A short history of the Bee Gees from birth to present

Intro
Most people of a certain age will know of The Bee Gees. Some will love them, some loathe them and others tolerate them. Having read the authorised biography I knew that this would be a mammoth task to collate fifty years of musical history into a couple of pages of A4 and I wasnt wrong! Ive reduced it as much as I dare without losing too many salient facts, but its still fairly long. Any die hard fans out there reading this will, no doubt, pore over it with a fine toothed comb looking for errors Id expect nothing less. Just so that you know: I havent included every single record release but the important ones are there.

In The Beginning
The brothers, Barry Gibb (1 Sept 1946) along with twin brothers Robin and Maurice Gibb (22 Dec 1949) were born on the Isle of Man. In 1950 their father, Hugh, moved the family back to his home town of Chorlton cum Hardy, Manchester, England. December 1957 was when Gaumont gate occurred! As the infamous story goes, they had decided to lip sync to a record at the local Gaumont cinema. Somehow they were running late and in their rush to get to the theatre, Maurice dropped the record. Being an old 78 RPM format, which was heavy and notoriously brittle, it broke. Not put off by this set back the brothers decided to sing live and received such a positive response from the audience that they decided that singing would become their career. In August of 1958, after some run ins with the local constabulary, the Gibb family emigrated to Redcliffe in Queensland, Australia. Soon after arriving the brothers began singing at the local speedway track where their talent came to the attention of DJ Bill Gates. In early 1959 Bill Gates made a tape of them doing four to six Barry Gibb songs and played it on radio, gaining the boys some much need publicity. Gates was also instrumental in coming up with the name of the band: he came up with the B.G.s, apparently because of all the BG initials his own, Bill Goode's (the track owner), Barry Gibbs. Thus the name was not originally a reference to "Brothers Gibb" that came in sometime around 1966. March 1960 saw the BGs make their television debut and they became a regular on the TV circuit, as well as in various clubs around the coast. In September 1961 Barry quit school, aged 15. Barrys songwriting talent attracted the attention of Australian star Col Joye. It was in 1963 that, with Joyes help, they got their first record deal under the now elongated name "Bee Gees." with Leedon Records (a subsidiary of Festival Records) The band finally scored their first hit, albeit a minor one, in the form of Wine and Women. This led to the groups first LP The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs. Despite this Festival was on the verge of dropping them because of their lack of commercial success. Nat Kipner, newly appointed A&R man for new independent label, Spin Records came along and took over the Bee Gees contract. By mid 1966 the Bee Gees were working with engineer/producer Ossie Byrne who had his own small self built St Clair Studio, in the Sydney suburb of Hurstville. The brothers were given almost unlimited access to the studio over a period of several months a fact that the group later acknowledged enabled them to greatly improve their skills as recording artists.

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September 1966 saw them record what would become their first number one (in Australia, anyway) Spicks and Specks. However, frustrated by lack of success, the Gibbs decided to return to England in October. Ossie Byrne travelled with them. Colin Petersen, who eventually became the group's drummer, followed soon after.

Back in the UK
Once back on UK shores in February 1967 the Bee Gees signed a five year contract whereby Polydor Records would be the Bee Gees record label in the UK and ATCO Records would be the US distributor. Work began in earnest on the group's first international album, and Robert Stigwood launched a promotional campaign to coincide with its release. On 14th April New York Mining Disaster 1941 is released in the UK. Originally issued to radio stations with a blank white label listing only the song title, some DJs assumed it was a new Beatles single and started playing the song. This helped take it into the Top 20 in both the UK and the US. In June To Love Somebody is released, making it into both the UK and US Top 10s on its own merits and finally the album Bee Gees First is released in July, to critical acclaim. The third single Massachusetts came in September (UK), and quickly became the first Bee Gees international number one. Meanwhile the US and Australia were given Holiday as a third single from the First album. Massachusetts gained US release in November, for some reason with the addition of the (The Lights Went Out In) prefix! January 1968 saw the release of Words single, closely followed in February by the album Horizontal. The single was absent from the album, however it repeated the success of the first album, reaching #12 in the US and #16 in the UK. In August 1968 recording began on what would become Odessa. In the meantime, the Idea album was released in September. Following a short tour and a TV special to promote the album, Vince Malouney left the band.

