Bee Gees star Dennis Byron dies aged 76 just days after band’s drummer Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen’s death
Bee Gees star Dennis Bryon has died at the age of 76, making him the second Bee Gees drummer to pass away in the past week.
Byron played alongside the band between 1973 to 1981, and died in Nashville on Thursday, November 14.
His death was announced by fellow musician and friend Blue Weaver, who took to his Facebook and wrote: “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 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…”
Byron was not originally listed as a Bee Gees member but took over on the drums for backing after Petersen left in 1969.
The star played drums on their studio albums Mr Natural (1974), Main Course (1975), Children of the World (1976), and Spirits Having Flown (1979).
He also contributed to the bestselling Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977.
Dennis previously opened up about how he secured the role as a drummer for the Bee Gees, thanking the band’s lead guitarist Alan Kendall for being involved.
He recalled: “In 1972 after Amen Corner broke up I was living in an apartment in London. In an apartment in the same building lived a guitar player named Alan Kendall.
“Alan played with the Bee Gees and one day came up to my apartment and told me the boys were looking for a drummer, and was I interested.
“I was, and Alan took me to Barry Gibb’s house for my audition. That’s when I met Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.”
Byron’s death announcement comes shortly after Petersen’s, with a statement revealing his death reading: “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.”
He earned his nickname “Smiley” after becoming a child actor and featuring in the Australian film of the same name.
Petersen is survived by his ex-wife Joanne and their two sons, Jaime and Ben.
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Petersen reflected on his time with the band in a 2022 interview with Jason Barnard on The Strange Brew Podcast and 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.”