(Photo by Waring Abbott/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The Bee Gees became worldwide celebrities as the godfathers of disco, the band behind the mega-selling soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. At one point in 1978 they had written five of the songs in Billboard’s Top Ten, a record matched only by The Beatles. But these Aussies by way of England didn’t come out of nowhere; there were a few previous incarnations of the brothers Gibb before they hit this unprecedented big time.
In the late ’60s, the Bee Gees consisted not only of brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin, but a drummer and a bassist. In the English invasion of pop music, their powerful fraternal harmonies carried them through the decade. Robin was the lead singer, Barry sang backup and played guitar, while Maurice was the most technically adept musically, playing a variety of instruments. Barry and Robin liked to sketch out story songs, like “I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You,” in which a condemned man tries to get a note to his wife before he’s executed, or “New York Mining Disaster 1941,” inspired by the brothers’ recording session near a gloomy elevator shaft. The group also had a hit with the now-standard “To Love Somebody”—which they originally wrote for Otis Redding—with Barry on lead vocals.
The Bee Gees’ early output deserves another listen; just focusing on their vocals alone, an easy showpiece is “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You.” In the experimental era of Sgt. Pepper’s, and Pet Sounds, even Their Satanic Majesties Request,the Bee Gees kicked off the song with a Gregorian chant backed by a mellotron, with Robin and Barry exploring the regions of their lower registers. The song’s not much substance, only the brothers’ vocal power, with a chorus that repeats the song title over and over, showing that their sibling harmonies blend more sublimely than most. The vocals eventually overlap, resulting in a near-hypnotic spell, backed by some mournful strings and a menacing, bare drum track. The trippy yet undeniable song has a had a number of fans over the years, including the Flaming Lips, who recorded a cover to lead off a compilation of their live recordings.
The Bee Gees were promoted almost from the band’s beginning by enthusiastic promoter Robert Stigwood, who wanted to push the handsome Barry as the group’s front man, even though Robin usually sang lead vocals. So Robin left the group by the end of the ’60s, followed by Maurice. Assuming that it’s harder for bands created by siblings to write each other off completely (give or take a Gallagher brother), the Gibbs soon reunited in 1970. After a slow start, this next iteration eventually produced hits like “Jive Talkin’” and “Nights On Broadway,” which led them to their undeniably most commercially successful creative output. By the mid-’70s, Stigwood had expanded into movie producing; he pushed the Bee Gees onto the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and disco history was made. It’s what the Bee Gees are best known for, but a journey about a decade back proves that it shouldn’t be all that they’re known for.
Reg Little on the decade-long quest to reveal Robin Gibb’s complete work to the world On one of his many visits to America, Bee Gee Robin Gibb happened to catch an old interview with John Lennon on television. The former Beatle was meant to be plugging his new record Imagine. But the album in his hands was not his own record: it was in fact Robin’s Reign, the solo album that Robin Gibb had made in the late 1960s following a traumatic break-up with his brothers. Robin Gibb’s widow Dwina recalls her husband’s delight to stumble across this touching endorsement from John Lennon, which somehow he had never before seen.
“Robin had known nothing about it. He was really surprised and pleased,” she said. “He knew the Beatles. They all shared the same management and were always running into each other. And John always said that he enjoyed Robin’s voice. I’m sure he had meant Robin to see it. He was sending a ‘well done Gibby’ message.” As a member of the Bee Gees, Robin, along with brothers Barry and Maurice would enjoy monster hits with dance floor classics such as Saturday Night Fever, Stayin’ Alive and How Deep is Your Love? However, Robin’s own brief but prolific period as a solo artist – when the brothers Gibb went their separate ways – has been largely overlooked, until now.
Following her husband’s death three years ago, Dwina, who still lives in the 12th century home that they shared for many years near Thame, has been heavily involved in a project to put that right, and ensure her husband’s complete musical legacy is properly celebrated. The album held up by Lennon all those years ago is now being released. But so is a second album of songs recorded by her husband, Sing Slowly Sisters, which for all its brilliance and originality was never released, and regularly features high on any list of great Lost Albums. The newly-released three-CD box set Saved By The Bell – The Collected Works of Robin Gibb, featuring 63 songs, is completed with a disc of rare recordings made between 1968 and 1970.
It has taken more than a decade to bring the project to fruition. Much of the music had been missing for years, with some of the precious tapes having ended up in the hands of collectors spread across the globe. It all began with the opening of huge wooden crates from Germany back in the winter of 2005, and finally completed with the mastering of the discs earlier this year. In the months before his death, Robin Gibb had been more focused with producing new music at The Prebendal, his Oxfordshire home, including an album of classical music composed with his son R J Gibb, The Titanic Requiem, written to commemorate the centennial of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. “After being diagnosed with cancer Robin just threw himself into everything. He thought work was good for him.” She reveals that after being diagnosed with cancer, he had desperately wanted to get back with Barry, the only surviving member of the trio of brothers. But the new CDs offers music from a Robin Gibb that the world does not know. Long before becoming the kings of disco music, as teenagers in the 1960s the Bee Gees had enjoyed huge success as teenagers, recording four albums in two years but a fall out of the choice of single led to a temporary break up of the fraternal bond. Robin’s time apart from Barry and Maurice is best known for his song Saved By the Bell, which charted at number two. But it is now known that over little more than a year, songs poured from him, in what some now view as his most creative and experimental period. Producer Andrew Sandoval said: “Making sense of Robin’s solo work from March 1968 to April 1970 was an epic quest.” In June 1970 when Robin, Barry and Maurice were reunited, with solo careers forgotten, including some solo pop gems from the saddest Bee Gee. As for his widow she is just glad one of her favourite albums, Sing Slowly Sisters, is finally available. “Robin’s vocals have such a beautiful haunting quality,” she said. “I previously only had a demo tape. It has come out really nicely.”
