Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of the Bee Gees, has a special love tale with his wife, a former beauty queen. He avoided sharing his siblings’ fate because of his 52-year marriage.
Being religious, he frequently prays for his entire family. After becoming famous, he is aware of what is truly important.
Some of Gibb’s seven grandkids, which number five, are also musicians.
The only living member of the Bee Gees family is Barry Gibb, a member of the popular group. The trio’s primary writers were Gibb and his brothers, Robin and Maurice Gibb, who passed away in 2003 and 2012, respectively.
In the 1970s, their younger sibling Andy Gibb enjoyed success as a solo artist. When Andy passed away at age 30, his heart situation worsened from years of drug abuse. The family’s first experience with sorrow came from his death.
The Bee Gees Robin, Maurice, and Barry Gibb with their brother Andy Gibb and manager Robert Stigwood, in Miami, Florida, March 1978. Barry’s wife Linda is at the front. | Source: Getty Images
A few years after Andy’s passing, their father, who adored him, also passed away. Maurice passed away in 2003 at 53 from a twisted bowel, and Robin passed away from cancer nine years later in 2012 at 62.
The last man remaining is Gibb, the oldest of the brothers. Gibb reflects fondly on his life with his siblings in the early years when they were at the pinnacle of success. He said,
“I still always see the four of us together; it was always brothers battling for attention. I never stop thinking about those days and their characters.”
The lyricist has pleasant memories of Robin’s constant humor and Maurice’s extroverted personality. They automatically started writing songs and harmonizing their voices when they were together.
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Andy Gibb at the Billboard Music Awards in 1977 | Source: Getty Images
It was tough to lose Andy. The three left behind experienced constant unease and a sense that something crucial was lacking. Gibb was distraught after Robin and Maurice died. The music and the memories were all that remained after his friends had departed.
Later that year, the Scottish beauty and the Australian singer married, and they are still together.
Gibb became excessively cautious after the passing of his siblings. He confesses being terrified of commonplace activities like boiling a kettle or driving at high speed because he is obsessed with how frail life is. The performer avoids any activity he considers too risky, such as riding a rollercoaster, as he is also scared of fire.
Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees married Linda Gray on September 1, 1970. | Source: Getty Images
The performer has been married to his wife and former Miss America, Linda Gray, for 52 years. They first spoke at a “Top of the Pops” performance in 1967. While Gray served as the week’s hostess, The Bee Gees performed their popular single “Massachusetts” in attendance. Gibb recalled their first meeting day as follows:
“When we first saw each other, I thought it was love at first sight. I thought then, ‘That is the woman I will spend the rest of my life with.’ It did not matter about show business.”
Gray was also drawn to the tall music sensation, and the two started dating immediately. However, Gibb was still legally married to Maureen when he met the former Miss Edinburgh. But the pop singer claimed that the marriage had ended and had broken up in 1970.
Barry Gibb, Ashley Gibb, Linda Gibb, Therese Gibb, Lucas Gibb, and Alexandra Gibb attend the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel on June 30, 2017, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Later that year, the Scottish beauty and the Australian singer married, and they are still together. They had five children together during their marriage: daughter Alexandra, 31; Stephen, 49; Ashley, 45; Travis, 42, and Michael.
The singer of “Stayin’ Alive” has stated that he believes in himself, his family, and the possibility of existence after this one.
Tough Love
Gibb attributes his ability to resist the impulses that could have killed him to his wife. The Bee Gees had easy access to illegal substances and casual sex due to their international fame. Thanks to their wealth and fame, they could live a lavish, jet-set lifestyle with anything they desired.
Gibb continued by saying he felt “lucky” to have his wife to prevent him from straying. On the other hand, his siblings experienced far more because they didn’t have a partner like Gray to act as a calming force and bring them back to reality. The singer described his wife’s strict affection as follows:
“My brothers had to deal with their demons, but I was married to a lady who wouldn’t 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.”
Later, Maurice’s enjoyment of scotch developed into an obsession, leading to his admission to a treatment facility. While Andy’s cocaine addiction ultimately claimed his life, Robin’s amphetamine addiction hurt him.
Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees performing at the 70th birthday tribute concert for Nelson Mandela, held at Wembley Stadium in London on June 11, 1988, | Source: Getty Images
Gibb’s faith is another dependable factor in his existence right now. The singer of “Stayin’ Alive” has stated that he believes in himself, his family, and the possibility of existence after this one. Without committing to anyone, he attempts to learn about all religions. He also makes fervent prayers for his kids and grandkids.
