Colin Petersen
Encyclopedia
Colin Petersen is a former child actor and rock drummer. He played as a member of the Bee Gees
on their first five albums.
(1956), with Ralph Richardson, but by the time he was ten he was forced to cease acting as his mother felt it was interfering with his education. Other film credits included The Scamp
(1957), A Cry from the Streets
(1958) and, much later, Barney (1976). He attended the Humpybong State School at the same time that Barry
, Robin
, and Maurice Gibb
did (they went to Scarborough State School first, and then later went to Humpybong). Petersen was in Barry's class, though they seldom crossed paths in any significant way. While at school he developed an interest in music, starting out on piano but switching to drums. After leaving school he played with several bands including Steve and the Board, and became acquainted with Maurice Gibb, who invited him to sit in on one of the trio's sessions in Sydney. He ended up becoming friends with the family and ultimately played on as many as a dozen of the Bee Gees' early Australian sides.
Petersen moved to England in 1966, little knowing that the Bee Gees would soon be doing the same. They recruited him as their permanent drummer shortly afterwards – the first non-Gibb brother to become an official member of the Bee Gees. He played on the albums Bee Gees' 1st
, Horizontal
, Idea
, Odessa
, and Cucumber Castle
. He was an equal partner in the group from early in their period in the UK, and the Gibb brothers regarded him and his playing as essential to their sound. He and fellow band member Vince Melouney
hit an unexpected bump in their respective career roads when suddenly, in the late summer of 1967, they were threatened with deportation because of an error in the way they had each secured their respective visas. That problem was solved only by the intervention of the group's manager, Robert Stigwood
, who mounted a publicity campaign that embarrassed the government into permitting them to remain in the UK.
In 1969 Petersen and his wife Joanne began a management company – Joanne had worked as a personal assistant to Brian Epstein
up until his death, and then for Robert Stigwood
. As Petersen learned about the music industry, he raised questions about Stigwood's conflict of interest as the Bee Gees' manager, since Stigwood owned their recordings and publishing and was in effect their employer. According to Petersen this led to his being fired in August 1969, while the group were making a television film of Cucumber Castle. Petersen had already recorded the songs used in the film, which make up part of the album, but he is not credited on the sleeve.
Vince Melouney and Robin Gibb had already left the band by then, leaving just Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Colin Petersen. He was fired, allegedly for having lost interest in the group and missing recording sessions, and for his refusal to do any acting in the film, despite his being the one with experience in front of the cameras.
As a partner in the group, however, he could not be summarily fired as though he were an employee. The result was a series of lawsuits in which, at one point – as a ploy to get a quicker settlement from Stigwood – he attempted to block the Bee Gees from using that name, since it was jointly owned by the partners, and he alleged that he had been illegally deprived of his share in the partnership. Petersen remained on good terms with the brothers, especially Robin Gibb, after his initial exit.
The first musician he worked with after leaving the Bee Gees was Jonathan Kelly. Petersen produced some of his early solo singles, and in 1970 the two decided to form a band together. It was called, Humpy Bong
, a two-word variation of the name of the school that Petersen and the Gibb brothers attended in Australia. As they needed additional musicians, they placed an advertisement. Tim Staffell
answered and he got the job as singer and harmonica
player. The trio recorded their debut single and appeared on BBC Television
's Top Of The Pops
. Before the end of 1970 the group broke up without having played any concerts.
Petersen managed Jonathan Kelly as a solo artist during the early 1970s, subsequent to Humpy Bong disbanding. He returned to Australia in 1974 where, having lost his rights to royalties
after his court case against the Bee Gees, eventually became a painter residing in Sydney. He remained close to Melouney, but became bitter towards his other ex-bandmates about his lost royalties.
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
on their first five albums.
Biography
Petersen began his acting career at the age of seven. He starred in the film SmileySmiley (film)
Smiley is an American-British film made in 1956 and set in Australia. It was produced and directed by Anthony Kimmins. It starred Ralph Richardson, Chips Rafferty, and Colin Petersen as Smiley. Other cast members were Bruce Archer, Guy Doleman, Reg Lye, John McCallum, Leonard Teale and Bud Tingwell...
(1956), with Ralph Richardson, but by the time he was ten he was forced to cease acting as his mother felt it was interfering with his education. Other film credits included The Scamp
The Scamp
The Scamp is a 1957 British drama film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Richard Attenborough, Colin Petersen, and Dorothy Alison.-Cast:* Richard Attenborough as Stephen Leigh* Dorothy Alison as Barbara Leigh* Colin Petersen as Tod Dawson...
(1957), A Cry from the Streets
A Cry from the Streets
-Cast:* Max Bygraves as Bill Lowther* Barbara Murray as Ann Fairlie* Colin Petersen as Georgie* Dana Wilson as Barbie* Kathleen Harrison as Mrs. Farrer* Sean Barrett as Don Farrer* Mona Washbourne as Mrs. Daniels* Eleanor Summerfield as Gloria...
(1958) and, much later, Barney (1976). He attended the Humpybong State School at the same time that Barry
Barry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
, Robin
Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
, and Maurice Gibb
Maurice Gibb
Maurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
did (they went to Scarborough State School first, and then later went to Humpybong). Petersen was in Barry's class, though they seldom crossed paths in any significant way. While at school he developed an interest in music, starting out on piano but switching to drums. After leaving school he played with several bands including Steve and the Board, and became acquainted with Maurice Gibb, who invited him to sit in on one of the trio's sessions in Sydney. He ended up becoming friends with the family and ultimately played on as many as a dozen of the Bee Gees' early Australian sides.
