Introduction:
When the Bee Gees Faced Their Past on Live TV: The 1983 Interview That Left Barry, Robin, and Maurice in Tears of Laughter
In 1983, the Bee Gees — Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb — appeared on The Late, Late Breakfast Show with British host Noel Edmonds, expecting a lighthearted chat and perhaps a few questions about their music. What they didn’t expect was to be confronted with one of the most nostalgic — and hilariously embarrassing — moments of their early career.
The trio, who by then were global superstars thanks to hits like Stayin’ Alive and How Deep Is Your Love, had just performed a playful a cappella version of the 1950 pop tune Lollipop. After the performance, they settled onto the studio sofa for an interview — only for Edmonds to reveal a surprise from deep within the archives.
With a mischievous smile, the host teased, “You see, we found this little piece of old film from Australian television…” The Bee Gees instantly groaned and laughed nervously. Moments later, the black-and-white footage appeared on the screen — showing a young Barry, age 13, and his 10-year-old twin brothers, Robin and Maurice, performing on an Australian variety show in 1960.
As the video rolled, the audience erupted in laughter. Barry hid his face in his hands, Robin shook his head in disbelief, and Maurice wiped away tears of laughter. The clip featured the trio performing an original song written by Barry titled Time Is Passing By — their first-ever television appearance.
“Oh no!” Maurice exclaimed as the footage played, prompting Edmonds to chuckle, “You see, no one is safe here!” When it ended, Robin quipped, “We were rehearsing the show today and nobody told us about that!”
That old video came from Desmond and the Channel 9 Pins, filmed shortly after the Gibb family emigrated from the UK to Australia in the late 1950s. Before their rise to fame, the brothers performed locally under names like The Rattlesnakes and Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats, honing their harmonies in small clubs and talent contests.
Just a few years later, their early passion would pay off. By 1965, the group had released their debut album The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs, marking the beginning of one of music’s most enduring legacies.
The 1983 TV moment remains one of the most beloved glimpses of the Bee Gees’ humor and humility — a reminder that even global icons once started as wide-eyed kids with big dreams and simple songs.
Barry later reflected on those early days with his brothers, saying, “We all had the same dream. That’s what I miss more than anything else.”