Introduction:
For decades, the unmistakable harmonies, shimmering melodies, and iconic stage presence of the Bee Gees defined entire eras of pop music. Across the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb sold more than 220 million records and created one of the most successful catalogs in music history.
Today, Barry Gibb remains the last surviving member of the legendary trio. As a tribute to his late brothers, he has returned to the studio—this time with an all-star lineup—to breathe new life into the Bee Gees’ classics. His latest project reimagines their biggest hits with collaborators such as Dolly Parton, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, and the late Olivia Newton-John.
Revisiting the Bee Gees Songbook
Speaking about the new album, Gibb says the selection process was surprisingly hands-off.
“I didn’t choose who would sing what,” he explains. “I put together a list of the songs I’ve always loved, and the artists chose what resonated with them. That’s how it all came together.”
One standout moment is his reunion with Dolly Parton on “Words.” Their history goes back decades—Barry wrote the global hit “Islands in the Stream,” the 1983 smash Parton recorded with Kenny Rogers.
“Working with Dolly is always the same,” he says with a smile. “She’s kind, she’s warm, she’s full of life. When she walks into a room, suddenly it’s her room.”
From Redcliffe Beaches to Worldwide Fame
The Gibb brothers’ unlikely journey began in the late 1950s, when their family emigrated from the Isle of Man to Queensland, Australia, as “Ten Pound Poms.” Australia gave them their first television exposure and their first taste of fame.
“We were kids with too much freedom,” Barry recalls. “We spent our days on the beach and our nights getting into mischief. It was a different world then.”
Eventually, their talent pulled them to the United States, where they settled in Miami and found themselves swept up in the disco movement. There, Barry discovered the falsetto that would become a Bee Gees trademark.
The “Staying Alive” Era
Few moments in pop culture are as instantly recognizable as the Bee Gees’ music from Saturday Night Fever. Barry laughs when asked about the famously tight white pants from the era.
“I remember how difficult they were to get on—and even harder to get off,” he jokes. “Let’s just say those days are long gone.”
The success of Saturday Night Fever brought the brothers into a rare stratosphere of fame.
“It felt like being in the eye of a storm,” Barry reflects. “We didn’t know what was happening around us. We just kept writing songs. We were always surprised by the success and always disappointed by the failures. That’s the life of a group… and being brothers didn’t make it any easier. But it kept us together longer.”
A Lasting Love Beyond the Spotlight
Despite global fame, Barry considers his greatest achievement not musical but personal: his 50-year marriage to his wife, Linda, whom he met backstage at Top of the Pops.
“The secret is keeping show business out of the house,” he says. “At home, we’re just a family. No egos, no stardom. A couple of gold records on the wall maybe, but nothing more.”
Honoring His Brothers’ Legacy
When asked what Robin and Maurice would think of the new project, Barry grows thoughtful.
“I think they’d love it,” he says quietly. “That’s the mission now—to keep the music alive. There are many more songs yet to come.”
With additional volumes of The Gibb Brothers Songbook already in the works, Barry Gibb continues to celebrate a legacy built on harmony, devotion, and the unbreakable bond of family.