Bee Gees

Bee Gees Artistfacts

  • 1958-
    Barry Gibb
    Robin Gibb
    Maurice Gibb
  • Robin and Maurice Gibb are twins; Barry is three years older. As the Bee Gees, they wrote, produced and arranged their own songs. As songwriters, they were extremely prolific, composing hundreds of songs, many of which were recorded by other artists. The group is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in addition to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
  • The Bee Gees released their first single in Australia in 1963. It was the Johnny Horton inspired "Battle of the Blue and the Grey." They cracked the Australian and New Zealand markets within a few years. "Spicks And Specks" was their first ever #1 single, topping the New Zealand charts (#3 in Australia). The brothers left Australia for London to audition with Robert Stigwood. Stigwood was a director of NEMS Enterprises, the company owned by Beatles svengali Brian Epstein. He signed them up. "New York Mining Disaster 1941 (Have You Seen My Wife, Mr. Jones)" was their first international hit.
  • In 1967, Robert Stigwood became their manager. He worked with Brian Epstein, who managed The Beatles. Stigwood was also a movie director. He put them on the soundtrack to his 1977 film, Saturday Night Fever, and cast them in the colossal flop Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band the next year.
  • They had huge success singing disco songs in the '70s, and popularized the falsetto singing style of that era.
  • When Robin was 17, he was on a train in England that crashed, killing 49 passengers. He escaped with cuts and bruises.
  • Maurice was a paintball fanatic. He competed in tournaments.
  • Maurice died in 2003 after he was rushed to a hospital for stomach pains. He went into cardiac arrest, and the surgery could not save him.
  • They always wrote the music first, then when they'd get together in the studio, they'd play the music and come up with the lyrics on the spot. They never wrote lyrics ahead of time.
  • Over 2,500 artists have recorded their songs. "How Deep Is Your Love" is the most covered of all, with over 400 versions. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Paul - UK, England
  • The Bee Gees made their songs relatable by keeping the lyrics gender-neutral. Robin Gibb explained in Daniel Rachel's The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters: "Love is not about a particular sex. A lot of people that started out in the music industry used he and she. Love is universal and we'd go out of our way not to mention he or she, so like a you or babe. It's a subtle way of doing it, but it has a way of crossing ... there's a lot of people out there who can't really relate if you do use those expressions and we want our songs to relate to as many people as possible."
  • Robin explained that melody must dictate the song: "We are very conscious that melody is extremely important. You've got seven notes to work with, everybody in the world has: it's the order in which you use them. But melody is the most important thing about writing a song, and then you approach the lyrics and you must work them into it."
  • When the Gibbs were children, they started songwriting through a game of make-believe. They would listen to the radio and pretend like they were in charge of writing the artist's next hit record. "It was a hobby that we weren't even aware of," Robin explained. "We were just playing it the same way kids throw a ball around; we were just throwing music around."
  • Robin thought it was important to protect a budding idea from criticism: "One problem is: don't invite anybody to say anything critical when you are developing a song. It is crucial that you don't... It can have a dramatic effect on how the song progresses, even to the point where you don't finish it."
  • After being diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer, Robin died of kidney and liver failure in 2012. He was 62.
  • Maurice Gibb married Scottish singer Lulu at St. James' Church, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England on February 18, 1969. Three thousand fans turn out to see the nuptials. The pair's busy careers and Maurice's heavy drinking forced them apart and they divorced in 1973, but remained on good terms.
  • Barry Gibb is the only songwriter to have had four consecutive US #1s: "Stayin' Alive," "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water," then "Night Fever" and "If I Can't Have You."
  • The Bee Gees were given their name by Bill Gates. We're not talking about the Microsoft Bill Gates, but a Brisbane radio presenter of that name. He named the group the "BGs" (later changed to "Bee Gees") after his, Barry Gibb's, and speedway promoter Bill Goode's initials. (Goode gave the Gibb brothers their first break after he hired them to entertain the crowd at the Redcliffe Speedway in 1960).

Comments: 13

  • Margie Jeffery Biacsi from Cleveland,ohioAmazing group! Just love hearing Robin sing those high notes! Great rhythm !
  • Marilyn L Wolf from Coos Bay Oregon 97420Thank you for your amazing music that I cherish to this day! God Bless you and the Bee Gees
  • Dana from Woodbury, Mn, MnThe Bee Gees get associated with disco but didn't set out to write disco songs. They were more influenced by the soul music coming out of Philadelphia in the early to mid 1970's, particularly groups like the Delfonics and the Stylistics. They simply happened to have moved to Miami in the mid-1970's because Eric Clapton had recorded an album there and Clapton suggested that they record an album at the same studio.
  • Lester from New York City, NyBee Gees were absolutely one of my favorite groups, right up to 'Run To Me'.

    Their songs prior to going 'Disco' will always retain a very special place in my heart.
  • Ben from Baltimore, MdMan, The Bee Gees, what song-writers AND singers. Amazing, are they in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame?
  • Garrett from Nashville, TnBarry Gibb wrote two #1 songs for his brother Andy in one afternoon ("Love is Thicker Than Water," and "I Just Want to be Your Everything.")
  • Andy from Arlington, VaInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
  • Paul from Uk, EnglandTheir songs are fantastic. I even like the songs that they wrote for other artists, Like Grease, Islands In The Stream and (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away. Classics!!!
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScThy had some of the best harmonies, and they wrote great songs too.
  • R from O, Dehad top 5 hits in the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. who else can say that? they are the number three producers in music all time.
  • Michele from Butte, MtBy far one of the most gifted writers and performers EVER! A very class act!
  • Billy from Tulsa, OkDidja know that the Bee Gees were discovered by Bill Gates? No,not THE Bill Gates. This Bill Gates was a disc jockey in Brisbane, Australia who happened into a pub one night and heard the brothers singing. He contacted the grouped and was instrumental on making the Bee Gees a world-wide phenomena.
  • Bj from Kc, MoThe best Song Writers AND Performing Artists of all times.

    Hope they continue.
















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