AC/DC drummer Colin Burgess dead at 77: ‘Rock in peace’
Colin Burgess, the original drummer of AC/DC, has died from unknown causes. He was 77.
“Very sad to hear of the passing of Colin Burgess,” the Australian rock band announced via Instagram Saturday.
“He was our first drummer and a very respected musician. Happy memories, rock in peace Colin.”
Burgess joined the band in 1973 alongside its other founding members: singer Dave Evans, bassist Larry Van Kriedt as well as siblings and guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young.
However, the drummer was only a member of the band for a year before getting the boot.
Former band member Dave Evans told the Metal Voice, per AlternativeNation.net, that Burgess was fired in 1974 for appearing to be under the influence of an unknown drug while playing onstage.
After parting ways with their original drummer, AC/DC hopped between multiple short-lived replacements for years during their success.
Still, musician Phil Rudd would ultimately stick it out the longest, joining the “You Shook Me All Night Long” rock group in 1975 and playing on and off with the group up until the present day.
Soon after Rudd replaced Burgess, the original drummer had to step in and cover for Rudd due to a broken wrist.
Singer Evans was replaced by Bon Scott a year after the band was founded — he would go on to play for the group up until his death in 1980.
In 2017, cofounding member Malcolm passed away after taking a step back from the group three years prior following a dementia diagnosis.
AC/DC is known for releasing top-charting albums such as “Back in Black” and “For Those About to Rock We Salute You.”
Burgess also played the drums in the Australian band The Masters Apprentices between 1968 to 1972.
He and other members of the band were inducted into Australia’s ARIA Hall Of Fame in 1998.
