Bee Gees

"BGs" redirects here. For other uses, seeBG (disambiguation)andBGS (disambiguation).

Bee Gees
The Bee Gees in 1977 (top to bottom): Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb
Background information
Also known as	BGs (1958–1959)
Genres	Pop soul disco rock soft rock
Discography	Bee Gees discography
Years active	1958–1969 1970–2003 2006 2009–2012
Labels	Leedon Spin Festival Polydor Atlantic RSO Warner Bros Capitol
Past members	Barry Gibb Robin Gibb Maurice Gibb Vince Melouney Colin Petersen Geoff Bridgford
Website	beegees

TheBee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothersBarry,Robin,andMaurice Gibb.The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in thediscomusic era in the mid-to-late 1970s. The group sang recognisable three-parttight harmonies:Robin's clearvibratolead vocals were a hallmark of their earlier hits, while Barry'sR&Bfalsettobecame their signature sound during the mid-to-late 1970s and 1980s. The group wrote all their own original material, as well as writing and producing several major hits for other artists, and are regarded as one of the most important and influential acts in pop-music history.They have been referred to in the media asThe Disco Kings, Britain's First Family of Harmony, and The Kings of Dance Music.

Born on theIsle of Manto English parents, the Gibb brothers lived inChorlton, Manchester,England, until the late 1950s. There, in 1955, they formed theskiffle/rock and rollgroupthe Rattlesnakes.The family then moved toRedcliffe,in theMoreton Bay Region,Queensland,Australia, and later toCribb Island.After achieving their first chart successes in Australia as the Bee Gees, they returned to the UK in January 1967, when producerRobert Stigwoodbegan promoting them to a worldwide audience. The Bee Gees'Saturday Night Feversoundtrack(1977) was the turning point of their career, with both the film and soundtrack having a cultural impact throughout the world, enhancing the disco scene's mainstream appeal. They won fiveGrammy AwardsforSaturday Night Fever,includingAlbum of the Year.

The Bee Gees have sold over 120 million records worldwide,placing them among thebest-selling music artists of all time,as well as the most successful trio in the history of contemporary music.They were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 1997;the Hall's citation says, "OnlyElvis Presley,the Beatles,Michael Jackson,Garth BrooksandPaul McCartneyhave outsold the Bee Gees. "With nine number-one hits on theBillboardHot 100,the Bee Gees are the third-most successful band inBillboardchartshistory behind only the Beatles andthe Supremes.Following Maurice's sudden death in 2003 aged 53, Barry and Robin retired from the group after 45 years of activity. However, in 2009 Robin announced that he and Barry had agreed the Bee Gees would re-form and perform again.Robin died in 2012, aged 62, leaving Barry,Colin Petersen,Vince Melouney,and Geoff Bridgford as the surviving members of the group.

History

1955–1966: Music origins, Bee Gees formation and popularity in Australia

Bee Gees plaque at Maitland Terrace/Strang Road intersection in Union Mills,Isle of Man

Born on theIsle of Manduring the late 1940s, the Gibb brothers moved to their fatherHugh Gibb's home townChorlton-cum-Hardy,Manchester, England, in 1955. They formed askiffle/rock-and-roll group,the Rattlesnakes,which consisted of Barry on guitar and vocals, Robin and Maurice on vocals, and friends Paul Frost on drums and Kenny Horrocks ontea-chest bass.In December 1957, the boys began to sing in harmony. The story is told that they were going tolip-syncto a record in the local Gaumont cinema (as other children had done on previous weeks), but, as they were running to the theatre, the fragile shellac 78-RPM record broke. The brothers had to sing live but received such a positive response from the audience that they decided to pursue a singing career.In May 1958, the Rattlesnakes disbanded when Frost and Horrocks left, so the Gibb brothers then formed Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats, with Barry as "Johnny Hayes".

In August 1958, the Gibb family, including older sister Lesley and infant brotherAndy(born in March 1958), emigrated to Australia and settled inRedcliffe, Queensland,just north-east ofBrisbane.The young brothers began performing to raise pocket money.Speedwaypromoter and driver Bill Goode, who had hired the brothers to entertain the crowd at the Redcliffe Speedway in 1960, introduced them to Brisbane radio-presenter jockey Bill Gates. The crowd at the speedway would throw money onto the track for the boys, who generally performed during the interval of meetings (usually on the back of a truck that drove around the track) and, in a deal with Goode, any money they collected from the crowd they were allowed to keep. Gates named the group the "BGs" (later changed to "Bee Gees" ) after his, Goode's and Barry Gibb's initials. The name was not specifically a reference to "Brothers Gibb", despite popular belief.

During the next few years, they began working regularly at resorts on the Queensland coast. Through his songwriting, Barry sparked the interest of Australian starCol Joye,who helped the brothers get a recording deal in 1963 withFestival RecordssubsidiaryLeedon Recordsunder the name "Bee Gees". The three released two or three singles a year, while Barry supplied additional songs to other Australian artists. In 1962 the Bee Gees were chosen as the supporting act forChubby Checker's concert at the Sydney Stadium.

From 1963 to 1966, the Gibb family lived at 171 Bunnerong Road,Maroubra,in Sydney.Just before his death, Robin Gibb recorded the song "Sydney" about the brothers' experience of living in that city. It was released on his posthumous album50 St. Catherine's Drive.The house was demolished in 2016.

A minor hit in 1965, "Wine and Women",led to the group's first LP,The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs.By 1966 Festival Records was, however, on the verge of dropping them from the Leedon roster because of their perceived lack of commercial success. At this time the brothers met the American-born songwriter, producer, and entrepreneurNat Kipner,who had just been appointed A&R manager of a new independentlabel,Spin Records.Kipner briefly took over as the group's manager and successfully negotiated their transfer to Spin in exchange for granting Festival the Australian distribution rights to the group's recordings.Through Kipner the Bee Gees met engineer-producer,Ossie Byrne,who produced (or co-produced with Kipner) many of the earlier Spin recordings, most of which were cut at his own small, self-built St Clair Studio in the Sydney suburb ofHurstville.Byrne gave the Gibb brothers virtually unlimited access to St Clair Studio over a period of several months in mid-1966.The group later acknowledged that this enabled them to significantly improve their skills as recording artists. During this productive time, they recorded a large batch of original material—including the song that became their first major hit, "Spicks and Specks"(on which Byrne played the trumpet coda)—as well as cover versions of current hits by overseas acts such as the Beatles. They regularly collaborated with other local musicians, including members of beat band Steve & The Board, led bySteve Kipner,Nat's teenage son.

Frustrated by their lack of success, the Gibbs began their return journey to England on 4 January 1967, with Ossie Byrne travelling with them. While at sea in January 1967, the Gibbs learned thatGo-Set,Australia's most popular and influential music newspaper, had declared "Spicks and Specks" the "Best Single of the Year".

