Barry Gibb: The Last Bee Gee’s Enduring Legacy of Music, Love, and Resilience Amidst Tragedy
The Bee Gees once dominated global charts, redefining pop and disco with timeless anthems that inspired “Night Fever” in millions. Today, only Barry Gibb remains of the musical geniuses behind the legendary group. His life has been a rollercoaster of fairy-tale marriage, incredible musical highs, and devastating personal tragedies.
A Childhood Forged by Fire
Family and brotherhood were central, yet sometimes damaging, themes for Barry and his siblings. Born into a musical background—his father a drummer and band leader—Barry, along with his younger twin brothers Maurice and Robin, and much younger brother Andy (12 years his junior), embarked on a shared musical journey.
Barry’s childhood was marked by frequent moves, making it difficult to plant roots. But even more profoundly, his early life was shaped by a horrific accident at the age of two. While his mother was making tea, Barry climbed up and knocked over a pot of boiling water, scalding himself. He was rushed to the hospital, where, in an era of less advanced medicine, he suffered severe burn damage.
Barry spent two years in hospital, and the experience was so traumatic that he has no conscious memory of that period, only the scars. He recalls “the gangrene set in” due to the limitations of medical care at the time. Despite the memory loss, Barry believes this near-death experience instilled in him a profound appreciation for life and, particularly, an “instinct about music.”
Love, Marriage, and a Lifelong Partnership
Everything happened early for Barry Gibb. He understood life’s fleeting nature from a young age and began navigating the complexities of a band in his teens. At just 19, in 1966, he married Maureen Bates. While his musical career was taking off, his marriage struggled, ending in divorce in 1970.
However, 1970 also brought enduring love. Rewind to 1967, when Barry was in London to tape BBC’s Top of the Pops. It was there he met the lovely Linda Gray, a former Miss Edinburgh, who was hosting that week—the same week “Massachusetts” hit number one. Barry recalled, “We just saw each other across the room and something happened… I asked her if I’d like to go for a cup of tea.” Their early romance even involved a memorable encounter on the set of Doctor Who‘s TARDIS.
Barry felt an instant connection. “When we first saw each other, I thought it was love at first sight. I thought then that that is the woman I am going to spend the rest of my life with.” He was right. They married in 1970, on Barry’s birthday, September 1st. More than five decades later, they are still going strong, celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2020. Barry credits Linda with keeping him grounded, especially during the band’s tumultuous periods: “My brothers had to deal with their demons, but I was married to a lady who wasn’t going to have it. I could bring drugs into the house but they would end up down the toilet. She never allowed me to go in that direction.”
The Bittersweet Harmony of Brotherhood and Fame
The Bee Gees’ story is deeply intertwined with intense sibling rivalry. Sound engineer John Merchant once called the brothers “world champions of sniping at each other,” but noted it was often part of their creative process. As Barry himself put it, “We became famous and that became a real powerful element in our lives. It became a competition… because success creates that and you’re not the same anymore.”
Barry was often the focal point of attention, a dynamic exacerbated by their manager, Robert Stigwood, which ultimately led Robin to briefly leave the group. Barry reminisces about the pre-fame days as “the best times of our lives,” remembering “lots of intense arguments, not speaking to each other for weeks and then coming back together again.” He always insisted their brotherly bond remained, even amidst the conflicts.
The band faced brutal battles with addiction. In 2003, Barry tried to confront Maurice about his struggles, but a few days later, Maurice unexpectedly died—a crushing loss. Heartbreakingly, Robin later died in 2012 from cancer, a diagnosis he kept from Barry until very late. Being kept in the dark left Barry heartbroken and confused. At Robin’s funeral, Barry delivered a eulogy, acknowledging that Robin and Maurice didn’t always get the same spotlight he did. He offered poignant advice to all: “If there is conflict in your lives, get rid of it today.”
A Legacy That Will Last
Today, Barry Gibb speaks of his losses with a level tone, yet marvels at being the last remaining Bee Gee. He collaborated with legends like Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and Celine Dion, writing iconic songs for them such as “Heartbreaker,” “Woman in Love,” “Immortality,” and “Islands in the Stream.” The Bee Gees’ sound, driven by Barry, is inescapable, still getting feet tapping and heads bobbing decades later.
Reflecting on his journey, Barry believes that “if you don’t have failure, you can’t have success because every time you fail you learn something.” His mission now is clear: “to keep the music alive regardless of us, regardless of me. One day like my brothers I will no longer be around and I want the music to last so I’m going to play it no matter what.”
Barry Gibb has endured extraordinary personal trials, but his dedication to music and his brothers’ legacy remains unwavering. His story is a powerful testament to resilience, the enduring power of song, and a love that transcends even the deepest heartaches. The Bee Gees’ music, born from a unique brotherhood, continues to resonate, ensuring their harmony will last forever.