The Bee Gees Pictures, Biography, Profile, Facts, Discography, Filmography, more.

The Bee Gees were a British and Australian band, originally a pop singer-songwriter combination, reborn as funk and disco. The brothers Gibb, consisting of frequent lead vocalist Barry, and the twins, co-lead vocalist Robin, and keyboardist/guitarist Maurice, were born in the Isle of Man in the 1940s.

The Bee Gees Biography:

This hugely successful Anglo/Australian vocal trio was formed by twins Maurice (b. 22 December 1949, Douglas, Isle Of Man, British Isles, d. 12 January 2003, Miami, Florida, USA; bass/keyboards/vocals) and Robin Gibb (b. 22 December 1949, Douglas, Isle Of Man, British Isles; vocals) and their elder brother Barry Gibb (b. 1 September 1946, Douglas, Isle Of Man, British Isles; guitar/vocals). Originating from a showbusiness family based in Manchester, England, they played as a child act in several of the city's cinemas.

In 1958, the Gibb family emigrated to Australia and the boys performed regularly as a harmony trio in Brisbane, Queensland. Christened the Bee Gees, an abbreviation of Brothers Gibb, they signed to the Australian label Festival Records and released a series of singles written by the elder brother. While their single "Spicks And Specks" was topping the Australian charts, the brothers were already on their way to London for a fateful audition with Robert Stigwood, a director of NEMS Enterprises, the company owned by Beatles svengali Brian Epstein. This, in turn, led to a record contract with Polydor Records and the swift release of "New York Mining Disaster, 1941". The quality of the single, with its evocative, intriguing lyrics and striking harmony, provoked premature comparison with the Beatles and gained the Bee Gees a UK hit.

During this period the trio was supplemented by Australian friends Colin Peterson (drums) and Vince Melouney (guitar). The second UK single, "To Love Somebody", departed from the narrative power of their previous offering towards a more straightforward ballad style. Although the disc failed to reach the Top 40, the enduring quality of the song was evinced by a number of striking cover versions, most notably by Nina Simone, Eric Burdon And The Animals and Janis Joplin.

The Beatlesque songs on their outstanding acclaimed UK debut, The Bee Gees First garnered further comparisons. Every track was a winner, from the delightfully naïve "Cucumber Castle" to the sublime "Please Read Me", while "Holiday" had the beautiful stark quality of Paul McCartney's "Yesterday". The 14 tracks were all composed by the twins and Barry, still aged only 17 and 19, respectively. By October 1967, the Bee Gees had registered their first UK number 1 with the moving "Massachusetts", which showcased their ability as arrangers to particular effect. Aware of the changes occurring in the pop firmament, they bravely experimented with different musical styles and briefly followed the Beatles and the Rolling Stones along the psychedelic road. Their progressive forays confused their audience, however, and the double album Odessa failed to match the work of their major rivals.

Their singles remained adventurous and strangely eclectic, with the unusual tempo of "World" followed by the neurotic romanticism of "Words". Both singles hit the Top 10 in the UK but signs of commercial fallibility followed with the relatively unsuccessful double a-side, "Jumbo"/"The Singer Not The Song". Masters of the chart comeback, the Bee Gees next turned to a heart-rending ballad about the final hour of a condemned prisoner. "I've Gotta Get A Message To You" gave them their second UK number 1 and sixth consecutive US Top 20 hit. The stark but startling "First Of May' followed, again revealing the Bee Gees" willingness to tackle a mood piece in favour of an easily accessible melodic ballad. To complete their well-rounded image, the brothers showed their talent as composers, penning the Marbles' UK Top 10 hit "Only One Woman".

Bee Gees were one of the most accomplished acts of the late 60s, but as the decade ended they fell victim to internal bickering and various pressures wrought by international stardom. Maurice Gibb married pop star Lulu and the brothers joined the celebrity showbusiness élite with all its attendant trappings of drink and drugs. Dissent among the brotherhood saw Robin Gibb embark on a solo career with brief success.

Remarkably, the Bee Gees ended the 60s with another change of style, emerging with an authentic country standard in "Don't Forget To Remember". With Colin Peterson still in tow, Maurice and Barry worked on a much-publicized but ultimately insubstantial film, Cucumber Castle. This fractious period ended with a ludicrous series of lawsuits in which the drummer had the audacity to claim rights to the Bee Gees name. A year of chaos and missed opportunities ensued, during which the band lost much of its impetus and following. Maurice and Barry both released one single each as soloists, but their efforts were virtually ignored. Their career in the UK was in tatters, but after reuniting with Robin in late 1970 they went on to have two major US hits with "Lonely Days" and the chart-topping "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart".