Harmony is so beautiful, and the world was clamoring for more of their cooperation.
The musician also explained why he had never encountered a man he could fully rely on. Gibb encountered situations where people would put their interests ahead of the good of the entire group while working in the music business with his brothers.
It’s never easy to live and work with others, though. To succeed, collaboration is necessary. In 1969, the siblings of the Bee Gees experienced a period in which they could not agree, and they eventually parted ways. The singer recalled the era by saying:
“There’s fame and ultra-fame, and it can destroy. You lose your perspective, you’re in the eye of a hurricane, and you don’t know you’re there. And you don’t know what tomorrow is; you don’t know if your recording will be a hit. And we were kids, don’t forget.”
Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Barry Gibb circa 1990 | Source: Getty Images
Soon after, the talented brothers got back together when they realized that, rather than being three solo acts, their power lay in being a trio. Harmony is so beautiful, and the world was clamoring for more of their cooperation. Later, they put out tracks like “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.”
Sadly, Gibb would subsequently have various breakdowns in his relationships with Robin and Maurice. Before his brother’s unfortunate surgery, he and Maurice had a strained relationship. And until it was too late, Robin hid that he had cancer from Gibb.
The fans and the remaining brother’s desire to keep releasing music are two ways the Bee Gees’ legacy endures.
But as time has passed, Gibb has the advantage of hindsight and can forget the past and put wrongs behind him. He participated in the Sky Documentaries project “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” a documentary about his life and career.
New Songs
Following Maurice’s passing in 2003, The Bee Gees disbanded. Gibb believed that he and Robin couldn’t continue using that name out of respect for their sibling.
The Bee Gees’ success ended with Robin’s passing, tempting Gibb to take a break from music. He then had a change of heart and thought to himself:
“Live in the moment. Grab every moment because you see what happens.”
The fans and the remaining brother’s desire to keep releasing music are two ways the Bee Gees’ legacy endures. He continued performing on the road through his kids and writing/creating music. Of the five, Steve, Ashley, and Travis are the three oldest and also artists like their father.
Steve, who was reared in Miami but was born in London on December 1, 1973, started playing the piano when he was three years old before switching to the guitar as a teenager. He has played in several hard rock and metal groups, such as 58, Black Label Society, and Crowbar.
The guitarist claimed that as his appetite for addictive drugs increased, he switched from drinking booze to cocaine in his teens.
Travis and Ashley were born on January 10, 1981, and September 8, 1977. The broadcast industry also includes the two newest. Michael, born on December 1st, 1984, is a performer. He was given the moniker Michael Jackson in honor of the late pop icon. Alexandra, a famous Canadian newscaster, was born on December 29, 1991.
On his recovery show “Addiction Talks,” Steve, Gibb’s oldest son, has been transparent about his battle with addiction. He said the following when describing the start of his downhill spiral:
“The first time I drank, I was probably 14, downed an entire Jack Daniels bottle [and] blacked out.”
In his teens, the guitarist switched from drinking alcohol to using cocaine as his appetite for addictive drugs increased. He eventually lost everything due to his habit, including the existence he had worked so hard to achieve.
Steve started digging through the trash for sustenance, which only worsened the situation. He would go to the dumpsters at those places, praying no one would notice him because he knew how much food was wasted at the studios.
He has learned that his family is essential if being a celebrity has taught him anything.
Unfortunately, Steve had made the same mistake as his cousins Andy, Maurice, and Robin. But Steve understood that if he continued down that destructive path, he faced “death, prison, or a mental institution,” so his father’s prayers were granted.
Gibb and his wife, Gray, are pleased with their son’s transformation. He has picked up music again, writing songs and performing guitar with his father. Regarding his prior sorry condition, he said:
“I was living in my van or wherever I could land. If somebody let me crash on a couch, I was fortunate. The thing that was mind-blowing for me was the old saying, from Park Avenue to park bench.”
Gibb’s priority is his family, not the over 200 million records he has sold or the professional accolades and honors he has received. If being a celebrity has taught him anything, family is the most crucial aspect of existence. He and his wife have also been blessed with seven grandkids so far, which gives hope to the next Gibbs generation.
Barry Gibb is determined to stay in the moment for as long as he can, whether over a meal and conversation in a cafe or discovering a shared interest with his kids. The loss of his siblings used to make him feel dread and fear, but now they remind him to be as loving and creative with his family as possible.
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