1967–1969: International fame and touring years

Bee Gees' 1st,HorizontalandIdea

See also:The Bee Gees' concerts in 1967 and 1968

The Bee Gees in 1967 (left to right: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Vince Melouney, Maurice Gibb and Colin Petersen)

Before their departure from Australia to England, Hugh Gibb sent demos toBrian Epstein,who managedthe Beatlesand directed NEMS, a British music store. Epstein passed the demo tapes toRobert Stigwood,who had recently joined NEMS.After an audition with Stigwood in February 1967, the Bee Gees signed a five-year contract wherebyPolydor Recordswould release their records in the UK, andAtco Recordswould do so in the US. Work quickly began on the group's first international album, and Stigwood launched a promotional campaign to coincide with its release.

Stigwood proclaimed that the Bee Gees were "The most significant new musical talent of 1967", thus initiating the comparison of the Bee Gees to the Beatles. Before recording the first album, the group expanded to includeColin PetersenandVince Melouney."New York Mining Disaster 1941",their second British single (their first-issued UK 45rpmwas "Spicks and Specks" ), was issued to radio stations with a blank white label listing only the song title. Some DJs immediately assumed this was a new single by the Beatles and started playing the song inheavy rotation.This helped the song climb into the top 20 in both the UK and US.

No such chicanery was needed to boost the Bee Gees' next single, "To Love Somebody",into the US Top 20. Originally written forOtis Redding,"To Love Somebody", a soulful ballad sung by Barry, has since become a pop standard recorded by many singers.Another single, "Holiday",released in the US, peaked at No. 16.

The parent album,Bee Gees 1st(their first internationally), peaked at No. 7 in the US and No. 8 in the UK. Bill Shepherd was credited as the arranger. After recording that album, the group recorded their first BBC session at thePlayhouse Theatre,Northumberland Avenue,in London, with Bill Bebb as the producer, and they performed three songs. That session is included onBBC Sessions: 1967–1973(2008).After the release ofBee Gees' 1st,the group was first introduced in New York as "the English surprise".At that time, the band made their first British TV appearance onTop of the Pops.Maurice recalled:

Jimmy Savile was on it and that was amazing because we'd seen pictures of him in the Beatles fan club book, so we thought we were really there! That show had Lulu, us, the Move, and the Stones doing 'Let's Spend the Night Together'. You have to remember this was really before the superstar was invented so you were all in it together.

In late 1967, they began recording their second album. On 21 December 1967, in a live broadcast fromLiverpool Anglican Cathedralfor a Christmas television special calledHow On Earth?,they performed their own song, "Thank You For Christmas" which was written especially for the programme, as well as a medley of the traditional Christmas carols "Silent Night","The First Noel"and"Mary's Boy Child"(the latter incorrectly noted as"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"on tape boxes and subsequent release). The songs were all pre-recorded on 1 December 1967 and the group lip-synched their performance. The recordings were eventually released on the" Horizontal "reissue bonus disc in 2008. The folk groupthe Settlersand Radio 1 disc-jockey,Kenny Everett,also performed on the programme, which was presented by the Reverend Edward H. Patey, dean of the cathedral.

January 1968 began with a promotional trip to the US.Los Angeles Policewere on alert in anticipation of a Beatles-type reception, and special security arrangements were being put in place.In February,Horizontalrepeated the success of their first album, featuring the group's first UK No. 1 single "Massachusetts"(a No. 11 US hit) and the No. 7 UK single"World".The sound of the albumHorizontalhad a more "rock" sound than their previous release, although ballads like "And the Sun Will Shine"and"Really and Sincerely"were included. TheHorizontalalbum reached No. 12 in the US and No. 16 in the UK.

With the release ofHorizontal,they also embarked on a Scandinavian tour with concerts inCopenhagen.Around the same time, the Bee Gees turned down an offer to write and perform the soundtrack for the filmWonderwall,according to directorJoe Massot.

On 27 February 1968, the band, backed by the 17-piece Massachusetts String Orchestra, began their first tour of Germany with two concerts atHamburg Musikhalle.In March 1968, the band was supported byProcol Harum(who had a hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale") on their German tour.As Robin's partner Molly Hullis recalls: "Germans were wilder than the fans in England at the heights ofBeatlemania."The tour schedule took them to 11 venues in as many days with 18 concerts played, finishing with a brace of shows at the Stadthalle,Braunschweig.

After that, the group was off toSwitzerland.As Maurice described it:

There were over 5,000 kids at the airport in Zurich. The entire ride to Bern, the kids were waving Union Jacks. When we got to the hotel, the police weren't there to meet us and the kids crushed the car. We were inside and the windows were all getting smashed in, and we were on the floor.

On 17 March, the band performed "Words" onThe Ed Sullivan Show.The other artists who performed on that night's show wereLucille Ball,George HamiltonandFran Jeffries.On 27 March 1968, the band performed at theRoyal Albert Hallin London.

The Bee Gees performing on Dutch televisionTwienin 1968

Two more singles followed in early 1968: the ballad "Words"(No. 8 UK, No. 15 US) and the double A-sided single"Jumbo"backed with"The Singer Sang His Song"."Jumbo "only reached No. 25 in the UK and No. 57 in the US. The Bee Gees felt" The Singer Sang His Song "was the stronger of the two sides, an opinion shared by listeners in theNetherlandswho made it a No. 3 hit.

Further Bee Gees chart singles followed: "I've Gotta Get a Message to You",their second UK No. 1 (No. 8 US), and"I Started a Joke"(No. 6 US), both culled from the band's third albumIdea.Ideareached No. 4 in the UK and was another top 20 album in the US (No. 17).

After the tour and TV special to promote the album, Vince Melouney left the group, desiring to play more of a blues style music than the Gibbs were writing. Melouney did achieve one feat while with the Bee Gees: his "Such a Shame"(fromIdea) is the only song on any Bee Gees album not written by a Gibb brother.

The band were due to begin a seven-week tour of the US on 2 August 1968, but on 27 July, Robin collapsed and fell unconscious. He was admitted to a London nursing home for nervous exhaustion, and the American tour was postponed.The band began recording their sixth album, which resulted in their spending a week recording atAtlantic Studiosin New York. Robin, still feeling poorly, missed the New York sessions, but the rest of the band put away instrumental tracks and demos.

Odessa,Cucumber Castleand break-up

The Bee Gees performing atThe Tom Jones Showin early 1969, one of the last performances with Robin as he left the group later in March

By 1969, Robin began to feel that Stigwood had been favouring Barry as the frontman.

The Bee Gees' performances in early 1969 on theTop of the PopsandThe Tom Jones Show,singing "I Started a Joke" and "First of May" as a medley, were the final appearances of the group with Robin.

