Colin Burgess, A Founding Member of AC/DC, Passed Away At The Age of 77

Born in Sydney, Australia, drummer Colin Burgess was one of the original members of the rock band AC/DC in the early 1970s, has passed away at the age of 77. The band confirmed his death on their Facebook page, expressing sadness and remembering him as their first drummer and a respected musician. The post didn't mention the cause of his death. "Very sad to hear of the passing of Colin Burgess. He was our first drummer and a very respected musician. Happy memories, rock in peace Colin," stated the band.

Fans of the famous Australian rock band, known for their 1979 hit "Highway to Hell," remembered Burgess and honored him. "Rock in peace, Colin," a fan said.

Colin Burgess joined AC/DC in November 1973, along with other founding members. However, he was let go in February 1974, with the band accusing him of being drunk during a performance. Despite the parting, he later became a drummer for the band for a few months in 1975. 

The reason Burgess got kicked out of the band, was because he was drunk on stage. But that was not Burgess's version of the story, he later said someone spiked his drink, but the other band members didn't change their minds, so he had to leave. After Burgess left, AC/DC had different drummers until Phil Rudd joined in 1975. But Rudd hurt his hand in a fight in 1975, so Burgess filled in for him for a few weeks.

Before his time with AC/DC, Burgess played with another Australian rock group called The Masters Apprentices, which was honored in the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame in 1998.

Burgess also joined a project called Guitar Heroes, led by guitar teacher Steve Flack. The project features some of Australia's best veteran guitarists playing blues and hard rock, stepping outside their usual styles. In Guitar Heroes, Burgess played with renowned musicians like Phil Manning from Chain, Phil Emmanuel, Dennis Wilson from Kahvas Jute, Martin Cilia from The Atlantics, and many others. Michael Smith, who was The Atlantics' bass player from 2006 to 2012, has been the regular live bassist for the Guitar Heroes project since it started in 2004.

Later on, Burgess became a member of the Dead Singer Band, which is a tribute band. He toured across Australia as part of the Dead Singer Band Lost Legends Showcase. This particular show is dedicated to honoring Australian singers who have passed away.

After years of contributing to various musical projects, from AC/DC to the Dead Singer Band, Burgess has left a lasting impact on the global rock scene. His involvement with legendary musicians and dedication to honoring the country's musical heritage solidify his status as a rock n' roll legend.