amen Corner, confirmed his demise on Facebook final Thursday. No trigger or date of demise was given.
“I’m speechless proper now…” Weaver he wrotementioning that Bryon’s household had requested him to inform associates and followers of the drummer’s demise. “It was an actual shock. Dennis has been my buddy since we have been in our first band collectively on the age of 15. His implausible drums will at all times stay alive.
Guitarist Andy Fairweather Low, who additionally performed with Bryon in Amen Corner, remembered his late bandmate as a “fabulous drummer and buddy”.
“I used to be fortunate that he joined Amen Corner. He was with us the entire journey,” defined the musician he wrote Thursday on Facebook, sharing a photograph with Bryon and his bandmates. “(H)he made the most effective curries…he was a wonderful buddy. I used to be fortunate sufficient to satisfy him (sic). He went on to do larger issues with BG.
Petersen, who earned his nickname after taking part in the position of younger Smiley Greevins within the basic 1956 Australian movie “Smiley,” attended the identical college as Barry Gibb and his twin brothers, Maurice and Robin Gibb. Although they weren’t enrolled at school on the similar time, the brothers got here into contact with Petersen earlier than the British natives left Sydney and once more after Petersen moved to the UK to pursue appearing full-time within the Sixties.
The Gibbs had been performing collectively since 1958, forming the group whereas residing in Brisbane, Australia, when Barry was 12 and the twins 9. (Barry Gibb, 78, is the one surviving member of the household; Maurice Gibb died in 2003 in 53 years outdated). and Robin died in 2012 at age 62. Younger brother Andy Gibb, a teen idol and solo artist, died in 1988 at age 30.)
Petersen and Australian guitarist Vince Melouney joined the Brothers Gibb – who later shortened their stage title to the Bee Gees – in 1966 and 1967, respectively, and Petersen contributed to 4 of the band’s albums, most notably the hits “Massachusetts” , “To Love Someone” and “Words”.
The unique drummer remained with the group till 1969. Petersen shaped the band Humpy Bong with former Bee Gees member Jonathan Kelly and British rocker Tim Staffell, then managed Kelly as a solo artist within the Seventies.
Bryon, born in Cardiff, Wales, started taking part in drums on the age of 14, becoming a member of Weaver and famed guitarist Andy Fairweather Low in Amen Corner earlier than auditioning for the Bee Gees. The percussionist joined the group in 1973 and performed on 9 of their No. 1 data. 1 and in a few of its most memorable songs, together with “Nights on Broadway,” “You Should Be Dancin’,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever” and “More Than to Woman”.
Bryon continued to work within the studio and carry out stay in his later years and moved to Nashville. He additionally wrote a memoir, “You Should Be Dancing,” in 2015 and carried out within the instrumental duo Strong & Bryon. According to his websitehe and Ringo Starr of the Beatles are the one drummers in historical past to have 5 songs within the Billboard Top 10 concurrently.
When Bryon joined the Bee Gees, their reputation – and that of the disco style – exploded when the group’s rhythmic harmonies have been featured within the 1977 movie “Saturday Night Fever,” whose No. 1 soundtrack earned the Bee Gees 4 Grammy Awards, together with Album of the Year. The band has scored 30 Top 40 hits in its lifetime, with the Recording Academy awarding it the Grammy Legend Award in 2003 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