Their next album, which was to have been a concept album calledMasterpeace,evolved into the double-albumOdessa.Most rock critics felt this was the best Bee Gees album of the 1960s with its progressive rock feel on thetitle track,the country-flavoured "Marley Purt Drive"and"Give Your Best",and ballads such as"Melody Fair"and"First of May"(the last of which became the only single from the album and a UK # 6 hit). Feeling the flipside,"Lamplight",should have been the A-side, Robin quit the group in mid-1969 and launched a solo career.

The first of many Bee Gees compilations,Best of Bee Gees,was released featuring the non-LP single "Words"plus the Australian hit"Spicks and Specks".The single"Tomorrow Tomorrow"was also released and was a moderate hit in the UK, where it reached No. 23, but it was only No. 54 in the US. The compilation reached the top 10 in both the UK and the US.

While Robin pursued his solo career, Barry, Maurice and Petersen continued as the Bee Gees on their next album,Cucumber Castle.The band made their debut performance without Robin atTalk of the Town.They had recruited their sister, Lesley, to participate in at least one performance at this time as a replacement for Robin.To accompany the album, they also filmed aTV specialwithFrankie Howerdand cameos from several other contemporary pop and rock stars, which aired on the BBC in December 1970. Petersen played drums on the tracks recorded for the album but was fired from the group after filming began (he went on to form theHumpy BongwithJonathan Kelly). His parts were edited out of the final cut of the film andPentangledrummerTerry Coxwas recruited to complete the recording of songs for the album.

After the album was released in early 1970, it seemed that the Bee Gees were finished. The leadoff single, "Don't Forget to Remember",was a big hit in the UK, reaching No. 2, but only reached No. 73 in the US. The next two singles,"I.O.I.O."and"If I Only Had My Mind on Something Else",barely scraped the charts. On 1 December 1969, Barry and Maurice parted ways professionally.

Maurice started to record his first solo album,The Loner,which was not released. Meanwhile, he released the single "Railroad"and starred in the West End musicalSing a Rude Song.In February 1970, Barry recorded a solo album which never saw official release either, although "I'll Kiss Your Memory"was released as a single backed by" This Time "without much interest.Meanwhile, Robin saw chart success in Europe and Australia with his UK No. 2 hit "Saved by the Bell"from the albumRobin's Reign.

1970–1974: Reformation

The Bee Gees performing atThe Midnight Specialin 1973

In mid 1970, according to Barry, "Robin rang me in Spain where I was on holiday [saying] 'let's do it again'". By 21 August 1970, after they had reunited, Barry announced that the Bee Gees "are there and they will never, ever part again". Maurice said, "We just discussed it and re-formed. We want to apologise publicly to Robin for the things that have been said."Earlier, in June 1970, Robin and Maurice recorded a dozen songs before Barry joined and included two songs that were on their reunion album.Around the same time, Barry and Robin were about to publish the bookOn the Other Hand.They also recruited Geoff Bridgford as the group's official drummer. Bridgford had previously worked withthe GrooveandTin Tinand played drums on Maurice's unreleased first solo album.

In 1970,2 Years Onwas released in October in the US and November in the UK. The lead single "Lonely Days"reached No. 3 in the United States, promoted by appearances onThe Johnny Cash Show,Johnny Carson's Tonight Show,The Andy Williams Show,The Dick Cavett ShowandThe Ed Sullivan Show.

Their ninth album,Trafalgar,was released in late 1971. The single "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"was their first to hit No. 1 on the US charts, while"Israel"reached No. 22 in the Netherlands." How Can You Mend a Broken Heart "also brought the Bee Gees their firstGrammy Awardnomination forBest Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.Later that year, the group's songs were included in the soundtrack for the filmMelody.

In 1972, they hit No. 16 in the US with the non-album single "My World",backed by Maurice's composition"On Time".Another 1972 single,"Run to Me"from the LPTo Whom It May Concern,returned them to the UK top 10 for the first time in three years.Bridgford left the group partway through recording, and the band chose not to hire a new member to replace him.The resulting three-piece lineup of Barry, Robin and Maurice would remain unbroken for the remainder of the band's active years. On 24 November 1972, the band headlined the "Woodstock of the West" Festival at theLos Angeles Coliseum(which was a West Coast answer toWoodstockin New York), which also featuredSly and the Family Stone,Stevie Wonderand theEagles.Also in 1972, the group sang "Hey Jude"withWilson Pickett.

By 1973, however, the Bee Gees were in a rut. The albumLife in a Tin Can,released on Robert Stigwood's newly formedRSO Records,and its lead-off single, "Saw a New Morning",sold poorly with the single peaking at No. 94. This was followed by an unreleased album (known asA Kick in the Head Is Worth Eight in the Pants). A second compilation album,Best of Bee Gees, Volume 2,was released in 1973, although it did not repeat the success ofVolume 1.On 6 April 1973 episode ofThe Midnight Specialthey performed "Money (That's What I Want)"withJerry Lee Lewis.Also in 1973, they were invited byChuck Berryto perform two songs with him onstage atThe Midnight Special:"Johnny B. Goode"and "Reelin' and Rockin'".

After a tour of the United States in early 1974 and a Canadian tour later in the year,the group ended up playing small clubs.As Barry joked, "We ended up in, have you ever heard ofBatley's the variety clubin (West Yorkshire) England? ".

On the advice ofAhmet Ertegun,head of their US labelAtlantic Records,Stigwood arranged for the group to record withsoul musicproducerArif Mardin.The resulting LP,Mr. Natural,included fewer ballads and foreshadowed theR&Bdirection of the rest of their career. When it, too, failed to attract much interest, Mardin encouraged them to work within the soul music style. The brothers attempted to assemble a live stage band that could replicate their studio sound. Lead guitaristAlan Kendallhad come on board in 1971 but did not have much to do untilMr. Natural.For that album, they added drummer Dennis Bryon, and they later added ex-Strawbskeyboard player Blue Weaver, completing the Bee Gees band that lasted through the late 1970s. Maurice, who had previously performed on piano, guitar, harpsichord, electric piano, organ,mellotronand bass guitar, as well asmandolinandMoog synthesiser,by then confined himself to bass onstage.

1975–1979: Turning to disco

Main CourseandChildren of the World

Bee Gees' wordmark logo (1975–1981)

AtEric Clapton's suggestion, the brothers moved toMiami, Florida,early in 1975 to record atCriteria Studios.After starting off with ballads, they eventually heeded the urging of Mardin and Stigwood, and crafted more dance-orienteddiscosongs, including their second US No. 1, "Jive Talkin'",along with US No. 7"Nights on Broadway".The band liked the resulting new sound. This time the public agreed by sending the LPMain Courseup the charts. This album included the first Bee Gees songs wherein Barry usedfalsetto,something that became a trademark of the band. This was also the first Bee Gees album to have two US top-10 singles since 1968'sIdea.Main Coursealso became their first charting R&B album.