Petersen moved to England in 1966, little knowing that the Bee Gees would soon be doing the same. They recruited him as their permanent drummer shortly afterwards – the first non-Gibb brother to become an official member of the Bee Gees. He played on the albums Bee Gees' 1st
Bee Gees' 1st
Bee Gees' 1st is—despite the title—the third studio album by The Bee Gees. It was, however, their first album to be released internationally, as their first two LPs were only available in Australia and New Zealand...
, Horizontal
Horizontal (album)
Horizontal is the Bee Gees' fourth studio album, and second to seek an international release. The LP was released in early 1968, and included the international hit singles "Massachusetts" and "World"....
, Idea
Idea (album)
Idea is the Bee Gees' fifth studio album, and their third international release on the ATCO label in the US and Polydor in the UK. Released in August, 1968, the album sold over a million copies worldwide. This album features "Such a Shame", the only Bee Gees song where lead vocals aren't sung by a...
, Odessa
Odessa (album)
Odessa is the sixth studio album by the Bee Gees, released in 1969. It was the group's fourth album released internationally, and their first released as a double LP. Odessa is noted in Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die....
, and Cucumber Castle
Cucumber Castle
Cucumber Castle is the Bee Gees' seventh album, released in 1970 and produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robert Stigwood. It consists of songs from their television special of the same name, which was named after a song on their 1967 album Bee Gees' 1st...
. He was an equal partner in the group from early in their period in the UK, and the Gibb brothers regarded him and his playing as essential to their sound. He and fellow band member Vince Melouney
Vince Melouney
Vince Melouney was a founding member of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, playing with the band as lead guitarist from 1963 to 1965, which was followed by a short-lived duo with fellow Aztec Tony Barber, called Vince & Tony's Two.In 1967, after moving to the UK, he was invited to join the Bee Gees...
hit an unexpected bump in their respective career roads when suddenly, in the late summer of 1967, they were threatened with deportation because of an error in the way they had each secured their respective visas. That problem was solved only by the intervention of the group's manager, Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood is an impresario and entertainment entrepreneur who relocated to England in 1954...
, who mounted a publicity campaign that embarrassed the government into permitting them to remain in the UK.
In 1969 Petersen and his wife Joanne began a management company – Joanne had worked as a personal assistant to Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
up until his death, and then for Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood is an impresario and entertainment entrepreneur who relocated to England in 1954...
. As Petersen learned about the music industry, he raised questions about Stigwood's conflict of interest as the Bee Gees' manager, since Stigwood owned their recordings and publishing and was in effect their employer. According to Petersen this led to his being fired in August 1969, while the group were making a television film of Cucumber Castle. Petersen had already recorded the songs used in the film, which make up part of the album, but he is not credited on the sleeve.
Vince Melouney and Robin Gibb had already left the band by then, leaving just Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Colin Petersen. He was fired, allegedly for having lost interest in the group and missing recording sessions, and for his refusal to do any acting in the film, despite his being the one with experience in front of the cameras.
As a partner in the group, however, he could not be summarily fired as though he were an employee. The result was a series of lawsuits in which, at one point – as a ploy to get a quicker settlement from Stigwood – he attempted to block the Bee Gees from using that name, since it was jointly owned by the partners, and he alleged that he had been illegally deprived of his share in the partnership. Petersen remained on good terms with the brothers, especially Robin Gibb, after his initial exit.
The first musician he worked with after leaving the Bee Gees was Jonathan Kelly. Petersen produced some of his early solo singles, and in 1970 the two decided to form a band together. It was called, Humpy Bong
Humpy Bong
Humpy Bong was an early 1970s band.Singer and guitarist Jonathan Kelly was playing in a restaurant in London one night in 1969 when in walked Colin Petersen, a former child actor in Australia and drummer with the Bee Gees...
, a two-word variation of the name of the school that Petersen and the Gibb brothers attended in Australia. As they needed additional musicians, they placed an advertisement. Tim Staffell
Tim Staffell
Timothy "Tim" Staffell is an English rock musician and visual artist. He was a member of blues-rock outfit 1984 and later Smile, a band which included guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Upon Staffell's departure, Smile were joined by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon to form the band Queen...
answered and he got the job as singer and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
player. The trio recorded their debut single and appeared on BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
's Top Of The Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
. Before the end of 1970 the group broke up without having played any concerts.
Petersen managed Jonathan Kelly as a solo artist during the early 1970s, subsequent to Humpy Bong disbanding. He returned to Australia in 1974 where, having lost his rights to royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
after his court case against the Bee Gees, eventually became a painter residing in Sydney. He remained close to Melouney, but became bitter towards his other ex-bandmates about his lost royalties.
Albums with Bee Gees
- Bee Gees' 1stBee Gees' 1stBee Gees' 1st is—despite the title—the third studio album by The Bee Gees. It was, however, their first album to be released internationally, as their first two LPs were only available in Australia and New Zealand...
1967 - HorizontalHorizontal (album)Horizontal is the Bee Gees' fourth studio album, and second to seek an international release. The LP was released in early 1968, and included the international hit singles "Massachusetts" and "World"....
1968 - IdeaIdea (album)Idea is the Bee Gees' fifth studio album, and their third international release on the ATCO label in the US and Polydor in the UK. Released in August, 1968, the album sold over a million copies worldwide. This album features "Such a Shame", the only Bee Gees song where lead vocals aren't sung by a...
1968 - OdessaOdessa (album)Odessa is the sixth studio album by the Bee Gees, released in 1969. It was the group's fourth album released internationally, and their first released as a double LP. Odessa is noted in Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die....
1969 - Cucumber CastleCucumber CastleCucumber Castle is the Bee Gees' seventh album, released in 1970 and produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robert Stigwood. It consists of songs from their television special of the same name, which was named after a song on their 1967 album Bee Gees' 1st...
1970 – on some tracks (uncredited)