In a grim turn of events, two drummers for The Bee Gees died in less than a week. Dennis Bryon, who played on many of the group's biggest hits, passed away at the age of 76 on November 14. A few days later, former drummer Colin “Smiley” Petersen died at age 78 on November 18.
According The New York TimesFormer Bee Gees member Blue Weaver first announced Bryon's death on Facebook this past Thursday. The two musicians were also together in the British bands Amen Corner and Fair Weather.
Born in Cardiff, Wales, on April 14, 1949, Bryon began playing drums as a teenager and found success in the United Kingdom with Amen Corner before joining the Bee Gees in 1973, just as the band was about to to switch to disco music.
Some of the group's hits featuring Bryon's percussion include “Stayin' Alive,” “Night Fever,” “More Than a Woman,” “How Deep Is Your Love” and “You Should Be Dancing.”
Bryon is survived by his wife, Kayte Strong.
Meanwhile, The times indicates that Petersen died from a fall, according to Evan Webster and Sue Camilleri, members of a tribute band called The best of the Bee Gees show.
Born in Queensland, Australia, Petersen was a child actor in the 1956 British film. smiling. He would reconnect with the Gibb brothers several years later and become The Bee Gees' first professional drummer.
During Petersen's tenure in the band from 1967 to 1969, he played hit ballads such as “To Love Somebody”, “I've Gotta Get a Message to You”, and “I Started a Joke”. After leaving The Bee Gees, he formed a group called Humpy Bong with Irish singer Jonathan Kelly.
Petersen is survived by his ex-wife, Joanne, and his children, Jaime and Ben.
The Bee Gees were formed in Australia by Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb in the late 1950s. Barry Gibb is the last surviving Gibb brother after Maurice's death in 2003 and Robin's death in 2012.
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