Robin Gibb
| Robin Gibb | |
|---|---|
 Robin in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 2008 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robin Hugh Gibb |
| Born | 22 December 1949 Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Origin | Raised in: Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, England Moved to: Brisbane, Australia |
| Genres | Pop, rock, soft rock, adult contemporary, blue-eyed soul, disco, funk |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, violin, guitar |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Labels | Polydor, RSO, Mirage |
| Associated acts | Bee Gees |
| Website | Official website |
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE (born 22 December 1949) is a singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice and elder brother Barry.
Born in the Isle of Man to English parents, the trio started their musical career in Australia, and found major success when they returned to England. With record sales estimated in excess of 100 million, the Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop groups of all time.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Origins
Born to Barbara (née Pass) and Hugh Gibb on the Isle of Man, Robin was the twin brother of Maurice Gibb, and was the older of the twins by 35 minutes. The third-born of five children, he has one older sister, Lesley (born 1945), and three brothers, Barry (born 1946), twin Maurice (1949-2003), and Andy (1958-1988). In the 1950s, the family moved to Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester, England, then, in late 1958, he and his family moved to Brisbane, Australia, settling in one of the city's poorest suburbs, Cribb Island, which was subsequently demolished to make way for Brisbane Airport. Their music careers began in Australia, and flourished when they returned to England in 1967.
[edit] Solo career
Traditionally, Robin's role in the group has been that of lead singer, for which he vied constantly with his elder brother Barry Gibb during the group's first period of British success in the late 1960s. This eventually resulted in Robin leaving the group to begin a solo career after his song "Lamplight" was relegated to the 'B' side of Barry's "First of May". Meanwhile, there were rumours of drug problems, and his parents threatened to have him made a ward of court (the UK age of majority at that time being 21, and Robin then only 19).
Although initially successful, with a number 2 UK hit, "Saved by the Bell" (which sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc)[2] his album, Robin's Reign, was less successful and he found that being a solo artist was less than satisfying. His brother Maurice Gibb played bass on the song "Mother and Jack", but was subsequently removed from the project by Robert Stigwood. Despite having almost completed a second solo album, Sing Slowly Sisters, Robin reunited with his brothers, who had disbanded the Bee Gees in search of their own solo careers. They came back on a high note, reaching No.3 on the US charts with the song "Lonely Days" in 1970. The following year, they had their first US No.1 hit, "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart", but then their success started to ebb. After they started working with producer Arif Mardin in 1974 and reinvented themselves with "Blue-Eyed Soul," the Bee Gees went on to their second period of phenomenal success in the disco-era late 1970s.[3]
He also made an appearance on the Sesame Street Fever album, singing on the title track, then doing a song for Oscar the Grouch called "Trash", along with speaking on at least one other song.
While continuing in the group, Robin also promoted his solo career, and during the 1980s he released three further solo albums (How Old Are You, Secret Agent, and Walls Have Eyes) which were more successful in Continental Europe than in the UK or US. However, his 1984 single "Boys Do Fall in Love" reached the Billboard top 40. Several extended versions of dance songs were recorded, including ones for "Boys Do Fall in Love", "Secret Agent", "Like a Fool" and the rarest, "You Don't Say Us Anymore"; many only released to DJ's.
In the same week as his twin brother Maurice's sudden death, Robin's next solo album, Magnet, was released in Germany on 27 January 2003 (Label: SPV), and worldwide shortly afterwards. It features the Bee Gees song "Wish You Were Here" (from the 1989 album One) in a new acoustic version. The lead single, "Please", has coincidental lyrics about "loss". With Maurice's death, his two surviving brothers, Robin and Barry, disbanded the Bee Gees for a time; however, it was announced in late 2009 that Barry and Robin would reform and perform as the Bee Gees again.
Robin has recently sung the vocals to the opening titles to The Dame Edna Treatment.
