The music world is mourning the loss of the Bee Gees drummer, who passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024.
The Best of the Bee Gees Facebook page reports that Colin “Smiley” Petersen has died at the age of 78. They wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin “Smiley” Petersen. He enriched our lives and united our group with love, care and respect. I’m not sure we can go on without his beaming smile and deep friendship. We love you, Colonel. Rest in peace.”
Colin was a beloved member whose contributions shaped the iconic Bee Gees sound. Born in Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia, he gained international fame as an actor as a child before becoming a key figure in the Bee Gees.
His early acting career included starring roles in the iconic 1956 Australian film Smiley Face and other international productions such as The Crook (1957) and Scream from the Streets (1958). As a teenager, Colin turned his attention to music and eventually became the Bee Gees drummer and the fourth official member of the band.
His drumming was instrumental in creating the Bee Gees’ signature sound, which was played on four of their albums and several No. 1 hits, including “Massachusetts”, “To Love Somebody” and “I Started a Joke”.
Colin spoke about his legacy: “It’s wonderful that these incredible songs continue to live on in the best Bee Gees works, and I’m very happy to add another dimension by sharing my memories.”
Over the past five years, Petersen has regularly performed with the best Bee Gees musicians, and manager Greg Shaw had nothing but kind words for the late star.
“I’ve known Colin for thirty-four years and was thrilled when he agreed to end his career by joining the best Bee Gees musicians. His charming personality and laid-back narration gave his performances a unique look, and he was loved both on and off stage. It was an honor for me to call him my friend,” Shaw shared in a press release about Petersen’s death posted on the Bee Gees official website.