On the Bee Gees' appearance onThe Midnight Specialin 1975, to promoteMain Course,they sang "To Love Somebody" withHelen Reddy.Around the same time, the Bee Gees recorded three Beatles covers— "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight","She Came in Through the Bathroom Window"with Barry providing lead vocals, and"Sun King"with Maurice providing lead vocals, for the unsuccessful musical/documentaryAll This and World War II.

The next album,Children of the World,released in September 1976, was filled with Barry's new-found falsetto and Weaver's synthesizer disco licks.The first single from the album was "You Should Be Dancing",which features percussion work by musicianStephen Stills.The song pushed the Bee Gees to a level of stardom they had not previously achieved in the US, though their new R&B/disco sound was not as popular with some diehard fans. The pop ballad "Love So Right"reached No. 3 in the US, and"Boogie Child"reached US No. 12 in January 1977.The album peaked at No. 8 in the US.

Saturday Night FeverandSpirits Having Flown

Following a successful live album,Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live,the Bee Gees agreed with Stigwood to participate in the creation of theSaturday Night Feversoundtrack.It was a turning point in their career. The cultural impact of both the film and the soundtrack was significant throughout the world, and epitomized thediscophenomenon on both sides of theAtlantic.

The band's involvement in the film did not begin until post-production. AsJohn Travoltaasserted, "The Bee Gees weren't even involved in the movie in the beginning... I was dancing toStevie WonderandBoz Scaggs."Producer Robert Stigwood commissioned the Bee Gees to create the songs for the film.The brothers wrote the songs "virtually in a single weekend" atChâteau d'Hérouville studioin France.Barry Gibb remembered the reaction when Stigwood and music supervisor Bill Oakes arrived and listened to the demos:

They flipped out and said these will be great. We still had no concept of the movie, except some kind of rough script that they'd brought with them.... You've got to remember, we were fairly dead in the water at that point, 1975, somewhere in that zone—the Bee Gees' sound was basically tired. We needed something new. We hadn't had a hit record in about three years. So we felt, Oh Jeez, that's it. That's our life span, like most groups in the late '60s. So, we had to find something. We didn't know what was going to happen.

Bill Oakes, who supervised the soundtrack, asserts thatSaturday Night Feverdid not begin the disco craze but rather prolonged it: "Disco had run its course. These days,Feveris credited with kicking off the whole disco thing—it really didn't. Truth is, it breathed new life into a genre that was actually dying. "

Three Bee Gees singles— "How Deep Is Your Love"(US No. 1, UK No. 3),"Stayin' Alive"(US No. 1, UK No. 4) and"Night Fever"(US No. 1, UK No. 1)—charted high in many countries around the world, launching the most popular period of the disco era.They also penned the song "If I Can't Have You",which became a US No. 1 hit forYvonne Elliman,while the Bee Gees' own version was the B-side of "Stayin' Alive". Such was the popularity ofSaturday Night Feverthat two different versions of the song "More Than a Woman"received airplay, one by the Bee Gees, which was relegated to an album track, and another byTavares,which was the hit.

During a nine-month period beginning in the Christmas season of 1977,seven songswritten by the brothers held the No. 1 position on the US charts for 27 of 37 consecutive weeks: three of their own releases, two for brotherAndy Gibb,theYvonne Ellimansingle, and "Grease",performed byFrankie Valli.

Fuelled by the film's success, the soundtrack broke multiple industry records, becoming the highest-selling album in recording history to that point. With more than 40 million copies sold,Saturday Night Feveris among music's top five best selling soundtrack albums. As of 2010,it is calculated as thefourth highest-selling albumworldwide.

In March 1978, the Bee Gees held the top two positions on the US charts with "Night Fever" and "Stayin' Alive", the first time this had happened since the Beatles. On the USBillboardHot 100chart for 25 March 1978, five songs written by the Gibbs were in the US top 10 at the same time: "Night Fever", "Stayin' Alive", "If I Can't Have You", "Emotion" and "Love Is Thicker Than Water". Such chart dominance had not been seen since April 1964, when the Beatles had all five of the top five American singles. Barry Gibb became the only songwriter to have four consecutive number-one hits in the US, breaking theJohn LennonandPaul McCartney1964 record. These songs were "Stayin' Alive", "Love Is Thicker Than Water", "Night Fever" and "If I Can't Have You".

The Bee Gees won fiveGrammy AwardsforSaturday Night Feverover two years:Album of the Year,Producer of the Year(with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson), two awards forBest Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals(one in 1978 for "How Deep Is Your Love" and one in 1979 for "Stayin' Alive" ), andBest Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voicesfor "Stayin' Alive".

During this era, Barry and Robin also wrote "Emotion"for an old friend, Australian vocalistSamantha Sang,who made it a top 10 hit, with the Bee Gees singing backing vocals. Barry also wrote the title song to the film version of the Broadway musicalGreaseforFrankie Vallito perform, which went to No. 1.

The Bee Gees also co-starred withPeter Framptonin Robert Stigwood's filmSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band(1978), loosely inspired by the classic 1967 album by the Beatles. The movie had been heavily promoted prior to release and was expected to enjoy great commercial success. However, it was savaged by film critics as a disjointed mess and ignored by the public. The soundtrack charted top five in the U.S., but only top 38 in Britain. The single "Oh! Darling",credited to Robin Gibb, reached No. 15 in the US.

The Bee Gees' follow-up toSaturday Night Feverwas theSpirits Having Flownalbum. It yielded three more hits: "Too Much Heaven"(US No. 1, UK No. 3),"Tragedy"(US No. 1, UK No. 1), and"Love You Inside Out"(US No. 1, UK No. 13).This gave the act six consecutive No. 1 singles in the US within a year and a half, equalling the Beatles and surpassed only byWhitney Houston.

In January 1979, the Bee Gees performed "Too Much Heaven" as their contribution to theMusic for UNICEF Concertat theUnited Nations General Assembly.During the summer of 1979, the Bee Gees embarked on their largest concert tour covering the US and Canada. TheSpirits Having Flown tourcapitalised on Bee Gees fever that was sweeping the nation, with sold-out concerts in 38 cities. The Bee Gees produced a video for the title track "Too Much Heaven",directed by Miami-based filmmaker Martin Pitts and produced by Charles Allen. With this video, Pitts and Allen began a long association with the brothers.

The Bee Gees even had a country hit in 1979 with "Rest Your Love on Me",the flip side of their pop hit" Too Much Heaven ", which made the top 40 on the country charts. It was also a 1981 hit forConway Twitty,topping thecountry musiccharts.

The Bee Gees' success rose and fell with the disco bubble. By the end of 1979, disco was rapidly declining in popularity, and the backlash against disco put the Bee Gees' American career in a tailspin. Encouraged bySteve Dahl'sDisco Demolition Night,radio stations around the US began promoting "Bee Gee-Free Weekends". Following their remarkable run from 1975 to 1979, the act had only one more top 10 single in the US, and that did not come until the single "One"reached number 7 in 1989.