The Break-Up
In March 1969, keeping up the fast pace of recording and releasing new material the double album Odessa was released. Most rock critics felt this was the best Bee Gees album of the 60s. But cracks were starting to surface: Robin felt that Stigwood was favouring Barry as the frontman. First Of May became the only single from the album, and was a minor hit. Robin quit the group because he felt the B side Lamplight should have been the lead song. In May the first single without Robin was released Tomorrow Tomorrow was Barry, Maurice and Colin Petersen. February 1970 saw the release of Robins first solo material in the form of the single August October. This was followed in the same month by the album Robins Reign. All three brothers were working separately on solo projects in early 1970, and although both Barry and Maurice released solo singles, no other material from these sessions has been officially released. Barry, Maurice, and Colin continued on as the Bee Gees, recording their next album, Cucumber Castle. There was also a TV special filmed to accompany the album, which aired on the BBC in 1971. Colin Petersen played drums on the tracks recorded for the album, but was fired from the group after filming began and his parts were edited out of the final cut of the film.

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April saw the release of Maurices single Railroad. The following month he began a run in the West End musical Sing A Rude Song. Barrys single Ill Kiss Your Memory and the Sing A Rude Song soundtrack were both released in May 1970.

The Reunion
Robin and Maurice began working together in June 1970 the first time in over a year and on 21st August 1970 the announcement came that the Bee Gees were getting back together. Barry had already joined his brothers to work on new songs prior to this announcement. The long awaited first single of the newly reformed Bee Gees was released in November 1970. The song Lonely Days, which has since become a classic, reached a lofty number 3 in the US. The album 2 Years On was also released this month. May 1971 and the release of another single How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, this time as a prelude to another new album. This was their first number one single in the US. The album, Trafalgar, followed in November, closely followed by a new single for the US Dont Wanna Live Inside Myself. In January 1972 the single My World was released as a stop gap between Trafalgar and yet another new album. The single reached #16 in the US. In July a further single, this time the lead single from the next album, Run To Me is unleashed on the public. Run To Me brought the Bee Gees back to the UK top ten for the first time in ten years. The album, To Whom It May Concern, hit the shelves in October 1972. In March of 1973 the single Saw A New Morning was released ahead of a new album Life In A Tin Can. The single didnt sell well, barely breaking the top 100 at number 94. This began a bit of a lull in popularity just as things looked like they might be picking up. Life in a Tin Can was followed in June by a single, Wouldnt I Be Someone. This was intended as a precursor to a proposed second Bee Gees album of 1973. That album, A Kick In The Head Is Worth Eight In The Pants, was subsequently scrapped after the single failed. One can only imagine how having a whole album being thrown in the bin affected the confidence of the brothers at such a prolific period in their career. Help was on the horizon in the form of Ahmet Ertegun. Ertegun was head of Atlantic and it was his suggestion that they be teamed up with legendary producer Arif Mardin. As the fans know, this is where the magic started.

The Comeback begins

March 1974 and the lead single is released from the next album the title track, Mr Natural. The album followed in July. Mr. Natural (the album) included fewer ballads and highlighted much of Arif Mardins R&B influence a direction they followed for the rest of their career. In early 1975 Eric Clapton suggested that the brothers relocate to Miami, Florida and record there. Another link in the chain reaction to come, was sealed. The quiet before the storm began in May 1975 with the release of Jive Talkin. It yielded their second US number one and was followed up in June by the album Main Course. This was their second album to have two US top 10 singles since 1968's Idea. Main Course also became their first charting R&B album. The second single from the album Nights on Broadway came out in September. It reached number 7 in the US. This song is famed as having the very first Barry Gibb falsetto vocal.

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July 1976 saw the release of the single You Should Be Dancing. This was the first Bee Gees single to have the now much maligned falsetto vocal. The album Children of the World followed in September and much of the album is in Barrys falsetto. This is because once he learnt he could do it he wanted to do everything this way he felt that it was much more expressive than his normal voice. It is also the only true disco album despite popular misconceptions their songs for Saturday Night Fever arent technically disco they are in fact in an R&B beat. 20th December 1976 was the recording date of what would become the first live Bee Gees album at the Los Angeles Forum. That double live album saw the light of day in May 1977 under the title Here At Last The Bee Gees Live.