On 18 May 2008, Robin released the song "Alan Freeman Days" in tribute to the Australian DJ Alan Freeman. The song was mainly issued as a download only track although a promotional CD was issued by Academy Recordings. In December of the same year the song was followed by another downloadable song entitled "Wing and a Prayer" which although it shares the same name as a song the Bee Gees issued on their 1989 One album is actually a reworking of the song, "Sing Slowly Sisters", that had remained unreleased since 1970.[4] A week later Robin issued another song as a download, "Ellan Vannin (Home Coming Mix)", featuring the King Williams College Choir from the Isle of Man.[5]
A new solo album entitled 50 St. Catherine's Drive, originally scheduled for release in 2008, remains unreleased. In August 2009 a 50 second clip of "Instant Love" from said album appeared as a preview. The song itself is a collaboration with his son Robin-John and a second version featuring Robin-John on vocals appeared in a short film called Bloodtype: The Search in which Robin-John appeared.[6]
Robin and his son, Robin-John, are currently writing the score for The Titanic Requiem to be recorded by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.[7]
Robin was a guest mentor on The Australian version of the The X Factor, alongside judges, Radio DJ Kyle Sandilands and Natalie Imbruglia, Ronan Keating and Guy Sebastian.
[edit] Collaborations
In August 2003, Robin announced that he would be releasing a new single of "My Lover's Prayer", a song first recorded by the Bee Gees in 1997, with vocals by Robin, Wanya Morris, and Lance Bass. This was played on radio, but was never actually released. In October 2003 another version was recorded as a duet with Alistair Griffin, runner-up in the UK television program Fame Academy, on which Robin had appeared as a judge. My Lover's Prayer, was eventually released in the UK in January 2004 as a double A side CD single, and reached number 5 in the UK charts.
In January 2005 Robin joined his brother Barry and several other artists under the collective name of One World Project, to record a charity single in aid of Asian tsunami relief, titled "Grief Never Grows Old". Other artists who performed on the single included Boy George, Steve Winwood, Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Sir Cliff Richard, Bill Wyman, America, Kenny Jones, Chicago, Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys), Russell Watson and Davy Spillane.
In June 2005 Gibb joined X Factor runners up G4 at a sell-out concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, singing the Bee Gees song "First of May". A recording of this performance was released in December 2005 as part of a double A side single, credited as "G4 feat Robin Gibb" together with G4's own cover of Johnny Mathis' "When a Child is Born". This track was also included on the platinum selling album G4 & Friends which reached number 6 in the UK album charts.
In November 2006, Robin released an album of Christmas carols called Robin Gibb – My Favourite Carols, backed by London choir The Serlo Consort. The album also features a brand new song written by Robin called "Mother of Love", which was released in Europe as a download single. The song was inspired by Maurice Gibb, and is the first new Robin Gibb composition to be published since his twin brother died in January 2003. Royalties of Mother of Love will be donated to the "Janki Foundation for Global Healthcare", and Robin dedicated the song to Dadi Janki, the organisation's spiritual leader. It is also dedicated to Robin's own mother, Barbara Gibb. The album also has a bonus DVD titled A Personal Christmas Moment with Robin Gibb.
Gibb went back to the top of the UK charts in 2009 when he collaborated with Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon, and Tom Jones on a new version of "Islands in the Stream", which was written by Gibb and his brothers Barry and Maurice. The new version, inspired by the BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey, was for the charity Comic Relief.[8]
[edit] Concerts
In late 2004, Robin embarked on a solo tour of Germany, Russia and Asia, with Alistair Griffin as the opening act. On his return he released a CD and DVD of live recordings from the German leg of the tour, backed by the Frankfurt Neue Philharmonic Orchestra. A further solo tour of Latin America followed in 2005.
In February 2006, Robin joined his brother Barry live on stage at a charity concert in Hollywood, Florida This was the first time they had performed together since the death of their brother Maurice in 2003.
In March 2006 he announced plans for more solo concerts in Shanghai and Portugal. In May 2006, Robin took part in the Prince's Trust 30th Birthday Concert at the Tower of London along with his brother Barry. They sang 3 songs: "Jive Talkin'", "To Love Somebody" and "You Should Be Dancing". In September 2006, Robin Gibb performed "Stayin' Alive" at the Miss World 2006 contest finals in Poland. In November 2006, Robin performed a solo concert, entitled "Bee Gees – Greatest Hits", at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, the Philippines.