After a brief flurry of transatlantic hits in 1972 with "My World" and "Run To Me', the Bee Gees' appeal diminished to an all-time low. Three hitless years saw them reduced to playing in cabaret at such inauspicious venues as the Batley Variety Club in Yorkshire. A switch from Polydor Records to Robert Stigwood's new label RSO encouraged the trio to adopt a more American sound with the album Life In A Tin Can.

Determined to explore a more distinctive style, the brothers were teamed with famed producer Arif Mardin. Mr. Natural, recorded in London, indicated a noticeable R&B/soul influence which was extended on 1975"s Main Course. Now ensconced in Miami, the brothers gathered together a formidable backing unit featuring Alan Kendall (guitar), Dennis Byron (drums) and Blue Weaver (keyboards). "Jive Talkin'", a pilot single from the album, zoomed to number 1 in the USA and brought the trio back to the Top 10 in Britain. Meanwhile, fellow RSO artist Olivia Newton-John enjoyed a US hit with their country ballad "Come On Over". The Bee Gees were well and truly back. The change in their sound during the mid-70s was nothing short of remarkable. They had virtually reinvented themselves, with Mardin encouraging them to explore their R&B roots and experiment with falsetto vocals. The effect was particularly noticeable on their next US Top 10 hit, "Nights On Broadway" (later a hit for Candi Staton). They were perfectly placed to promote and take advantage of the underground dance scene in the USA, and their next album, Children Of The World, went platinum. The attendant single, "You Should Be Dancing", reached number 1 in the USA, while the follow-up, "Love So Right", hit number 3.

Not content to revitalize their own career, the trio's soundtrack contributions also provided massive hits for Yvonne Elliman ("If I Can't Have You") and Tavares ("More Than A Woman").

The Bee Gees' reputation as the new gods of the discotheque was consummated on the soundtrack of the movie Saturday Night Fever, which sold in excess of 30 million copies. In their most successful phase to date, the trio achieved a quite staggering run of six consecutive chart-toppers: "How Deep Is Your Love", "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever", "Too Much Heaven", "Tragedy" and "Love You Inside Out". Their grand flurry continued with the movie Grease, for which they produced the chart-topping title track by Frankie Valli. Having already received Beatles comparisons during their early career, it was ill-advised for the Gibb brothers to accept the starring roles in the movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This proved an embarrassing detour for both the brothers and their co-star, Peter Frampton.

As the 70s ended, the Bee Gees increasingly switched their interests towards production. Although they released two further albums, Spirits Having Flown (1979) and Living Eyes (1981), far greater attention was being focused on their chart-topping younger brother, Andy Gibb. A multi-million-dollar dispute with their mentor Robert Stigwood was settled out of court, following which the Gibbs contributed to another movie soundtrack, Stayin' Alive.

With the Bee Gees' activities put on hold, it was Barry who emerged as the most prolific producer and songwriter. He duetted with Barbra Streisand on the chart-topping "Guilty" and composed and sang on "Heartbreaker" with Dionne Warwick. The brothers, meanwhile, also wrote the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton US chart-topper "Islands In The Stream" and Diana Ross' excellent Motown Records pastiche, "Chain Reaction". Seemingly content to stay in the background, masterminding platinum discs for others, they eventually reunited in 1987 for the hugely successful ESP. The indisputable masters of melody, the "comeback" single, "You Win Again", was warmly received by usually hostile critics, who applauded its undoubted craftsmanship. The single gave the trio their fifth UK number 1, a full eight years after their last chart-topper, "Tragedy". Sadly, the death of younger brother Andy the following year added a tragic note to the proceedings. In deference to their brother's death they declined to attend an Ivor Novello Awards ceremony in which they were honoured for their Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

Looking back over the Bee Gees' career, one cannot fail to be impressed by the sheer diversity of their talents and remarkable ability continually to reinvent themselves. Like that other great family group, the Beach Boys, they showed controlled dignity in surviving family feuds, dissension, tragic death, harsh criticism, changes in musical fashion and much else, to become one of pop's ineffable institutions.

One cannot ignore the legacy of their performing, songwriting and production activities; their work represents one of the richest tapestries in the entire history of modern popular music. This appeared to be recognized at the 1997 BRIT Awards which was followed by a glut of press and television promotion for Still Waters, which became a sizeable commercial hit. The brothers' remarkable creativity showed no sign of waning on the much publicized follow-up, This Is Where I Came In, and they were rewarded with CBEs in January 2002's New Year's Honours List.

