AC/DC's first drummer Colin Burgess dies: how he was remembered

Colin Burgess, the first drummer of the world-famous Australian rock band AC/DC, has passed away. The musician was 77 years old.

The news of Burgess's passing appeared on December 16 on AC/DC's official Facebook page. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

"Very sad to hear about the passing of Colin Burgess. He was our first drummer and a highly respected musician. Happy memories, rest in peace, Colin," the band said in a statement.

AC/DC was founded in 1973 in Sydney. The original lineup included the Young brothers Malcolm and Angus, both of whom played guitar, vocalist Dave Evans, bassist Larry Van Creedt, and drummer Colin Burgess.

All of them took part in the recording of the band's debut single "Can I Sit Next To You, Girl?".

Burgess lasted only a year in the band, after which he was fired, accused of going on stage drunk during one of their 1974 performances. The drummer claimed that someone had spiked his drink, but it didn't help him stay in AC/DC.

Prior to AC/DC, Colin Burgess was the drummer for another Australian band, The Masters Apprentices, whose hits hit the charts in the late 1960s and early 70s. In 1988, he and the rest of the band were inducted into the Australian ARIA Hall of Fame.

Burgess later formed the hard rock band His Majesty and also played with the Australian band Dead Singers. He performed all over Australia in the Dead Singer Band's "Lost Legends Showcase", which was dedicated to deceased Australian singers.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, in 2017, one of the founders and ex-guitarist of the cult rock band AC/DC Malcolm Young died. And in 2020, the band's former bassist Paul Metters passed away.

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