Original AC/DC drummer Colin Burgess has died at 77. The Australian helped form the group in 1973

Australian drummer Colin Burgess, an original member of the hard rock band AC/DC in the early 1970s, has died, the band confirmed on its social media accounts. He was 77.

“Very sad to hear that Colin Burgess has passed away,” read an unsigned message on the band's official Facebook page on Friday. “He was our first drummer and a highly respected musician. Happy memories, rock in peace Colin.”

No cause of death was given.

Burgess was recruited in November 1973 to help form AC/DC with Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar and his brother Angus on lead guitar, vocalist Dave Evans and bassist Larry Van Kriedt.

The band fired Burgess in February 1974, accusing him of being drunk on stage, and he later said someone had spiked his drink. He was followed by a series of drummers and in 1975 he was substituted for a few months.

Before AC/DC, Burgess played with Australian rock group The Masters Apprentices, who were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame in 1998.