At the start of the following year, Maurice Gibb was admitted to hospital complaining of stomach pains. He suffered a heart attack during emergency surgery for an intestinal blockage, caused by a congenital condition, and died in the early hours of Sunday 12 January. His brothers subsequently announced they would be "retiring" the Bee Gees name. During January 2005, Barry and Robin along with several legendary Rock artists recorded "Grief Never Grows Old", the official Tsunami relief record for the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Bee Gees Group Members:

Barry Gibb:

AKA Barry Alan Crompton Gibb

Born: 1-Sep-1946

Birthplace: Douglas, Isle of Man

Gender: Male

Occupation: Musician

Nationality: England

Executive summary: Guitarist and vocalist for the Bee Gees

Brother: Maurice Gibb (musician)

Brother: Robin Gibb (musician)

Brother: Andy Gibb (musician)

Sister: Lesley (b. 12-Jan-1945)

Wife: Maureen Bates (m. 22-Aug-1966, div. Jul-1970)

Wife: Linda Ann Gray (m. 1-Sep-1970, four sons, one daughter)

Son: Stephen Gibb (b. 1-Dec-1973)

Son: Ashley Gibb (b. 8-Sep-1977)

Son: Travis Gibb (b. 10-Jan-1981)

Son: Michael Gibb (b. 1-Dec-1984)

Daughter: Alexandra Gibb (b. 29-Dec-1991)

Robin Gibb:

AKA Robin Hugh Gibb

Born: 22-Dec-1949

Birthplace: Douglas, Isle of Man

Gender: Male

Occupation: Musician

Nationality: England

Executive summary: Vocalist for the Bee Gees

Brother: Andy Gibb (musician)

Brother: Maurice Gibb (twin, musician)

Brother: Barry Gibb (musician)

Wife: Molly Hullis (secretary, m. 4-Dec-1968, div. 1980, one son, one daughter)

Son: Spencer (b. 21-Sep-1972)

Daughter: Melissa (b. 17-Jun-1974)

Wife: Dwina Murphy (artist, m. 31-Jul-1985, one son)

Son: Robin John (b. 21-Jan-1983)

Maurice Gibb:

AKA Maurice Ernest Gibb

Born: 22-Dec-1949

Birthplace: Crookall Maternity Home, Douglas, Isle Of Man

Died: 12-Jan-2003

Location of death: Mount Sinai Hospital, Miami Beach, FL

Cause of death: Complications of Surgery

Height: 5' 8" (1.73 m)

Remains: Cremated, Ashes buried on Maurice's property in the Bahamas

Gender: Male

Occupation: Musician

Executive summary: Bassist and vocalist of Bee Gees

Father: Hugh Gibb (b. 15-Jan-1916)

Mother: Barbara Gibb (b. 2-Nov-1920)

Brother: Andy Gibb (musician)

Brother: Robin Gibb (musician, The Bee Gees)

Brother: Barry Gibb (musician, The Bee Gees)

Wife: Lulu (British pop star, m. 1969, div. 1974)

Wife: Yvonne Spenceley (m. 17-Oct-1975, one son, one daughter)

Son: Adam (b. 23-Feb-1976)

Daughter: Samantha (b. 2-Jul-1980)

Andy Gibb:

AKA Andrew Roy Gibb

Born: 5-Mar-1958

Birthplace: Manchester, England

Died: 10-Mar-1988

Location of death: John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England

Cause of death: Infection

Remains: Buried, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA

Gender: Male

Occupation: Musician

Nationality: England

Executive summary: I Just Want To Be Your Everything

Father: Hugh Gibb (b. 15-Jan-1916)

Mother: Barbara Gibb (b. 2-Nov-1920)

Brother: Maurice Gibb

Brother: Robin Gibb

Brother: Barry Gibb

Sister: Berri

Sister: Leslie

Wife: Kim Reeder (m. 11-Jul-1976, div. 1978, one daughter)

Daughter: Peta (b. 25-Jan-1978)

Girlfriends: Marie Osmond, Victoria Principal (1981-82), Tai Babilonia (1982), Olivia Newton-John, Susan George, Tanya Tucker

The Bee Gees Trivia / Timeline:

Started their show biz career in Manchester, singing in cinemas

"To Love Somebody", one of their most beautiful songs, was originally written for Otis Redding. He died before he had a chance to record it