Robin Gibb marked his return to his birthplace by playing a concert at the Isle of Man TT festival in 2007. The Peel Bay TT Festival – 12 February 2007. Robin donated all of his share of the money from this gig to the children's ward at Noble's Hospital, Isle of Man and invited all emergency service staff and marshals for the TT to attend for free.
On 8 September 2007, Robin performed a concert in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Energy Arena for the NuSkin Convention singing a set of Bee Gees hits.
On 25 October 2007, Robin Gibb performed a concert in Sofia, Bulgaria and sang the Bee Gees most famous songs.
On 25 October 2008, to mark the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Fever topping the UK charts, Robin Gibb performed with special guests including Ronan Keating, Stephen Gateley, Sam Sparro, Sharleen Spiteri, Gabriella Cilmi and Bryn Christopher for the BBC Electric Proms.
[edit] Personal life
In 1968 Gibb married Molly Hullis, a secretary in Robert Stigwood's organisation. The couple had survived the Hither Green rail crash, which killed 49 people on 5 November 1967.[9] They had two children together, Spencer and Melissa, but they eventually divorced in 1980 after years of living separate lives, with Robin almost permanently in the US and Molly remaining in the UK.
Gibb's second wife, Dwina Murphy Gibb, is an author and an artist. She is interested in druidry and is a follower of the Brahma Kumaris. The couple have a son, Robin-John. Robin and Dwina divide their time among the Isle of Man, Miami, and Thame in Oxfordshire.[10] Gibb is "an ardent vegan and teetotaller".[11]
Gibb is a supporter of the Labour Party, and launched a rally in Huddersfield ahead of the 2005 General Election.[12] He is a close friend of the former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was criticised for staying at Gibb's Miami mansion over Christmas 2006.[13]
[edit] Health problems
On 14 August 2010 while performing in Belgium, Gibb began to feel stomach pains. On 18 August, he was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery for a blocked intestine, the same condition that killed his twin brother Maurice in 2003.[14] Gibb recovered and returned to perform concerts in New Zealand and Australia. During this time he was also involved in the memorial dedicated to RAF Bomber Command as well as writing The Titanic Requiem with his son Robin-John, to be recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra ahead of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic in 2012. Gibb continued to make television appearances and other events following his surgery, but in April, 2011 he was forced by health problems to cancel his tour of Brazil.[14] In September, 2011, Gibb recorded the Bee Gees classic "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" with British Army men The Soldiers for a charity single in the UK. Another concert in Paris was cancelled in October 2011, and Gibb was due to perform the charity single with The Soldiers on 14 October, but was unable to perform as he was again rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pains.[15] Following his release from hospital on 18 October, Gibb appeared on ITV's The Alan Titchmarsh Show in the UK looking gaunt and frail.[16]
On 27 October 2011, Gibb cancelled an appearance only minutes before he was due to perform at a charity event.[17] Later the same week however, Gibb was seen in London and quoted as saying he felt "absolutely great".[18]
On 20 November 2011, it was revealed that Gibb has been battling liver cancer which had been diagnosed several months earlier. A source close to the singer stated that his condition was "not good" and his wife, Dwina, had not left his bedside. His brother Barry and his wife Linda, as well as their mother Barbara and Robin's children, Melissa and Spencer, flew to the UK to be with him.[19]
In an interview published in The Mail on Sunday on 22 January 2012, Gibb spoke for the first time of the cancer. "For more than 18 months, I had lived with an inflammation of the colon; then I was diagnosed with colon cancer, which spread to the liver. I have undergone chemotherapy, however, and the results – to quote my doctor – have been ‘spectacular’. It’s taken a toll, naturally, but the strange thing is that I’ve never felt seriously ill. I’ve mostly felt great. There have been many false claims around, which I’d like to dispel. I am not and have never been ‘at death’s door’. Nor do I have a team of alternative doctors working on my health. That’s not true, although I’m not averse to healthy remedies for any illness. I feel they can go together with conventional medicine. I do eat health foods and drink herbal teas made for me by Dwina, my wife and RJ’s mother. Other than that, I am under the care of Dr Peter Harper at The London Clinic".[20] On 4 March 2012 it was announced that Robin is in remission from cancer. [21]
[edit] Awards
In 1994, Robin Gibb was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 1997 the Bee Gees were inducted as a group into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Robin was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2002 New Year Honours, along with his brothers Maurice and Barry. The official presentation ceremony at Buckingham Palace was delayed until 2004 owing to Maurice's death. In 2005, Gibb received the Steiger Award (Germany) for accomplishments in the arts.