The Adulation
A few months later, in October 1977 How Deep Is Your Love became the first single released from probably the best known soundtrack album of all time. It was another number one hit. The single was followed by the release of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in the same month. Spurred on by the phenomenal success of the movie, the soundtrack broke multiple industry records, becoming the highest selling album in recording history at that time. More than 40 million copies have been sold, putting it in the top five best selling soundtrack albums. It is currently calculated as the 9th highest selling album worldwide. In 1978, despite all the success of SNF, the Bee Gees werent infallible! They appeared in a film based on the Beatles Sgt Pepper album. Its probably best forgotten as a movie, but the album had some quality versions Robins rendition of Oh! Darling made it to number 15 in the US. After the blip of Sgt Pepper, the Bee Gees' follow up to SNF was Spirits (Having Flown). It yielded three more number ones: Too Much Heaven, Tragedy, and Love You Inside Out. That made six consecutive number one singles in the US within a year and a half (a record surpassed only by Whitney Houston). The Bee Gees even had a country hit in 1979 with Rest Your Love On Me, which made the Top 40 on the country charts. It was the B side to Too Much Heaven. In 1980 Barbra Streisand recorded her album, Guilty with the assistance of Barry. The single Woman in Love penned by all three brothers reached number one both in the US and UK. They became Streisand's most successful album and single. The Bee Gees released the album Living Eyes in 1981. It was their last release for RSO. The only distinction the album holds is that of being the first ever CD to be played in public, when it was played on the BBC show Tomorrow's World.

The Backlash
With the disco backlash in full swing the album failed to make the US top 40, despite there being no disco songs on it. The two singles didn't fare any better Hes a Liar only reached #30 in the US and Living Eyes missed the Top 40 all together, only reaching #45, breaking the Top 40 streak which started in 1975 with Jive Talkin. So began something of a hiatus for the Bee Gees. Robin and Barry released solo albums in the 1980s Robin How Old Are You (1983), Barry Now Voyager (1984), Robin Secret Agent (1984), Robin Walls Have Eyes (1985) and Barry Hawks (1988). These, however, only managed some moderate chart success.

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However, they had much more success behind the scenes, writing and producing for several artists in 1982, Dionne Warwick enjoyed a UK Top 5 with her comeback single, Heartbreaker. A year later, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers recorded Islands in the Stream, which proved to be a US #1 hit. Diana Ross also hit number one in the UK in 1986 with Chain Reaction. In 1983, the Bee Gees had greater success with the soundtrack to Staying Alive, the sequel to Saturday Night Fever. The soundtrack was certified platinum in the US, and included their Top 30 hit The Woman in You.

The Comeback (redux)

In August 1987 the single You Win Again was released, perhaps surprisingly, going straight to number1 in numerous countries, including Britain, but was a disappointment in the US, charting at 75. The album E.S.P. followed in September and sold over 3 million copies. It was their first album in six years, and their first for Warner Bros. Records. The Bee Gees voiced their frustration over American radio stations not playing their new European hit single, an omission which the group felt led to poor sales of the album in the States. On 10th March 1988, younger brother Andy died at the age 30 as a result of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle due to a recent viral infection. His brothers acknowledge that Andy's past drug and alcohol use probably made his heart more susceptible to the ailment. March 1989 they released the single Ordinary Lives with the album following in April. One featured a song dedicated to Andy, Wish You Were Here now I have no citation for this, but it has been said that just before Andy's death, it was decided by the group that Andy would join them, which would have made the group a four piece. The follow up single, the title track One, was released in June in the UK (July in the US). It was to become their first US top ten hit in a decade, reaching number 7. Now in their latter years the Bee Gees were slowing down, going for quality rather than quantity. And so it isnt until March 1991 that we are treated to the next single Secret Love. Its followed in April by the album High Civilization. Two more singles came from the album: When Hes Gone (May 1991) and The Only Love (August 1991 UK only). Theres another 2 year wait until August 1993 and the release of Paying The Price of Love. This single only managed to reach a paltry number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100. In September the album Size Isnt Everything hits the stores to much the same reception it didnt make it past 153 on the US chart. The single For Whom The Bell Tolls, released in October fared a lot better, making it to the top 5 in the UK. The Bee Gees then embarked on a project that was originally to be an album of love songs, which wasnt completed. Then they went on a journey to find various producers to record with. Each producer recorded a couple of tracks each but because of scheduling problems it became one of the most time consuming projects of the Bee Gees catalogue.

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Eventually, though, in February 1997 the first single Alone was released, once again making top 5 in the UK, but only top 30 in the US. March 1997 saw Still Waters released to the UK audience (May in the US). After the disappointing performance of the single, it surprisingly went straight into the US charts at number 11 and sold over 4 million copies. In the US the album is the band's most successful post RSO release. Two years later in October 1999 the Isle of Man Post Office unveiled a set of 6 stamps honouring the Bee Gees' music. The official launch took place at the London Palladium where the stage show of Saturday Night Fever was playing. A similar launch was held in New York shortly after to coincide with the show opening across the Atlantic. March 2001, four years after their last album the Bee Gees released a new single. It was the title track of the new album This Is Where I Came In and it made number 18 in the UK. The album was released in April and, what turned out to be the final Bee Gees album of new material, had perhaps prophetically each brother writing in their own style alongside joint compositions. Maurice's songs are the "Man in the Middle" and "Walking on Air,", while Robin contributed "Dj Vu," "Promise the Earth," and "Embrace,", and Barry chipped in with "Loose Talk Costs Lives," "Technicolour Dreams", and "Voice in the Wilderness". In December 2001 the brothers were appointed Commanders in the Order of the British Empire. The last concert of the Bee Gees as a trio was at the Love and Hope Ball in 2002.

