Colin Burgess, an original member of hard rock band AC/DC in the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 77, the band confirmed in a statement on social media. In a Facebook post, the band expressed deep sadness over the loss of their first drummer, calling him a respected musician and sharing happy memories. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Burgess joined AC/DC in November 1973, along with members Malcolm and Angus Young, Dave Evans, and Larry Van Kriedt. However, he was dismissed from the band in February 1974 for allegedly being drunk on stage, although he claimed that his drink had been spiked. After being replaced by a series of drummers, Burgess briefly filled in for one of them in 1975.
Prior to AC/DC, Burgess was part of the Australian rock group The Masters Apprentices, which was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame in 1998. The announcement of Burgess’s passing has evoked tributes from fans and fellow musicians alike.