Barry Gibb considered the success of theSaturday Night Feversoundtrack both a blessing and a curse:

Feverwas No. 1 every week... It wasn't just like a hit album. It was No. 1 every single week for 25 weeks. It was just an amazing, crazy, extraordinary time. I remember not being able to answer the phone, and I remember people climbing over my walls. I was quite grateful when it stopped. It was too unreal. In the long run, your life is better if it's not like that on a constant basis. Nice though it was.

1980–1986: Outside projects, band turmoil, solo efforts and decline

Robin co-producedJimmy Ruffin'sSunrisereleased in May 1980, but the songs were started in 1979; the album contains songs written by the Gibb brothers, including the single "Hold On To My Love".

In March 1980, Barry Gibb worked withBarbra Streisandon her albumGuilty.He co-produced, and wrote or co-wrote all nine of the album's tracks (four of them written with Robin, and the title track with both Robin and Maurice). Barry also appeared on the album's cover with Streisand and duetted with her on two tracks. The album reached No. 1 in both the US and the UK, as did the single "Woman in Love"(written by Barry and Robin), becoming Streisand's most successful single and album to date. Both of the Streisand/Gibb duets,"Guilty"and"What Kind of Fool",also reached the US Top 10.

In 1981, the Bee Gees released the albumLiving Eyes,their last full-length album release on RSO. This album was the first CD ever played in public, when it was played to viewers of the BBC showTomorrow's World.With the disco backlash still running strong, the album failed to make the UK or US Top 40—breaking their streak of Top 40 hits, which started in 1975 with "Jive Talkin'".Two singles from the album fared little better—"He's a Liar",which reached No. 30 in the US, and"Living Eyes",which reached No. 45.

In 1982,Dionne Warwickenjoyed a UK No. 2 and USAdult Contemporary No. 1hit with her comeback single, "Heartbreaker",taken from heralbum of the same name,written largely by the Bee Gees and co-produced by Barry Gibb. The album reached No. 3 in the UK and the Top 30 in the US, where it was certified Gold.

A year later,Dolly PartonandKenny Rogersrecorded the Bee Gees-penned track "Islands in the Stream",which became a US and Australian No. 1 hit and entered the Top 10 in the UK. Rogers' 1983 album,Eyes That See in the Dark,was written entirely by the Bee Gees and co-produced by Barry. The album was a Top 10 hit in the US and was certified Double Platinum.

The Bee Gees had greater success with the soundtrack toStaying Alivein 1983, the sequel toSaturday Night Fever.The soundtrack was certified platinum in the US, and included their Top 30 hit "The Woman in You".

Also in 1983, the band was sued by Chicago songwriterRonald Selle,who claimed the brothers stole melodic material from one of his songs, "Let It End", and used it in "How Deep Is Your Love". At first, the Bee Gees lost the case; one juror said that a factor in the jury's decision was the Gibbs' failure to introduce expert testimony rebutting the plaintiff's expert testimony that it was "impossible" for the two songs to have been written independently. However, the verdict was overturned a few months later.

In August 1983, Barry signed a solo deal with MCA Records and spent much of late 1983 and 1984 writing songs for this first solo effort,Now Voyager.Robin released three solo albums in the 1980s,How Old Are You?,Secret AgentandWalls Have Eyes.Maurice released his second single to date, "Hold Her in Your Hand",the first one having been released in 1970.

In 1985,Diana Rossreleased the albumEaten Alive,written by the Bee Gees, with the title track co-written withMichael Jackson(who also performed on the track). The album was again co-produced by Barry Gibb, and the single "Chain Reaction"gave Ross a UK and Australian No. 1 hit.

1987–1999: Comeback, return to popularity and Andy's death

The Bee Gees released the albumE.S.P.in 1987, which sold over 2 million copies.It was their first album in six years, and their first forWarner Bros. Records.The single "You Win Again"went to No. 1 in numerous countries, including the UK,and made the Bee Gees the first group to score a UK No. 1 hit in each of three decades: the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.The single was a disappointment in the US, charting at No. 75, and the Bee Gees voiced their frustration over American radio stations not playing their new European hit single, an omission which the group felt led to poor sales of their current album in the US. The song won the Bee Gees the 1987 British Academy'sIvor Novello AwardforBest Song Musically and Lyrically,and in February 1988 the band received aBrit Awardnomination forBest British Group.

The Bee Gees later got together withEric Claptonto create a group called 'the Bunburys' to raise money for English charities. The group recorded three songs forThe Bunbury Tails:"We're the Bunburys" (which eventually became the opening theme to the 1992 animated seriesThe Bunbury Tails), "Bunbury Afternoon", and "Fight (No Matter How Long)". The last song reached No. 8 on the rock music chart and appeared onThe 1988 Summer Olympics Album.

The Bee Gees' next album,One(1989), featured "Wish You Were Here", a song dedicated to their younger brotherAndy,who had died in 1988 ofmyocarditisresulting from a viral infection. The album also contained their first US Top 10 hit (No. 7) in a decade, "One" (an Adult Contemporary No. 1). After the album's release, the band embarked on its first world tour in 10 years.

In the UK, Polydor issued a single-disc hits collection fromTalescalledThe Very Best of the Bee Gees,which contained their biggest UK hits. The album became one of their best-selling albums in that country, and was eventually certified Triple Platinum.

Following their next album,High Civilization(1991), which contained the UK top five hit "Secret Love",the Bee Gees went on a European tour. After the tour, Barry Gibb began to battle a serious back problem, which required surgery. In addition, he hadarthritiswhich, at one point, was so severe that it was doubtful that he would be able to play guitar for much longer. Also, in the early 1990s, Maurice Gibb finally sought treatment for his alcoholism, which he had battled for many years with the help ofAlcoholics Anonymous.

In 1993, the group returned to the Polydor label and released the albumSize Isn't Everything,which contained the UK top five hit "For Whom the Bell Tolls". Success still eluded them in the US, however, as the first single released, "Paying the Price of Love",only managed to reach No. 74 on theBillboardHot 100,while the parent album stalled at No. 153.

In 1997, they released the albumStill Waters,which has reached No. 2 in the UK (their highest album chart position there since 1979) and No. 11 in the US. The album's first single, "Alone",gave them another UK Top 5 hit and a top 30 hit in the US.Still Waterswas the band's most successful US release of their post-RSO era.