Robin Gibb's Northern Irish widow Dwina has spoken of her sadness at the Bee Gees singer not being there to share the birth of their second grandchild
Their son Robin-John and his wife Megan announced the arrival of their second baby, a little boy named Theodore-Alexander Hugh Gibb.
A Celtic druidess from Co Tyrone, Dwina Murphy-Gibb was educated in Northern Ireland before attending Hornsey Art College in London and later became an author. In a statement Mrs Gibb said: "Even though it is a joyful occasion, it is sad that Robin is not here with me to share in the happiness of seeing our grandchildren flourish and grow. I am glad they will have the music." Robin-John Gibb said: "I know that my father would have been a wonderful grandparent because he was such a loving, attentive and inspirational father. "We miss him terribly and it is sad to know that had he lived just a little longer, he would have met his two grandsons: Maxwell and Theodore. "Although they will never meet him, it is great that they will always hear his voice." Robin Gibb died in May 2012 after contracting pneumonia while battling colon and liver cancer. As well as two children from his first marriage to Molly Hullis, Spencer (41) and Melissa (39), he had one child with Dwina, Robin-John (28). He left his Northern Ireland-born widow and three children a Porsche, a yacht, and a stone mansion in New Jersey - just part of a £26m fortune bequeathed to his family. Dwina was married to Gibb for 28 years. Before the birth of her first grandchild, she told Hello! Magazine in early 2013 that New Year without her husband had been difficult, saying: "I'd spent every New Year's Eve of our 32 years together with Robin and missed him desperately."
So over the next few days I will be posting a lot of "tests". I'm trying to find an app that lets me post to multiple sites at once, as my favorite, Pressgram,... was discontinued.... I will keep you all posted.... And sorry for my absence here, I will explain everything soon. Long story...hehe:) But I will be back....Soon.....!!
P.S. You will also be seeing these "tests" on Twitter, Tumblr and anywhere else you follow me. Like I said, trying to find the right software....
Official Press release! WORLDWIDE SUPERSTAR BARRY GIBB TO JOIN OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN FOR AN EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE AT ‘THE ONJ GALA’ 2015!!! MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 25th June 2015
Australia’s sweetheart Olivia Newton-John will return home to Melbourne to raise funds for her beloved Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre at the Austin Hospital. Olivia will host the third annual ‘ONJ Gala’ on Saturday 19th September, where she will be joined by another homegrown international music legend and friend, Barry Gibb in his only Australian performance. In addition, Newton-John will lead ‘The Wellness Walk’ on Sunday 4th of October. Both events will celebrate the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre, highlighting the achievements gained over the past few years, whilst also raising vital funds to maintain the groundbreaking Wellness and Supportive Care Programs. “I am so excited to come home for these two important fundraisers for the Wellness Centre! Melbourne is so supportive of both events and I am so grateful that Melbournians recognise the significance of the wellness programs we provide at the ONJCWC. I am so delighted that these are now part of Melbourne’s annual events – not only do they raise much-needed funds but they are always so much fun! This year I am so thrilled to be joined by my long time friend Barry Gibb. I am such a huge fan and it will be such a pleasure to be able to share the stage with him again,” said Olivia. “It’s a joy and an honor to come back to Melbourne and take the stage with Olivia once again. Singing with her is always an incredible experience and to do it for such a great cause makes it all the more special,” remarked Barry Gibb. ‘The Wellness Walk’, an annual community fundraising event, will be held on Sunday 4th October through the streets of Ivanhoe, ending in an impressive street party and concert for all walkers. Registrations for ‘The Wellness Walk’ open on Wednesday 1st July. ONJ GALA The ONJ Gala will be held at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt on the evening of Saturday 19th September with ‘A Touch of Gold’ as this year’s theme. The night will be MC’d by Deborah Hutton and Richard Wilkins, with performances by Barry Gibb, Harrison Craig and Olivia herself. Bookings can be made at www.OliviaAppeal.com and 03 9496 5753. Venue: Grand Hyatt, 123 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 When: Saturday 19th September Cost: From $4,000/table (VIP and Corporate Packages Available) THE WELLNESS WALK Olivia Newton-John will lead The Wellness Walk and Ivanhoe Street Party on Sunday 4th October through the streets of Ivanhoe, presented in partnership with the Ivanhoe Traders Association. The 4.2km walk is open to all-ages to participate and will unite all to walk for a worthy cause. A vibrant street party will run throughout the day with a concert and on-stage family entertainment kicking off from 10:00am featuring Jiordan Tolli, Tim Morrison and Soli Tesema. There will be more exciting entertainment announcements to come. To register for the event, walkers can go to www.OliviaAppeal.com from 1st July. Venue: Registration – The Centre Ivanhoe, 275 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe VIC 3079 Walk – Upper Heidelberg Road When: Sunday 4th October, registration open from 8:30am, with the walk commencing at 11.00am The Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre provides personalised care based on the belief that “You Matter” – you the patient, you the carer, you the individual. The Centre offers first-class cancer clinical care, state-of-the-art technology and access to leading health professionals and researchers in the field. ‘Wellness’ is the most fundamental part of the Centre’s philosophy, as seen through its many evidence-based complementary therapies. Join Olivia Newton-John for The ONJ Gala and/or The Wellness Walk. More information can be found at http://www.OliviaAppeal.com facebook.com/ONJCWC twitter.com/olivia_appeal
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