Bee Gees Co-Founder Robin Gibb Dies at 62
- Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:20pm by
Erica Ritz
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(Photo: AP)
One of the most well-known and beloved pop trios in history is down to a single member after Robin Gibb died of colorectal cancer on Sunday at the age of 62. His brother, another member of the band, died in 2003.
CNN memorializes:
The Brothers Gibb — calling themselves the Bee Gees — soared to renown after the 1977 film “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta was built around the group’s falsetto voices and disco songs.
In the latter part of the 1970s, the British-born Bee Gees “dominated dance floors and airwaves. With their matching white suits, soaring high harmonies and polished, radio-friendly records, they remain one of the essential touchstones to that ultra-commercial era,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame says on its website.
They continue:
“Saturday Night Fever” and the group’s 1979 album “Spirits Having Flown” yielded six No. 1 hits, “making the Bee Gees the only group in pop history to write, produce and record that many consecutive chart-topping singles,” according to the Hall of Fame.
While often more in the background, Robin Gibb was the lead singer on several of the Bee Gees’ top tunes including “I Started a Joke” and “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You.” He also recorded several solo albums during his career.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, the Bee Gees sold more than 200 million albums, and their soundtrack album to “Saturday Night Fever” was the top-selling album until Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” claimed that distinction in the 1980s.
(Photo: AP)
“The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery. The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time,” the brief statement on his website read.
In a 2001 interview with USA Today, Robin Gibb reportedly quipped: “We’re comforted by the fact that most of our critics are dead. … We’ve outlived them.”
In the words of the paper, “Certainly, the music will continue to do so.”
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Comments (74)
hauschild
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:23pm6 number 1 songs on ONE album – at the time that creating a number 1 song actually meant the song was good.
Dudes were like musical clones of each other.
Report Post »elation
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 10:10pmThree number one songs from “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack; three number one songs from “Spirits Having Flown”. Three previous to those. And you’re right; all were GOOD.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 8:51amAh… real… Music & Songs!
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 8:54amO.K. I’ll admit seeing Saturday Night Fever 800 times! It was the music not Travolta’s super toned torso! That doesn’t make me ….um… you know..
Report Post »gsplgtr
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 9:04amPlease remember that the Bee Gees had a 14 year career in music BEFORE the Disco Era. By the way both the Bee Gees and i agree on something…. Disco Sucks!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:17pmI danced many a night away to the Bee Gees… to bad, so sad…. reminds me that i too am no loner young.
Report Post »TurboCat
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:33amI was a teenager during the Disco Fever. I have to confess that I discoed.
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 5:17pmI wass little when they were popular, but I loved them anyway.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:07pmDamn, I thought the article said, “Robert Gibbs”. : (
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:45pmIt’s still a nice thought.
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 5:17pmoooooooooo thats bad. shame on you. 50 lashes with wet noodle.
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 8:48pmdonna summer beegees DISCO has been hit hard!!!!!!! still im stayin alive being hot stuff….
Report Post »GeneTracy
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:11pmThe Disco era really did take a hit didn’t it?Only one Bee Gee left.Andy(the little brother) died in the late 80′s.Maurice a few years ago,and now Robin.This is the group that sang ‘Stayin’ Alive’.Huh.Add Donna Summer to the list and it is a tragedy.Meaning no disrespect here,I did like some of their music and they all were very talented.IMO. R.I.P. Robin.My condolences to your family and fans.
Report Post »Metallicat
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 8:48pmTheres got to be a John Travolta joke here somewhere….
Report Post »creepshow
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:32pmForget John Travolta.
Report Post »Tell us that story about what you did to your mama with a turkey baster and a lemon.
Jezcruzen
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 8:46pmThe Queen of Disco, now another Gibb. Well, we still have “rap”, right? :-(
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:10pmPop music really has gone downhill in a major way. Used to be even someone who was into rock or other forms of music could appreciate pop music for what it was, and there was quality in it. There was something universal about many of the songs. Those days are long gone, and as you suggest, rap and much of pop today, is utter crap, actually painful to listen to, a degenerate assault on the senses, something that shouldn’t have even been created in the first place.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 8:39pmClose Another Door…
Report Post »I still play the Bee Gees 1st 33 1/3 LP that I’ve kept in mint condition since the day my grandmother bought it for me for my birthday, 1967. I’m going to play it again during the eclipse this evening.
