RIP

Robin Gibb, Bee Gees Co-Founder, Dead at 62
Singer had been battling cancer for years

May 20, 2012 6:35 PM ET

Robin Gibb, one-third of the Bee Gees, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer, his spokesperson has confirmed via a statement. Gibb was 62 years old.

"The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery," reads the statement. "The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time."

Two years ago, Gibb battled colon and liver cancer, but despite making what he called a "spectacular recovery," a secondary tumor recently developed, complicated by a case of pneumonia.

Gibb was born in Manchester, England, in 1949, along with twin brother Maurice. (Maurice died in 2003 of complications from a twisted intestine; eerily, Robin had surgery for the same medical issue in 2010.) Along with their older brother Barry, the brothers began harmonizing as a trio in Australia, where the family moved in 1958. Although the Bee Gees had some success in Australia – they hosted a weekly variety show there – they didn't truly arrive until they returned to England and signed with manager Robert Stigwood. Robin's quivering, vulnerable voice was featured prominently on several of the group's earliest and most Beatles-eque hits, including "New York Mining Disaster 1941," "I Started a Joke," "Massachusetts," and "I've Gotta Get a Message to You."

Although he looked and sounded like the meekest Bee Gee, Robin grew into the family rebel. By 1969, he and Barry were feuding over whose song should be singles, and Robin, then 20, was declared a "ward of the state" by their father when his drinking and partying seemed to take over his life. "It happened so fast that we lost communication between us," Gibb later recalled. "It was just madness, really."

But it also Robin who, in 1971, made the first call to Barry to reunite with his brothers. Robin's solo career had stalled, and Barry and Maurice's attempts to continue as the Bee Gees as a duo had floundered as well. "If we hadn't been related, we would probably have never gotten back together," Robin said at the time. Robin's voice was heard, beautifully, on the chorus of their minor 1972 hit "Run to Me."

The Bee Gees' massive second wind arrived with their proto disco hit, "Jive Talkin'," in 1975; two years later, their contributions to Saturday Night Fever made them bigger stars than ever. Most of the hits from that era featured Barry's falsetto voice, but the brothers' vocal blend remained an indelible apart of their sound.

The group entered another fallow period during the early Eighties, although during this time, Robin produced a semi-hit album by Jimmy Ruffin, brother of the Temptations' David Ruffin. The last Bee Gees album, This Is Where I Came In, was released in 2001. Two years later, Maurice died, and with his passing the Bee Gees ended. (Their other, younger brother Andy died in 1988.)

Robin and Barry reunited periodically – in 2010, they made an appearance on American Idol and inducted ABBA into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – and talked about a duo tour, but nothing materialized. Robin, though, kept his hand in music. With his son Robin-John, he wrote an ambitious piece, The Titanic Requiem, a mix of orchestral and vocal pieces telling the story of the doomed liner on the 100th anniversary of its sinking. "It's a serious subject and it's not a rock opera," Gibb said before its debut. "There are no backbeats. This could have been written 300 years ago."

Featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the work had its world premiere in London on April 10th. But in a sign that Gibb's health had taken a turn for the worse, he wasn't able to attend. Ironically, next week's episode of Glee will include covers of Bee Gees songs from Saturday Night Fever.

Read more: [www.rollingstone.com]

It's really sad to hear about Robin Gibb passing away a great singer RIP

Very sad. I think about Barry Gibb who has seen all three of his brothers pass away.

[www.bbc.co.uk]

[ I want to shout, but I can't hardly speak ]

I only found out about this a few moments ago unfortunately it was from a link that Pete Jones drummer with Crowded House also passed away.
Another sad day in the Rock & Roll world that we love so much.
RIP Robin Gibb
RIP Pete Jones

Quote
Palace Revolution 2000
Very sad. I think about Barry Gibb who has seen all three of his brothers pass away.

Me too, Palace Revolution...makes me very sad this passing, and hope Barry Gibb is somehow hanging in there.

-swiss

RIP
Soundtrack of an era.

That's really sad............one of the first bands in the sixties I loved R.I.P. Robin

Oh dear - how sad. Life is short.

RIP Robin Gibb.

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It's just that demon life that's got you in its sway

Sad day of robin gibb passing away one the best songwriters peace be with him.
Thanks for all the good music you gave us,GOD BLESS YOU.

R.I.P. great artist

Re: RIP Pete Jones (Crowded House)

Doubly sad in that Crowded House tragically lost their drummer Paul Hester in 2005

Truly sad news. Practically the same age as Donna Summer. RIP both.

Very sad. A singular voice. They made some great records.

A very unique voice, having met him, I can say he was truly the most fan friendly of the 3 brothers.

I'm very sad, RIP Robin.
This is happening far too often lately with people far too young.

very sad for Barry who is alone now.

on wikipedia :
"In October 2010, Robin Gibb was interviewed by the Daily Mail, and confirmed that the story of the Bee Gees is to be made into a Hollywood movie by Steven Spielberg."

The list of deaths by cancer is so huge
2 years ago it was Ronnie James Dio.
You can be rich and famous and die at 62.
Rip

"we know it's a bit late but we hope you don't mind if we stay"

The Bee Gees were great from the 60's onwards in my memory.A sad loss to the world.R.I.P. Robin

The Bee Gees made a fair number of records that are up there with the all time greats.

Superb pop that defined an era, and music that still stands up today.

A lot of my nightclubbing youth was against a Bee Gees backdrop.

RIP Robin.

A great songwriter who covered many different styles. As hitmakers the Bee Gees were second only to The Beatles. RIP Robin. Your distinctive voice will be missed.

A legend is gone, Rip Robin.

Saw him with the Bee Gees in a very good concert in 1989. Also in a solo show in 2004, which was unfortunatly not so special.

Thanx for the music!!

RIP Robin Gibb + RIP Maurice Gibb

sad news! I like their 1967-1975-era. Great Music. RIP Robin Gibb

Anyone who ever wrote the Bee Gees off as a trite pop should listen to Odessa, their masterpiece.

Masterpiece indeed............one of the greatest double album ever made





Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-21 18:59 by NICOS.

May he forever R.I.P. A greatly talented singer and group. Actually did prefer the pre-disco, 1960s songs the best!

A truly talented artist gone, may God bless you Robin and your family.

Never really a fan of the Bee Gees but always respected their music and hoped the two remaining brothers did something together but now it is not to be.