The founding member of Australian hard rock legends performed on their first single “Can I Sit Next to You, Girl”
Colin Burgess, the original AC/DC drummer who played on the hard rock legends' first single, has died at the age of 77.
AC/DC announced Burgess' death on social media on Saturday; no cause of death was provided.
“It is very sad to hear of the passing of Colin Burgess. He was our first drummer and a highly respected musician,” the band wrote. “Happy memories, rock in peace, Colin.”
Before his brief stint in AC/DC, Burgess was the drummer for the popular Australian rock band The Masters Apprentices. Following the initial dissolution of that group in 1972, Burgess was recruited by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young and singer Dale Evans to join their new group, AC/DC, in November 1973.
However, Burgess's run in AC/DC lasted only four months, as he was fired from the band in February 1974 after allegedly acting drunk. The drummer's recorded output with the group amounted to one single and minor Australian hit, “Can I Set Next To You, Girl”, backed by “Rockin' in the Parlour”; The band re-recorded the previous song with the members who eventually replaced Burgess and singer Evans (drummer Phil Rudd and Bon Scott) for AC/DC's 1975 LP. TNT
While Burgess was not among the AC/DC members inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he was enshrined in Australia's ARIA Hall of Fame for his work with the Masters Apprentices.
