Colin Petersen's Bee Gees confession and emotional admission prior to death aged 78

Fans of the were left heartbroken after news of founder.

The drummer was part of the original lineup for the iconic band in the 1960s. However, despite helping the group with the meteoric rise to fame, including featuring on tunes such as To Love Somebody and Words, Petersen was very modest when talking about his ability.

While Barry, Robin and were the face of the band, Petersen was also the man on the drums and explained how the band followed a certain creative process during their success. Speaking in 2022 during a chat with Jason Barnard on The Strange Brew Podcast, Petersen said: "We'd often go into the studio without a song, which gave me the chance to experiment with tempos and rhythms.

"Those tracks had a real spontaneity because we worked on them as a group. We never recorded our parts separately—it was all done together, with the orchestra coming in later."

Speaking of his drumming ability, he added: "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—just like Chuck Berry, who made magic with just a few chords. For me, it was always about serving the song."

The Best of announced the star's death on Monday, saying: "It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin 'Smiley' Petersen. He enriched our lives and bound our group with love, care and respect. Not sure how we can go on without his glowing smile and deep friendship. We love you Col. Rest in Peace."

On /X, fans quickly shared tributes of their own, with one user writing: "I hate to be the bearer of bad news this morning, but it appears we have lost another member of the Bee Gees family. Colin Petersen, the original drummer from the 60’s, has passed away. This was taken from the GSI FB group. May his memory be a blessing."

Another added: "You guys... I have no words. We are losing our Bee Gees family right and left. #RIP Colin, you were such a magical part of the #BeeGees sound. Sending love & prayers to family, loved ones, & to Best of the Bee Gees musicians in . #ColinPetersen."

His death comes days after the passing of Dennis Bryon, who worked with the Bee Gees between 1974 and 1980. His former bandmates Blue Weaver and Andy Fairweather Low confirmed the sad news.

Petersen earned his nickname "Smiley" after he featured in a film of the same name as a child.

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