Bee Gees’ star Dennis Bryon has at the age of 76 (Image: Getty)
Dennis Bryon, who played alongside the band between 1973 and 1981, has died at the age of 76 just four days before his bandmate Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen.
The musician died in Nashville on Thursday (November 14), making him the second Bee Gees drummer to pass away this week.
Founding Bee Gees member Barry Gibb took to Facebook to announce his death as he lead the tributes for the beloved musician. He wrote: “Last week I lost two of the finest drummers I’ve ever know. Dennis Bryon and Colin Petersen.
“This is a terrible shock and I send all of my prayers to their immediate families. I will miss them both dearly. I’d like to think that there’s a giant jam session going on in heaven and they need Colin and Dennis’s rhythmic talents.
“Colin was a famous child actor in Australia before becoming our drummer in the early years of the group. Dennis joined us at the time of Mr. Natural, Saturday Night Fever, Children of the World, and Spirits Having Flown.
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The musician played alongside the band between 1973 and 1981 (Image: No credit)
“I’m sure all my brothers are waiting for you both to join in on the jam session. I know it will be amazing, I can hear it now. I love you both. Barry.”
Fellow musician Blue Weaver, who played with him in the Welsh Rock group Amen Corner, added: “I am lost for words at the moment… Dennis has passed away.
“Kayte, Dennis’s wife has just called me and asked if I would let all my friends and fans know. This was such a shock. Dennis has been my friend since we were in our first band together age 15. His great drumming will always Stay Alive…”
Colin, who played a pivotal role during the early success of Bee Gees as the group’s original drummer, passed away on November 18. He contributed to several of their timeless hits such as Massachusetts, To Love Somebody, and Words.
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Colin Petersen died on November 14 (Image: Getty)
His impresssive talents was a vital element on many of their albums, including the groundbreaking Bee Gees’ 1st, helping to establish the group’s international stardom. He is survived by his ex-wife Joanne and their two sons Jamie and Ben.
Before his music career, Petersen first found fame as a child actor when he starred in the classic Australian film Smiley, a role that earned him his infamous nickname.
His transition from screen to stage confirmed his reputation as a versatile talent in two demanding industries. More recently, Petersen reconnected with fans through his involvement in The Beast of the Bee Gees tribute show.
In 2022, the musician appeared on The Strange Brew Podcast hosted Jason Barnard where he reflected on his time with the band.
He gave fans a rare insight into their creative process and his unique drumming style, describing the collaborative energy that defined the Bee Gees’ recording sessions.
He was pivotal to the success of The Bee Gees early in their career (Image: Getty)
Colin told listeners: “We’d often go into the studio without a song, which gave me the chance to experiment with tempos and rythms.
“Those tracks had a real spontaneity becayse we worked on them as a group, We never recorded our parts separately – it was all done together, with the orchestra coming in later.”
But the recording process wasn’t all plain sailing. He went on: “Sometimes we’d spend hours in the studio, and nothing would come together, so we’d pack up and try again another day. But when inspiration hit, we could knock out three backing tracks in one night.”
Petersen also spoke about his approach to drumming, which he saw as an extension of the music itself rather than a showcase of technical prowess.
He added: “I wasn’t the most technically skilled drumer, 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.”