Dennis Bryon has died at the age of 76, making him the second Bee Gees drummer to pass away in the past week.
The musician played alongside the band between 1973 to 1981 and died in Nashville on Thursday, November 14, just four days before the death of Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen aged 78.
Dennis’ passing was announced by fellow musician Blue Weaver, who played with him in the Welsh Rock group Amen Corner.
He took to his Facebook to reveal the devastating news and voice his shock and sadness, writing: ‘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…’
Dennis Bryon has died at the age of 76, making him the second Bee Gees drummer to pass away in the past week (pictured in 1967)
The musician played alongside the band between 1973 to 1981 and died in Nashville on Thursday, November 14, just four days before the death of Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen aged 78 (pictured)
Colin, who played a pivotal role during the early success of Bee Gees as the group’s original drummer, passed away on November 18.
Despite not being listed as an official Bee Gees member, Dennis took over on the drums for the backing band after Colin left in 1969.
Geoff Bridgford was briefly made the replacement, but the band soon decided to take on touring drummers instead of full-time members, bringing in Dennis.
He played drums on their studios albums Mr. Natural (1974), Main Course (1975), Children of the World (1976), and Spirits Having Flown (1979), as well as their famous contributions to the bestselling Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977.
He also performed with the Bee Gees on all recordings, television, and tours from 1973 to 1980, including nine number one singles, with it being said he and Ringo Starr are the only drummers to have five songs in the top ten Billboard chart simultaneously.
Dennis previously explained he got the drummer position thanks to the band’s lead guitarist Alan Kendall, who invited to audition for the Gibb brothers.
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.’
In January 2016, Dennis went on tour with Blue in a Bee Gee’s tribute band named The Italian Bee Gees.
Dennis is survived by his second wife and musical partner Kayte Strong, with his first wife Jenny passing away from breast cancer in 2010.
Meanwhile Colin is survived by his ex-wife Joanne and their sons Jaime and Ben.
His drumming was a vital element on a number of the band’s albums, including the groundbreaking Bee Gees’ 1st, helping to establish the group’s international stardom.
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He contributed to their timeless hits such as Massachusetts, To Love Somebody, and Words.
Before his music career, Colin made waves as a child actor, starring in the classic Australian film Smiley, a role that earned him his enduring nickname.
His transition from screen to stage cemented his reputation as a versatile talent in two demanding industries.
More recently, Colin reconnected with fans through his involvement in The Best of the Bee Gees tribute show.
In a 2022 interview with Jason Barnard on The Strange Brew Podcast, he reflected on his time with the band, sharing rare insights into their creative process and his unique drumming style.
In the interview, Colin described the collaborative energy that defined the Bee Gees’ recording sessions: ‘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.’
Pictured: Top L-R: Vince Melouney, Maurice and Barry Gibb, bottom, Robin Gibb, Colin Petersen
His drumming was a vital element on a number of their albums, including the groundbreaking Bee Gees’ 1st, helping to establish the group’s international stardom. Pictured circa 1967
The recording process wasn’t always smooth, however.
‘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,’ he recalled.
Colin also spoke about his approach to drumming, which he saw as an extension of the music itself rather than a showcase of technical prowess.
‘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.’
Before his music career, Petersen made waves as a child actor, starring in the classic Australian film Smiley (1956), a role that earned him his enduring nickname
In a 2022 interview with Jason Barnard on The Strange Brew Podcast, he reflected on his time with the band, sharing rare insights into their creative process and his unique drumming style. The band pictured here in 1967
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