The brothers emigrated to Australia in the late 50s, returning to swinging London by boat in 1966

It hasn't always been brotherly love. After a dispute over which single to release from Odessa, Robin left the band for several years

Threw a moody on the Clive Anderson show in 1997, storming off after a rather cutting comment from the host

They starred in a disastrous movie version of the Beatle's Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Few male bottoms have looked so good in tight denim

Maurice Gibb Trivia:

Twin brother of Robin Gibb; brother of Barry Gibb and Andy Gibb

Member of the Bee Gees

Born at 3:50 am

Daughter, Samantha (b. 6/2/1980)

Son, Adam (b. 2/23/1976)

Awarded a CBE, or Commander of the Order of British Empire, by Queen Elizabeth II in the New Year's Eve Honors List 2001.

Owned a paintball shop in the Miami area called 'Commander Mo's'.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 (as a member of the Bee Gees).

Andy Gibb Trivia:

Singer, brother to the Bee Gees.

Daughter, Peta (b. 1/25/1978).

Brother of Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb and Barry Gibb.

He had three US nunber one hits by the time he was 21-years-old back-to-back. They were, "I Just Want To Be Your Everything," "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water," and "Shadow Dancing," which was number one for seven weeks in the summer of 1978.

Dated Victoria Principal, Marie Osmond, Susan George, Olivia Newton-John.

Bee Gees Discography:

Albums:

Bee Gees 1st - 1967

Horizontal - 1968

Idea - 1968

Odessa - 1969

Best of Bee Gees - 1969

Cucumber Castle - 1970

2 Years On - 1970

Trafalgar - 1971

To Whom It May Concern - 1972

Life In a Tin Can - 1973

Best of Bee Gees Volume 2 - 1973

Mr. Natural - 1974

Main Course - 1975

Children of the World - 1976

Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack) - 1977

Spirits Having Flown - 1979

Bee Gees Greatest - 1979

Living Eyes - 1981

Staying Alive (soundtrack) - 1983

E.S.P. - 1987

One - 1989

High Civilization - 1991

Size Isn't Everything - 1993

Still Waters - 1997

This Is Where I Came In - 2001

The Record - 2001

Awards

With The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Paul McCartney, the Bee Gees are in the top five of the most successful recording artists of all time, achieving world-wide record sales in excess of 110 million. Their songs have been covered by numerous singers including Elvis, Otis Redding, and newer acts like Steps and Destiny's Child. Songs written by the Gibbs but better known in versions by other artists include, 'If I Can't Have You' by Yvonne Elliman and by Kim Wilde, 'Love Me' by Yvonne Elliman, 'Chain Reaction' by Diana Ross and by Steps, 'Emotion' by Samantha Sang, 'Guilty' by Barbra Streisand, 'Heartbreaker' by Dionne Warwick and 'Islands in the Stream' by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. Also, Wyclef Jean adapted the Gibbs' 'Stayin' Alive' into the hit rap single 'We Trying To Stay Alive'.

Over their career, the Bee Gees earned five Grammy Awards and in 1994 all three were individually inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1997, the Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2002, the Bee Gees were made CBEs (Commander of the British Empire) United Kingdom's New Year Honours list.

The Bee Gees Filmography:

As Actor:

The Bee Gees - One Night Only/Official Story (2003)

Combining a documentary about the band (OFFICIAL STORY) with a live concert (ONE NIGHT ONLY), this is a comprehensive overview of The Bee Gees career. Extensive interview footage with the band is included, highlighting their humble beginnings, and tracing their career arc as they took the world by storm. The live performance dates from 1997 and includes a selection of their greatest hits.

The Bee Gees - This Is Where I Came In: The Official Story of the Bee Gees (2001)

Simultaneously lauded and dismissed, disco kings the Bee Gees have polarized pop audiences like very few bands before or after. Best known for their disco soundtrack to SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, especially the hit song "Stayin' Alive," the Brothers Gibb, in their Vegas-influenced white satin, tell their story here in their own words. A candid biography which is told through interviews, previously unseen home movies, archival footage, and behind-the-scenes clips, THIS IS WHERE I CAME IN is a in-depth look at of America's most well-known pop acts.

Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

Henry Edwards creates a thin story line to tie the Beatles' popular album together. Grinch-like Mean Mr. Mustard menaces the happy hamlet of Heartland until pop wunderkind Billy Shears (Frampton) resurrects the villain's musical nemeses--the titular band--and brings mirth back to the town.

Genres: Musical/Performing Arts