The Bee Gees

[Sharop]

I love this group. When Maurice Gibb died in 2003, I was very upset. He was such a sweet person, and he was only 53.

I do think that the Bee Gees are quite underrated in a way. There are people who seem them just as a disco group, but that's not true at all. They've done many different styles of music.

They moved to Australia in 1958, arriving on 1st September 1958 (Barry's 12th birthday.) Robin and Maurice were 8, due to turn 9 on 22nd December, and their little brother Andy was only six months old. Their older sister Lesley was 13.

They released their first single in 1963 - at that time, Barry was only 16 and Robin and Maurice only 13. They continued until leaving Australia in January 1967, and returning to England, where they heard that their last release had reached number one in Australia.

In the 1960s, they had a string of hits, such as Massachusetts, Words, I Started a Joke and Gotta Get a Message To You. And in the early 1970s they had hits with Lonely Days and How Can You Mend a Broken Heart. Then their disco period came along, but they continued to have success in the 1980s - they wrote an entire album for Barbra Streisand, and they wrote Heartbreaker for Dionne Warwick, Chain Reaction for Diana Ross and Islands in the Stream for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

In 1987, they had another number 1 in the UK with You Win Again.

Most of their subsequent albums throughout the 90s have done well in Britain. I know that in 1997, they had a number 5 hit with the single Alone.

Their last album, This Is Where I Came In, was released in 2001.

They are/were also extremely kind, friendly, down-to-earth individuals (as was Andy) and for that alone, I think they deserve some respect.

[catlover79]

I love the Bee Gees' music at all their stages - orchestral pop, disco, and the later pop stuff from the 80s-00s. I enjoy Andy's music too - although I was not too fond of the duet he did with Victoria Principal. Their 1981 version of the Everly Brothers' "All I Have to Do Is Dream" is one of the worst cover versions I've ever heard of a pop song.

Sharop, have you ever seen the 2001 documentary, "This Is Where I Came In"? Very enjoyable, filled with lots of vintage clips and behind the scenes stories. I actually enjoyed their work in Sgt. Pepper (can't say the same thing about Peter Frampton, though...:eek:).

I have always enjoyed the Bee Gees as they have always been open, warm and friendly to their fans, and are also family men. That goes a long way. I also can't help being a little biased. They are from Manchester, England, and I have relatives who live there. ;)

[Sharop]

Yes, I have seen that documentary; I have that on video, as well as another that was done in 1996.

I loved the video footage of when they were kids - particularly the bits of Andy when he was a little boy. He was such a cute child!

Do you remember the bit where they show the video clip of Barry and Robin walking ahead together (Barry with his arm around Robin) and then Maurice comes, and then little Andy comes behind him, and Maurice goes back and takes his hand, and they walk on together. I just find that so sweet. I think that would have been in 1962, since Barry looks about 15/16, Robin and Maurice look about 12 and Andy looks about 4.

[catlover79]

^ Yes, that was very cute and sweet. :D They also showed that same piece of footage in Behind the Music: Andy Gibb.

[Number 9 Dream]

I love the Bee Gees, Michelle! (although I'll admit I've only listened to their early stuff). They're very talented!

Little side note: My Dad resembled Andy Gibb when he was a teenager :lol:

[Sharop]

Andy looked an awful lot like Barry. Barry has always said that he and Andy were as much like twins as Robin and Maurice were; they were very close.

Here's an interview that Andy gave in April 1969, when he was 11 years old. He and Barry were already extremely close then.


Barry's staunchest fan is without doubt his eleven-year-old brother Andy. They are a decade apart in age, but in fact are very close.

Says Andy: "I think he's my favourite brother, he's so kind and generous, and when he comes to visit us he plays with me. I've only got to ask for something and he'll buy it for me. I think he's too soft-hearted, people can talk him into things and he hates hurting anyone.

For my eleventh birthday he bought me a horse which I've called Gala. He has just bought the bridle and saddle for it and he also paid for the delivery from Sussex.

