Sibling strife caused the band to split and reform on multiple occasions. It's always been much easier to think of a Bee Gees break-up as a hiatus of hate rather than a permanent parting of ways.
White suits, medallions and big disco hits are the things we associate with Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, the Bee Gees. But the glory days of
Saturday Night Fever and 'Staying Alive' were the band's second taste of fame. The trio started off playing small gigs in Brisbane during the '60s, but they had their first number one Australian hit while they were on a boat bound for the UK. Luckily the brothers remembered to pack their success with them and soon enough they were producing UK number one hits and breaking the US top 10.
To further add to the Gibb family profile, younger brother Andy became a runaway success on the US charts in the late '70s. Andy seemed to have it all; he was attractive, he was talented, he co-hosted the iconic '80s TV program
Solid Gold and like his brothers, everything he touched turned to chart-topping gold. Unfortunately Andy's story was to end in 1988 when, just days after his 30th birthday, a heart inflammatory virus claimed his life. Many suspect years of stress, substance abuse and a broken relationship helped speed his untimely demise.
Family feud
To say the Bee Gees have had a strained relationship would be an understatement at its finest. Sibling strife caused the band to split and reform on multiple occasions. It's always been much easier to think of a Bee Gees break-up as a hiatus of hate rather than a permanent parting of ways. It ultimately took the death of a group member, Maurice, to finally put the band to rest.
Parental favouritism is claimed to be one of the catalysts for sibling squabbles within the Bee Gees. Each strived to impress their father, with twins Robin and Maurice jealously regarding Barry as his favourite, and Barry feeling the attention fell on his older sister and the twins. During their early days, even the general public took notice of Barry's looks and maturity, setting him apart from his younger, less glamorous, brothers. It should then come as no surprise that during their first taste of UK fame this dynamic reportedly resulted in arguments over who would have the most camera time during television performances.
Younger brother Andy had outstanding success in his career, becoming the first male solo artist with three consecutive number one hits on the US chart. While a talented artist in his own right, he was assisted by Barry who co-wrote and produced some of his hits. As much as he admired his brothers, the stigma of living in their shadow and the demands of fame would prove too much, with Andy spiralling into a cycle of substance abuse. However, his brothers were always there for Andy, urging him into rehab. The most tragic aspect of Andy's death would be that it occurred just as he was pulling his life back together. The impact of his loss would be felt for some time, as Barry stated about his estrangement from his brothers: "If we'd all been healthy, especially if Andy had still been with us, we'd be a family."
In 2003 Maurice Gibb unexpectedly passed away during a surgical procedure and rather than bringing estranged brothers Barry and Robin together, the tragedy seemed to fuel their rift. A controversy erupted when Maurice's family allegedly refused to include Barry in a planned tribute album. Barry claimed: "Certain things were done by the people who look after my brother to stop me from being involved."
Just when it seemed like it was all over, the pair were seen on stage together at a private Miami event for the Diabetes Research Institute. Perhaps Maurice was right when he said of the brother's sometimes strained relationship "We share a sense of humour and a love of music. And they're my brothers."
Fame hog
While the elder Gibb, Barry, is a phenomenal musical talent who at times can be justifiably upset that his vast catalogue of hits is often overshadowed by the
Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, he is not the Gibb brother fame hog. That title has to go to Andy Gibb.
Andy's first album was an overwhelming success, he was a star of the stage and a regular face on TV screens. His high-profile relationship with
Dallas star Victoria Principal and his spiral into abuse and ruin captivated the tabloid news. He reached monumental highs and shocking lows. Little brother Andy was a linchpin for the brothers Gibb and his loss is still being felt by the surviving brothers today.
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