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 of the passing of Colin Burgess,” says an unsigned post on the band's official Facebook page late Friday. “He was our first drummer and a very 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, lead vocalist Dave Evans and bassist Larry Van Kriedt.

Several masked and armed suspects forced their way into a home on Lake Ridge Road in Winnipeg’s west suburbs late on Monday, terrorizing the elderly residents as they robbed the place.

Winnipeg Police Service major crimes investigators, who are asking the public for assistance, are trying to identify the suspects and learn about their movements in the area before and after the robbery, said police spokesman Const. Stephen Spencer.

“It would definitely help to have some more information as to who the individuals are. It would be great if somebody had video of the individuals prior to arriving at this location, when they weren’t wearing face coverings, or after,” said Spencer.

“If neighbours in the area maybe noticed something suspicious, around the Lakeridge Park area… around that time of night, if they did see something suspicious, definitely come forward — it could be helpful with solving this case.”