The End?
On 12th January 2003 Maurice died unexpectedly from a heart attack, while awaiting emergency surgery to repair a strangulated intestine. He was 53. Initially, Barry and Robin announced that they intended to carry on the name Bee Gees in his memory. However, as time passed they decided to retire the group name, leaving it to represent the three brothers together. The same week that Maurice died, Robin's solo album Magnet was released and Robin found himself in the unenviable position of having to promote the album so soon after such a traumatic bereavement. On 23rd February 2003 the Bee Gees received the Grammy Legend Award. Barry and Robin accepted the award alongside Maurice's son, Adam, in a moving ceremony. In late 2004, Robin embarked on a solo tour of Germany, Russia and Asia. Barry recorded his song I Cannot Give You My Love with Cliff Richard, which became a UK top 20 hit single. January 2005 saw Barry and Robin join several legendary artists to record Grief Never Grows Old, the official tsunami relief record for the Disasters Emergency Committee. Later that year, Barry reunited with Barbra Streisand for her top selling album Guilty Pleasures (Guilty Too in the UK), while Robin continued touring in Europe.

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A new beginning?
February 2006 came the site of Barry and Robin reunited on stage for a Miami charity concert to benefit the Diabetes Research Institute. It was their first public performance together since the death of brother Maurice. 20th May 2006: Barry and Robin played at the 30th annual Prince's Trust Concert in the UK. In October 2008 Robin performed a couple of songs in London as part of the BBC Electric Proms Saturday Night Fever performance. This involved various other performers and the BBC Concert Orchestra and was screened on the BBC and BBC interactive services. 10th July 2009: the Isle of Man's capital bestowed the Freedom of the Borough of Douglas honour on Barry and Robin, as well as posthumously on Maurice, thereby conveying the award of the town of their birth to all three brothers. 1st September 2009 in an interview with radio host Tim Roxborough, Barry mentioned that "they will be back" but in an agreement with Warner/Rhino they would not make an announcement at that time. This teasing statement was closely followed up on 7th September, when Robin disclosed to Jonathan Agnew that he had been in touch with Barry and that they had agreed that the Bee Gees would re form and perform again. 31st October 2009: Barry and Robin performed on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing 17th November 2009: they appeared on the US version of the show, Dancing with the Stars. Robin was interviewed in October 2010 by the Daily Mail, and confirmed that the Bee Gees story is to be made into a Hollywood movie by Steven Spielberg. Robin told the Daily Mail: "The movie is going to be done by some very important people. It will be our life story. Barry and I will be involved in the technical side". One of the challenges for Spielberg will be replicating the brothers distinctive three part harmonies and Barrys falsetto voice. Robin said: "Id like our original recordings to be used because its very hard to emulate them." Robin continued to tour and completed an album, 50 St Catherines Drive, was not released. 2011: Robin and son Robin John (RJ) began work on an epic album celebrating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Barry released a couple of new tracks Daddys Little Girl and Grey Ghost. He also released the 2002 All In Your Name, a collaboration with Michael Jackson. The release was accompanied by video recorded in the studio during recording. 2012: The Titanic Requiem was premiered at Westminster Hall in London on April 10th as part of celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the great ship. Robin had originally intended to attend the event and sing his song Dont Cry Alone. Unfortunately, due to illness, this never happened.

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And then there was one

20 May 2012: Following a long spell of illness during which he experienced highs and lows, including falling into (and then coming out of) a coma, Robin Gibb died of Kidney failure. Many moving tributes were paid during the period up to his funeral. Brother Barry produced a touching video entitled Bodding and gave a very emotional eulogy. Robins wife Dwina read out a poem she had written, whilst son R J also gave an emotional speech in honour of his father. It was announced that a single of Dont Cry Alone would be released, with some of the proceeds going to the RAF Bomber Command. It is obviously far too early to have had a reaction from Barry on his plans for the future. Fans will, of course, be hoping that he continues to make music. However, no one could ever hold it against him if he now chose to retire from the business and concentrated on his family.

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