At the1997 BRIT Awardsheld inEarls Court,London on 24 February, the Bee Gees received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.On 14 November 1997, the Bee Gees performed a live concert inLas VegascalledOne Night Only.The show included a performance of "Our Love (Don't Throw It All Away)" synchronised with a vocal by their deceased brother Andy and a guest appearance byCeline Dionsinging "Immortality".The" One Night Only "name grew out of the band's declaration that, due to Barry's health issues, the Las Vegas show was to be the final live performance of their career. After the immensely positive audience response to the Vegas concert, Barry decided to continue despite the pain, and the concert expanded into their last full-blown world tour of" One Night Only "concerts.The tour included playing to 56,000 people at London'sWembley Stadiumon 5 September 1998 and concluded in the newly builtOlympic Stadiumin Sydney, Australia on 27 March 1999 to 72,000 people.During theOne Night Onlytour, the Bee Gees also finally gave live performances ofGrease;though Barry previously wrote the song for the 1978film of the same name,it was performed mainly by Frankie Valli.

In 1998, the group's soundtrack forSaturday Night Feverwas incorporated into astage productionproduced first in the West End and then on Broadway. They wrote three new songs for the adaptation. Also in 1998, the brothers released "Ellan Vannin"forManxcharities, recorded the previous year. Known as the unofficial national anthem of the Isle of Man, the brothers performed the song during their world tour to reflect their pride in the place of their birth.

The Bee Gees closed the century with what turned out to be their last full-sized concert, known asBG2K,on 31 December 1999.

2000–2008:This Is Where I Came In,Maurice's death, and split

In 2001, the group released what turned out to be their final album of new material,This Is Where I Came In.The album was another success, reaching the Top 10 in the UK (being certified Gold), and the Top 20 in the US.The title trackwas also a UK Top 20 hit single.They celebrated their 35th anniversary, and the album, by performing on the television seriesLive by Requeston the American cable television network A&E.

The last concert of the Bee Gees as a trio was at theLove and Hope Ballin 2002.Maurice Gibb died unexpectedly on 12 January 2003, at age 53, from a heart attack while awaiting emergency surgery to repair astrangulated intestine.Initially, his surviving brothers announced that they intended to carry on the name "Bee Gees" in his memory, but as time passed they decided to retire the group's name, leaving it to represent the three brothers together.

The same week that Maurice died, Robin's solo albumMagnetwas released. On 23 February 2003, the Bee Gees received theGrammy Legend Award,they also became the first recipients of that award in the 21st century. Barry and Robin accepted as well as Maurice's son, Adam, in a tearful ceremony.On 2 May 2004, Barry and Robin Gibb received theCBEaward atBuckingham Palace;their nephew Adam accepted his father Maurice's posthumous award.

In late 2004, Robin embarked on a solo tour of Germany, Russia, and Asia. During January 2005, Barry, Robin, and several legendaryrock artistsrecorded "Grief Never Grows Old", the officialtsunami reliefrecord for theDisasters Emergency Committee.Later that year, Barry reunited withBarbra Streisandfor her top-selling albumGuilty Pleasures,released asGuilty Tooin the UK as a sequel album to the previousGuilty.Also in 2004, Barry recorded his song "I Cannot Give You My Love" withCliff Richard,which became a UK top 20 hit single; Maurice's keyboard work from a 2001 demo version was included in this 2003 version.

In February 2006, Barry and Robin reunited on stage for a Miami charity concert to benefit the Diabetes Research Institute. It was their first public performance together since Maurice's death. The pair also played at the 30th annualPrince's TrustConcert in the UK on 20 May 2006.

2009–2012: Return to performing and Robin's death

On 14 March 2009, Barry teamed withOlivia Newton-Johnto present the one-hour finale performance at a star-studded 12-hour live concert at Sydney'sSydney Cricket Ground,part ofSound Relief,a fundraiser to aid victims of the February 2009Victorian Bushfiresthat devastated large tracts of heavily wooded and populated south-eastern Australia, where the Gibb family once lived. The concert was televised live nationally across Australia on theMax TVcable network.On 10 July 2009, Barry and Robin were named as Freemen of the Borough of Douglas (Isle of Man); the award was also bestowed posthumously to Maurice.

In late 2009, Barry and Robin announced plans to record and perform together once again as the Bee Gees.Barry and Robin performed on theBBC'sStrictly Come Dancingon 31 October 2009and appeared onABC-TV'sDancing with the Starson 17 November 2009.On 15 March 2010, Barry and Robin inducted the Swedish groupABBAinto theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.On 26 May 2010, the two made a surprise appearance on the ninth-season finale ofAmerican Idol.

On 20 November 2011, it was announced that Robin Gibb, at 61 years old, had been diagnosed withliver cancer,a condition he had become aware of several months earlier. He had become noticeably thinner in previous months and had to cancel several appearances due to severe abdominal pain.Robin joined British military triothe Soldiersfor the Coming Home charity concert on 13 February 2012 at theLondon Palladium,in support of injured servicemen. It was his first public appearance for almost five months and, as it turned out, his final one.On 14 April 2012, it was reported that Robin had contractedpneumoniain aChelseahospital and was in a coma.Although he came out of his coma on 20 April 2012, his condition deteriorated rapidlyand he died on 20 May 2012 of liver and kidney failure.

2013–present: Looking back at a lifetime of music

In September and October 2013, Barry performed hisfirst solo tour"in honour of his brothers and a lifetime of music".In addition to the Rhino collection,The Studio Albums: 1967–1968,Warner Bros. released a box set in 2014 calledThe Warner Bros Years: 1987–1991that included the studio albumsE.S.P.,OneandHigh Civilizationas well as extended mixes and B-sides. It also included the band's entire 1989 concert inMelbourne,Australia, available only on video asAll for Oneprior to this release.The documentaryThe Joy of the Bee Geeswas aired onBBC Fouron 19 December 2014.

On 23 March 2015, 13STAR Records released a box set1974–1979which included the studio albumsMr. Natural,Main Course,Children of the WorldandSpirits Having Flown.A fifth disc calledThe Miami Yearsincludes all the tracks fromSaturday Night Feveras well as B-sides. No unreleased tracks from the era were included.

After a hiatus from performing, Barry Gibb returned to solo and guest singing performances. He occasionally appears with his son,Steve Gibb.In 2016, he releasedIn the Now,his first solo effort since 1984'sNow Voyager.It was the first release of new Bee Gees-related music since the posthumous release of Robin Gibb's50 St. Catherine's Drive.Also in 2016,Capitol Recordssigned a new distribution deal with Barry and the estates of his brothers for the Bee Gees catalogue, bringing their music back toUniversal.

In late 2020, a documentary titledThe Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heartwas released on HBO Max; it was received with positive reviews and won an Emmy award.A few months later, an as-yet-untitled biopic about the Bee Gees was announced to be in development at Paramount, withKenneth Branaghdirecting and Barry Gibb serving as an executive producer.

Barry Gibb released his third solo studio album,Greenfields,on 8 January 2021. It consisted of re-imagined Bee Gees songs from throughout their career, newly recorded in a primarily acoustic style with vocal contributions from a variety of country musicians includingDolly Parton,Keith UrbanandMiranda Lambert.The album debuted at No. 1 in both the UK and Australia – the latter of which set a record for the oldest artist to top theARIAcharts – while also peaking at No. 15 on the USBillboard 200(and No. 2 on the US Billboard Top Album Sales chart) and being met with favourable reviews.

