The Last Bee Gee: Interview With Barry Gibb

There’s hardly a person in the western world and beyond who haven’t heard of the Bee Gees and the Gibb brothers. And if not of them as a band, everyone has at least heard some of their greatest hits, knowingly or unknowingly. Hits like ‘Stayin’ Alive’‘How Deep Is Your Love’‘Night Fever’ and so on! It’s nearly impossible to miss their work, except maybe if you live on some deserted island with no modern technology whatsoever. However, since 2012 we have only one of the three brothers among us. And that one brother is Barry Gibb – The Last Bee Gee.

Interview with Barry Gibb – The last Bee Gee

YouTube player

In this 17 minute long video (originally from 2012), Barry Gibb opens up about the Bee Gees, the death of his brothers and being the “last man standing” or “the last Bee Gee”. Very raw and emotional video that can’t be described just with words.

Short history lesson about the Bee Gees

The three Gibb brothers – Maurice, Robin and Barry formed the Bee Gees in the now distant 1958. The twins Robin and Maurice were only 9 years old at the time of formation while their older brother Barry was 12. They also had a much younger brother Andy Gibb who was born in the year they found the band. Andy was a successful musician on his own as well. Even though he played sometimes with the, he wasn’t part of the Bee Gees.
The brothers were born in the UK, but in the late 50s their family emigrated to Australia. While still in the UK, the brothers and few other friends had a band called The Rattlesnakes. Sadly their plans for glory came up short due to the emigration process.

After forming the band, the brothers appeared on multiple television shows during the early 1960s and even got themselves a recording deal. Their first charting single ‘Spicks and Specks’ came out in the autumn of 1966. A record that reached number four on the Australian National Top 40 chart. And only few months later, the brothers returned to Britain to promote their music to an even bigger audience.

In the next decade (70s), the Bee Gees became one of the most dominant bands in the music history. While in the 80s they had a bit of turbulence and disagreements in the band which led to their decline. However, they made a comeback at the end of the decade and returned to popularity.

The dream lasted until 2003 when Maurice died unexpectedly at the age of 53 due to complications of a twisted intestine. Which was the second death in the family since their youngest brother Andy who passed away in 1988, aged 30. This led to disbandment of the band until 2009 when Robin and Barry reunited. The two of them toured for three more years before Robin died as well. Which left Barry Gibb the last Bee Gee alive or as he says “the last man standing”.

The Bee Gees have sold more than 120 million records worldwide which makes them one of the world’s best selling bands of all time. And since 1997 they are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

May interest you: Metal bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Bonus video

Another video of Barry Gibb which follows him and his story up until his first tour as the only remaining brother and a Bee Gee. A tour where he is joined by his son Steve Gibb and his niece (Maurice’s daughter) Samantha on stage.

YouTube player

Featured image by: badgreeb RECORDS