Introduction:
At 79 years old, Barry Gibb has chosen to share a deeply personal truth about one of his greatest musical inspirations: Roy Orbison. For decades, Gibb has been known as the creative force behind the Bee Gees, shaping pop music with his falsetto voice and timeless songwriting. But behind his own legacy lies the shadow of an artist whose haunting voice and raw emotion forever influenced him — Roy Orbison.
Born on September 1, 1946, on the Isle of Man, Barry Gibb grew up surrounded by music. Alongside his younger brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed the Bee Gees, a group that would later redefine the sound of multiple generations. From *Massachusetts* and *To Love Somebody* in the 1960s to disco anthems like *Stayin’ Alive* and *Night Fever* in the 1970s, Barry’s talent as a songwriter and vocalist became undeniable. By the time the *Saturday Night Fever* soundtrack transformed them into global icons, Gibb’s place in music history was secure.
Yet even at the height of his fame, Barry often looked back to those early inspirations that shaped him. Among them, Roy Orbison stood tallest. “Roy had one of the most extraordinary voices I have ever heard in my life,” Barry revealed. “It wasn’t just singing — it was like he was pulling something straight out of the heavens. Nobody else could do what Roy did.”
Orbison’s hits like *Crying*, *Only the Lonely*, and *Oh, Pretty Woman* struck a chord with the young Gibb brothers. While Elvis Presley sparked their initial dreams, it was Orbison who taught them the depth of what music could truly express. “Roy’s songs weren’t just catchy. They were heartbreaking. He sang about loneliness in a way that made you feel like it was your own story,” Barry explained.
When Barry finally met Orbison in person, the experience left an unforgettable mark. Offstage, Roy was quiet and humble. But the moment he stepped up to the microphone, he transformed into a giant of music. “That contrast always amazed me,” Barry recalled. “There was no ego, no pretense. Roy let the music speak — and that made him more powerful than anyone.”
Like the Bee Gees, Orbison also experienced the highs and lows of fame. After dominating the charts in the early 1960s, he endured personal tragedies and a decline in commercial success. But his late-1980s resurgence with the Traveling Wilburys — alongside Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and George Harrison — proved his timelessness. “Seeing Roy make that comeback was incredible,” Barry said. “His voice hadn’t aged, his artistry never faded. If anything, he was more powerful than ever.”
Tragically, Orbison’s comeback was cut short. He died suddenly in 1988 at just 52 years old. “I was devastated,” Barry admitted. “The world lost one of its greatest treasures. But I felt grateful, too — that I had lived in a time when I could hear him sing live, when I could meet him, when I could call him a friend.”
Today, Gibb reflects on Orbison’s legacy not just as a fan, but as an artist shaped by his example. “Every time I walk into a studio, there’s a part of me that asks, ‘Would Roy approve of this?’ Because Roy never faked anything. That’s the standard he left us.”
For Barry Gibb, who has survived the loss of his brothers Maurice and Robin and now carries the Bee Gees’ legacy alone, Orbison’s influence remains a guiding light. “Roy wasn’t just a singer,” Barry said. “He was an emotion, a spirit, something bigger than all of us. He taught me that music isn’t about showing off. It’s about truth.”
After more than six decades in music, Barry’s tribute to Roy Orbison stands as both confession and celebration — a meeting point between two legacies. One belongs to the man in the dark glasses whose voice defined heartache, and the other to the last Gibb brother, who still carries forward the torch of honesty, melody, and memory.