Influences

The Bee Gees were influenced bythe Beatles,the Everly Brothers,the Mills Brothers,Elvis Presley,the Rolling Stones,Roy Orbison,the Beach BoysandStevie Wonder.On the 2014 documentaryThe Joy of the Bee Gees,Barry said that the Bee Gees were also influenced bythe HolliesandOtis Redding.Maurice noted thatNeil Sedakawas an early influence,and later the group was "very influenced" byLinda Creedsongs forthe Stylistics.

Legacy

In his 1980Playboymagazine interview,John Lennonpraised the Bee Gees, "Try to tell the kids in the seventies who were screaming to the Bee Gees that their music was just the Beatles redone. There is nothing wrong with the Bee Gees. They do a damn good job. There was nothing else going on then."

In a 2007 interview with Duane Hitchings, who co-wroteRod Stewart's 1978 disco song "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?",he noted that the song was

a spoof on guys from the 'cocaine lounge lizards' of theSaturday Night Feverdays. We Rock and Roll guys thought we were dead meat when that movie and the Bee Gees came out. The Bee Gees were brilliant musicians and really nice people. No big egos. Rod, in his brilliance, decided to do a spoof on disco. VERY smart man. There is no such thing as a "dumb" super success in the music business.

Kevin ParkerofTame Impalahas said that listening to the Bee Gees after takingmushroomsinspired him to change the sound of the music he was making on his albumCurrents.

The Englishindie rockbandthe Cribswas also influenced by the Bee Gees. Cribs memberRyan Jarmansaid: "It must have had quite a big influence on us – pop melodies is something we always revert to. I always want to get back to pop melodies and I'm sure that's due to that Bee Gees phase we went through."

Following Robin's death on 20 May 2012,Beyoncéremarked: "The Bee Gees were an early inspiration for me,Kelly RowlandandMichelle.We loved their songwriting and beautiful harmonies. Recording their classic song, 'Emotion' was a special time for Destiny's Child. Sadly we lost Robin Gibb this week. My heart goes out to his brother Barry and the rest of his family. "

SingerJordin Sparksremarked that her favourite Bee Gees songs are "Too Much Heaven", "Emotion" (although performed by Samantha Sang with Barry on the background vocals using his falsetto), and "Stayin' Alive".

Carrie Underwoodsaid, about discovering the Bee Gees during her childhood, "My parents listened to the Bee Gees quite a bit when I was little, so I was definitely exposed to them at an early age. They just had a sound that was all their own, obviously, never duplicated."

Songwriting

Everyone should be aware that the Bee Gees are second only to Lennon and McCartney as the most successful songwriting unit in British popular music.

—Music historianPaul Gambaccini.

At one point, in 1978, the Gibb brothers were responsible for writing and/or performing nine of the songs in theBillboardHot 100.In all, the Gibbs placed 13 singles onto the Hot 100 in 1978, with 12 making the Top 40. The Gibb brothers are fellows of theBritish Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors(BASCA).At least 2,500 artists have recorded their songs.

Singer-songwriterGavin DeGrawspoke about the Bee Gees' influence with their own music as well as their songwriting:

Let's talk about the Bee Gees. That's an iconic group. Not just a great band, but a great group of songwriters. Even long after the Bee Gees' success on the pop charts, they were still writing songs for other people, huge hit songs. Their talent went far beyond their moment of normal pop success. It is a loss to the music industry and a loss of an iconic group. The beauty of this industry is that we do pay tribute and every artist coming up is a fan of a generation prior to it, so there's a real tradition element to it ".

In 2009, as part of theQ150celebrations, the Bee Gees were announced as one of theQ150 Iconsof Queensland for their role as "Influential Artists".

Accolades and achievements

Bee Gees' star on theHollywood Walk of Fame

In 1978, following the success ofSaturday Night Fever,and the single "Night Fever" in particular,Reubin Askew,thegovernorof the US state of Florida, named the Bee Gees honorary citizens of the state, since they resided in Miami at the time.In 1979, the Bee Gees got their star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.They were the subjects ofThis Is Your Lifein 1991 when they were surprised byMichael Aspelwhile being interviewed by disc jockeySteve Wright (DJ)on his Radio 1 programme atBBC Broadcasting House.

The Bee Gees were inducted in 1994 into theSongwriters Hall of Fame,as well as Florida's Artists Hall of Fame in 1995 and the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1997. Also in 1997, the group were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame;the presenter of the award to "Britain's First Family of Harmony"wasBrian Wilson,historical leader ofthe Beach Boys,another "family act" featuring three harmonising brothers.In 2001, they were inducted into theVocal Group Hall of Fame.After Maurice's death, the Bee Gees were also inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2001, They were madeIvor Novellofellows and inducted into London's Walk of Fame in 2006 and the Musically Speaking Hall Of Fame in 2008. On 15 May 2007, the Bee Gees were namedBMI Iconsat the 55th annual BMI Pop Awards. Collectively, Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb have earned 109 BMI Pop, Country and Latin Awards.

In October 1999, the Isle of Man Post Office unveiled a set of six stamps honouring the Bee Gees.

In the 2002New Year's Honours,announced on 31 December 2001, all three brothers were appointed as Commanders of theOrder of the British Empire(CBE). By the time of the investiture ceremony atBuckingham Palaceon 27 May 2004 Maurice had died, and he was represented at the ceremony by his son Adam.On 10 July 2009, the Isle of Man's capital bestowed theFreedom of the Borough of Douglashonour on Barry and Robin, as well as posthumously on Maurice.On 20 November 2009, the Douglas Borough Council released a limited edition commemorative DVD to mark their naming as Freemen of the Borough.

Bee Gees Way in Redcliffe with 2015 statue

On 14 February 2013, Barry Gibb unveiled astatue of the Bee Geesas well as unveiling "Bee Gees Way" (a walkway filled with photos and videos of the Bee Gees) in honour of the Bee Gees inRedcliffe,Queensland, Australia.On 27 June 2018, Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of the Bee Gees, was knighted by Prince Charles after being named on the Queen's New Year's Honours List.Thestatue of the Bee Geesin Douglas, Isle of Man, was installed in 2021.

In 2022, Barry Gibb was made an Honorary Companion of theOrder of Australiawhich is Australia's highest national honour.

In 2023, Barry Gibb became aKennedy Center Honoreefor contributions to American culture and for being a "pop music pioneer",as well as being inducted along with his brothers into the Australian Songwriters Association Hall of Fame.

The Bee Gees have sold over 250 million records worldwide,making them one of the best-selling artists of all time. The group are to date the most successful family and sibling band of all time, the most successful musical trio of all time, and the most successful musical act with ties to Australia.