:(…
Gorp
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 4:27amI still have my Marantz turntable and a crapload of 33 /13 albums of Rock and Country. Still love to listen to them all. 50‘s and 60’s stuff. DAMN! I’m getting old too.
Report Post »Gorp
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 4:30amShould have been “33 1/3″. Darn keyboard. Not enough coffee yet…
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 8:00amYeah, Barry at 33/13 would sound like Alvin on meth.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 10:05amThat’s cool Ray. I’m back to vinyl myself. It just sounds better!
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:27amI’ve been collecting vinyl since 1958. King Creole was my first.
Report Post »But I go back all the way to around 1930 with 78 rpm singles and 78 rpm book style albums.
My vinyl collection includes Hillbilly, Rockabilly, Blues, Folk, Surf, Beat, Rock, Country, Pop, Psychedelic, Jazz, Glam, Punk, Grunge, Zydeco, Metal and Reggae. Did I miss anything ?
The 78′s are a really weird collection. The first records my parents played were Spike Jones and his City Slickers. That could explain some of my posts.
Gregb
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 8:22pmtributes to some very wonderful people…Robin and his brothers made major contributions to American music.
Report Post »can’t help but to shed a tear
TurboCat
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:37amMy favorites were the songs they did right before the Disco era. I liked those also, but the pre-disco songs were really good.
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 10:33amWell said.
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 8:19pmMy condolences to the family. May the Lord give comfort at this time.
Report Post »menticide
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:28amIt’s kind of ironic and sad that the eldest of the brothers (Barry) is the last survivor and the youngest of the brothers (Andy) was the first to pass…
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 8:03pmSad, sad, sad……….LOVED their music. Hopefully, dancin‘ and singin’ in heaven now……
Report Post »CPLGEORGE
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:56pmTwo greats from the DISCO ERA gone in a matter of days. I may have to steal that quote about outliving my critics. RIP
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 7:27amDid you really just use the words ‘greats’ and ‘disco’ in the same sentence?
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 8:02amYou should be dancin’ Gonz.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:56pmWhoever picked the video for the article – that isn’t even Robin highlighted in that, try this one instead:
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeHZ5rJfnh4
beckwill
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:55pmTragedy. (sorry….poor taste, I know)
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:54pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeHZ5rJfnh4
Robin Gibb (Bee Gees) – I Started A Joke (LIVE @ MGM Las Vegas 1997)
Brings a tear to the eye.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:27pmThank you. I always loved this song. What a clear, wonderful voice he had. Those were the good old days of good music with lyrics that meant someting and you could actually understand the words.
Report Post »philipzhao
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:53pm“ I started a joke” !
Report Post »Yaya2
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:49pmWhat a great loss for all of us Boomers! The brothers lived close by until they sold their homes on Miami Beach…they were very generous with their time and talent to help raise money for charities here in Miami…he will be missed.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:41pm…
Report Post »The Gibb Brothers were so talented.
Such a shame they died too soon.
Rest In Peace Robin, Maurice, and Andy.
klevalt
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:40pmHe would want us to dance! RIP
Report Post »hatchetjob
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 8:03pmYep, Jive Talkin’!!! Good beat. Rip Robin.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:39pmI really liked the BeeGees. God’s blessing on your soul Robin, rest in peace.
Report Post »hatchetjob
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 8:01pmDitto!!! I thought that when Robin came out of the coma he’d be okay, oh well, RIP.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:38pmLOVED their music way back when….
GOD BLESS.
Report Post »Rock_Moninoff
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:35pmAnd then there was just one.
Report Post »The twins, Robbin and Maurice, together again. We enjoyed your music. Rest In Peace.
The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:35pm…and now the whole world is living.
Rest in peace lovely soul!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:35pmHe was “Stayin’ Alive”, and now he isn’t……condolences to his family, including Barry, and here’s to good memories of all the music from the age of disco…..waayyyy back when I was young, had all my hair, and dinosaurs ruled the Earth……
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:15pm@TXPilot
“…and dinosaurs ruled the Earth…”
…in platform shoes, glitter and Bell bottoms. : )
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 10:25pm@THE-MONK…..Yes, back in the day, I used to party all day and party all night…..then I got a bit older and I only partied on the weekends…….then I had kids, and I would only party on special occasions, when a babysitter was available…….now I am old, and I can barely work up the effort to get funky once in a blue moon……:(
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:26pmR.I.P. Robin … So sad out of the 4 brothers only Barry remains .. condolences to the family.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 7:25pmRip
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