Bee Gees Nostalgic Questions...

Cafe Society
1

a) First, please refresh my memory: When did Andy Gibb die, and of what? Also, what Gibb recently died, when, and of what?

b) Next, can you describe which Gibb was which? Did Barry have the thick head of golden brown hair, and most distinct voice? Recently on PBS, there was a Bee Gees 1998 concert from the MGM Grande Hotel. If you saw this, which brother was wearing a black hat and trench coat, playing (mostly) keyboards? (Is he in good health?)

c) Also, on “Bee Gees GH Vol 1”, four Bee Gees are pictured, yet Andy never sung on the Bee Gees albums. As suspected, he does not even get a credit in the liner notes. Is he in this picture? If it is not Andy, then who is the fourth guy???

d) Why did Andy always go solo? Did they not all get along?

Thanks, …some of these questions have bugged me for a long time. - Jinx

2

The original Bee Gees were Barry, Maurice & Robin Gibb, who were brothers (Robin and Maurice were identical twins). They had a much younger brother, Andy, who was never a part of their act.

Those three brothers were the backbone of the Bee Gees, BUT

  1. They weren’t the only Bee Gees; during the 60s, they added a bassist/guitarist, Vince Melouney, and a drummer, Colin Peterson. On some of their older record covers, you’ll see 4 or 5 guys; you’re probably seeing either Melouney or Peterson.

  2. There was a lot of fighting within the band. Robin left the band for a while (he had a few solo hits in England), after a bitter dispute, and so did Colin Peterson. For a while, Peterson was actually claiming legal rights to the name Bee Gees! During this time, Barry and Maurice remained together, sometimes touring with one of their sisters.

Eventually, they smoothed out their differences with Robin, changed their style to R & B/disco, and the rest is history.

3

Andy Gibb died of heart failure, brought on by years of cocaine abuse. Supposedly started when Victoria Principal dumped him after a long romance.

'Tis a pity. Andy was on his way to a good career in musicals when he died, having made a good start in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

4

Maurice died recently, he was the one in the hat and trenchcoat.

5

Actually, (unless I’m misunderstanding your post) from what I remember of various articles and a Behind the Music, Andy’d been abusing cocaine forever before he hooked up with Principal. He then tried to clean up for her, but couldn’t do it. In the end, she gave him an ultimatum, either her or drugs. Since he was unable to kick the habit, she left him and a short time thereafter, when he finally seemed on a complete road to recovery, he died. At least, I think that’s right. Someone else please correct me if I’m wrong.