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
1972	Grammy Awards	Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus	"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"	Nominated
1978		Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group	"How Deep Is Your Love"	Won
		Producer of the Year	Bee Gees	Nominated
1979		Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group	Saturday Night Fever	Won
		Best Arrangement of Voices	"Stayin' Alive"	Won
		Album of the Year	Saturday Night Fever	Won
		Producer of the Year	Bee Gees	Won
		Record of the Year	Stayin' Alive	Nominated
	American Music Awards	Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group	Bee Gees	Won
		Favorite Soul/R&B Album	Saturday Night Fever	Won
1980		Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group	Bee Gees	Won
		Favorite Pop/Rock Album	Spirits Having Flown	Won
1997		International Artist Award	Bee Gees	Won
	BRIT Awards	Outstanding Contribution To Music	Bee Gees	Won
	World Music Awards	Legend Award	Bee Gees	Won
2003	Grammy Awards Special award of merit	Legend Award	Bee Gees	Won
2004		Hall of Fame Award	Saturday Night Fever	Won
2015		Lifetime Achievement Award	Bee Gees	Won

Queensland Music Awards

TheQueensland Music Awards(previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebratingQueensland's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result(wins only)
2009	Bee Gees	Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award	awarded

Members

Principal members

• Barry Gibb– vocals, rhythm guitar (1958–2003, 2006, 2009–2012)
• Robin Gibb– vocals, occasional keyboards (1958–1969, 1970–2003, 2006, 2009–2012; his death)
• Maurice Gibb– bass, guitars, keyboards, vocals (1958–2003; his death)
• Colin Petersen– drums (1967–1969)
• Vince Melouney– guitars (1967–1968); vocals, occasional harmonica (1968)
• Geoff Bridgford – drums (1971–1972;touring 1970–1971)

Touring musicians

• Lesley Gibb – vocals (1969)
• Alan Kendall– lead guitar (1971–1981, 1989–2003)
• Chris Karan– drums (1972)
• Dennis Bryon– drums (1973–1981)
• Geoff Westley – keyboards, piano (1973–1976)
• Blue Weaver– keyboards, synthesizers (1975–1981)
• Joe Lala– percussion (1976, 1979; died 2014)
• Joey Murcia – rhythm guitar (1976, 1979)
• Harold Cowart – bass (1979)
• Tim Cansfield – rhythm and lead guitar (1989, 1997–2001)
• Vic Martin – keyboards, synthesizers (1989)
• Gary Moberly – keyboards, synthesizers (1989)
• George Perry– bass (1989–1993)
• Chester Thompson– drums (1989)
• Mike Murphy– drums (1989; died 2006)
• Trevor Murrell – drums (1991–1992)
• Rudi Dobson – keyboards (1991–1992)
• Scott F. Crago– drums
• Matt Bonelli – bass (1993–2001)
• Steve Rucker – drums (1993–2001)
• Ben Stivers– keyboards (1996–1999)
• Stephen Gibb– rhythm guitar (1997)

Guest musicians (studio and touring)

• Phil Collins– drums
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Glenn Frey– guitar
• Timothy B. Schmit– bass guitar
• Joe Walsh– lead guitar
• Don Felder– lead guitar (1981)
• Jeff Porcaro– drums
• Mike Porcaro– bass guitar
• Steve Porcaro– keyboards
• Steve Lukather– guitar
• David Hungate– bass guitar
• David Paich– keyboards
• Greg Phillinganes– keyboards
• Bobby Kimball– keyboards
• Leland Sklar– bass guitar
• Reb Beach– lead guitar
• Gregg Bissonette– drums
• Ricky Lawson– drums
• Scott F. Crago– drums
• Steve Gadd– drums
• Steve Ferrone– drums
• Steve Jordan– drums
• Nathan East– bass guitar
• Steuart Smith– lead guitar
• Vinnie Colaiuta– drums

Timeline

Timeline of touring members

Discography

For a more comprehensive list, seeBee Gees discographyandList of songs recorded by the Bee Gees.

See also:Robin Gibb discography

SoundtracksSaturday Night Fever(1977) andStaying Alive(1983) are not official Bee Gees albums, but contain some previously unreleased tracks. Apart from live and compilation, all their official albums are included on this list.A Kick in the Head Is Worth Eight in the Pantshas not been included on the list because it appeared only on numerous bootlegs and was not officially released.

Studio albums

• The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs(1965)
• Spicks and Specks(1966)
• Bee Gees' 1st(1967)
• Horizontal(1968)
• Idea(1968)
• Odessa(1969)
• Cucumber Castle(1970)
• 2 Years On(1970)
• Trafalgar(1971)
• To Whom It May Concern(1972)
• Life in a Tin Can(1973)
• Mr. Natural(1974)
• Main Course(1975)
• Children of the World(1976)
• Spirits Having Flown(1979)
• Living Eyes(1981)
• E.S.P.(1987)
• One(1989)
• High Civilization(1991)
• Size Isn't Everything(1993)
• Still Waters(1997)
• This Is Where I Came In(2001)

Concert tours

• The Bee Gees' concerts in 1967 and 1968(1967–1968)
• 2 Years On Tour (1971)
• Trafalgar Tour (1972)
• Mr. Natural Tour (1974)
• Main Course Tour (1975)
• Children of the World Tour (1976)
• Spirits Having Flown Tour(1979)
• One for All World Tour(1989)
• High Civilization World Tour (1991)
• One Night Only World Tour (1997–1999)
• This Is Where I Came In (2001)

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Director
1969	Cucumber Castle	Hugh Gladwish
1978	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	Michael Schultz
1997	Keppel Road	Tony Cash
2010	In Our Own Time	Martyn Atkins
2020	The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart	Frank Marshall

Television shows

Year	Title	Director
1968	Idea	Jean-Christophe Averty
1979	The Bee Gees Special	Louis J. Horvitz
1994	Space Ghost Coast to Coast	C. Martin Croker,Jeff Doud
2001	This Is Where I Came In	David Leaf, John Scheinfield
2001	Live By Request	Lawrence Jordan

Videography

Year	Title	Director
1989	One for All Tour	Adrian Woods, Peter Demetris
1997	One Night Only	Bee Gees

Further reading

• Bilyeu, Melinda; Cook, Hector; Hughes, Andrew Môn (2009) [2003].The Bee Gees: Tales of The Brothers Gibb.Omnibus Press.ISBN978-0-85712-004-5..
• Stanley, Bob.Bee Gees: Children of the World.Nine Eight Books, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Bee GeesatAllMusic
• Bee Geesdiscography atDiscogs
• Bee Geesdiscography atMusicBrainz
• Bee GeesatRolling Stone
• Bee Gees' Vocal Group Hall of Fame webpage
• Bee Gees at bmi
• Robin Gibb sadly passes away after losing his battle with cancer
• Bee Geesinterviewed on thePop Chronicles(1970)