I see him about twice a week. He takes me out for rides in his Bentley but he doesn't let me have a go at driving it, though! I go up to his flat sometimes, and we play together.

He's very kind and generous and when I grow up I hope I'm like him."

The interview gets their age difference a bit wrong, though - Barry's not 10 years older, he was 11 and a half years older. Just being nitpicky!

[snl 70s show fan]

im a big bee gees fan

[Sharop]

Little side note: My Dad resembled Andy Gibb when he was a teenager :lol:

Lucky guy! :)

[Shine]

The Bee Gees are one of the greatest musical acts in history. As Michelle correctly stated, they were far, far more than just a "disco group". Calling the Bee Gees "just a disco group" would be like saying that Led Zeppelin were "just a hard rock group" (anyone who has played either Led Zeppelin III or Houses of the Holy knows the truth). Even during the period between 1975 and 1979, the brothers made more than just disco music. Songs such as "Too Much Heaven", "How Deep Is Your Love", "Love So Right" and "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)" are not disco.

I own ten Bee Gees CDs and they are:

Main Course
Children of the World
Saturday Night Fever-movie soundtrack
Spirits Having Flown
Bee Gees Greatest
Staying Alive-movie soundtrack
Size Isn't Everything
Still Waters
This Is Where I Came In
Their Greatest Hits: The Record

[catlover79]

I would so love to own the Main Course CD again. I gave it away and now can't find it anywhere (even the library) and even Amazon is charging ungodly prices for the used copies and imports. :( What a great CD - my faves are "Wind of Change" and "All This Making Love". :D

[Sharop]

I really like Edge of the Universe as well - and then there's the hits, Jive Talking, Fanny Be Tender, Nights on Broadway.

[Sharop]

The Bee Gees are one of the greatest musical acts in history. As Michelle correctly stated, they were far, far more than just a "disco group". Calling the Bee Gees "just a disco group" would be like saying that Led Zeppelin were "just a hard rock group" (anyone who has played either Led Zeppelin III or Houses of the Holy knows the truth). Even during the period between 1975 and 1979, the brothers made more than just disco music. Songs such as "Too Much Heaven", "How Deep Is Your Love", "Love So Right" and "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)" are not disco.

It's quite a shame how many people do have that impression. I suppose I can see why they do, but I do feel disappointed when I see people dismiss them as "just another 1970s disco group." For one thing, they were releasing albums and having hits in the 1960s, and they continued to be successful in the 1980s and 1990s, so it's incorrect to say they're just a 1970s group.

I love their disco songs, but unfortunately, they have been stereotyped, and some people see them just as a joke. :(

[Sharop]

Here's a video on youtube of one of their first TV performances.

It took place in 1960 - they were living in Australia at that point. Barry is 13 in this video and Robin and Maurice are 10. The song they're singing, Time Is Passing By, is a song that Barry wrote.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU0kcRZir3Q

[catlover79]

I love the Bee Gees, Michelle! (although I'll admit I've only listened to their early stuff). They're very talented!

Little side note: My Dad resembled Andy Gibb when he was a teenager :lol:
Hey, Kristel, do you think you could post a pic of your dad as a teenager? :D That would be awesome.

I really like one of their earliest songs (from 1965, I believe) called Wine & Women. Anyone else enjoy that song?

[Dean Winchester]

I remember hearing that Barry and Robin were going to start a new group (since The Bee Gees aren't the same without Maurice) but nothing really came about it. Barry did that album with Streisand not too long ago and Robin did some solo stuff. Any word on new material with the two of them?

[catlover79]

^ Sorry, Dean, the last info I have is the same you have. Guilty Pleasures (the 25th anniversary companion to 1980's Guilty) that Barry did with Barbra Streisand was a decent recording - haven't heard Robin's lastest material. Hope the two remaining brothers will make another album together - no, it wouldn't be the same without Maurice but the fans would appreciate the effort anyway.

[catlover79]

I heard somewhere that Barry is in the process of recording a country CD. Has anyone else heard about that??