Robin and Barry Gibb both received Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Music from The University of Manchester in May 2004.
On 10 July 2009, both Robin and Barry were made Freemen of the Borough of Douglas. The award was also bestowed posthumously on Maurice, therefore confirming the freedom of the town of their birth to all three brothers.
[edit] Discography
Gibb's entire song catalogue is published by Universal Music Publishing.
[edit] Albums
| Year | Title | United Kingdom |
Germany | United States |
Switzerland | Canada | New Zealand |
Italy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Robin's Reign | – | No.19 | – | – | No.77 | – | – |
| 1983 | How Old Are You? | – | No.6 | – | No.26 | – | No.22 | No.13 |
| 1984 | Secret Agent | – | No.31 | No.97 | No.20 | – | – | – |
| 1985 | Walls Have Eyes | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2002 | Magnet | No.43 | No.10 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2006 | My Favourite Christmas Carols | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | United Kingdom |
Germany | United States |
Austria | Switzerland | South Africa |
New Zealand |
Italy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | "Saved By the Bell" | No.2 | No.3 | – | – | – | No.1 | No.1 | – |
| 1969 | "One Million Years" | – | No.14 | – | – | No.6 | – | – | – |
| 1970 | "August, October" | No.45 | No.12 | – | – | – | – | No.11 | – |
| 1978 | "Oh! Darling" | – | – | No.15 | – | – | – | – | No.5 |
| 1980 | "Help Me!" (Robin Gibb with Marcy Levy) |
– | – | No.50 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1983 | "Juliet" | No.94 | No.1 | No.104 | No.2 | No.1 | – | – | No.1 |
| 1983 | "How Old Are You?" | No.92 | No.37 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1983 | "Another Lonely Night in New York" | No.71 | No.16 | – | – | No.19 | – | – | – |
| 1984 | "Boys Do Fall in Love" | No.70 | No.21 | No.37 | No.36 | – | No.7 | – | No.10 |
| 1984 | "Secret Agent" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1985 | "In Your Diary" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1985 | "Like a Fool" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1986 | "Toys" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2002 | "Please" | No.23 | No.51 | – | – | – | – | No.48 | – |
| 2003 | "Wait Forever" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2004 | "My Lover's Prayer" (Robin Gibb and Alistair Griffin) |
No.5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2005 | "First of May" (G4 feat. Robin Gibb) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2006 | "Mother of Love" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2007 | "Too Much Heaven" (Robin Gibb and US5) |
– | No.7 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2009 | "Islands in the Stream" (Comic Relief w/Robin Gibb) |
No.1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2011 | "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" (The Soldiers with Robin Gibb) |
No.75 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
[edit] References
- ^ Kellerman, Andy. "Robin Gibb." Allmusic.com URL retrieved 13 August 2009.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 259. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ "Bee Gees Bio"
- ^ "Wing and a prayer"
- ^ "Ellan Vannin (Home Coming Mix)
- ^ "Instant Love"
- ^ "Robin Gibb answers health quiz"
- ^ "Comic Relief Top UK Charts"
- ^ See Mark Paytress in Mojo, December 2010
- ^ "The PM's wife, the Druid priestess and the no-sex guru | News". Thisislondon.co.uk. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23380710-the-pms-wife-the-druid-priestess-and-the-no-sex-guru.do. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- ^ Alex Spence 29 October 2011 12:01AM. "The Times | UK News, World News and Opinion". London: Timesonline.co.uk. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article1265367.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- ^ "UK | UK Politics | PM 'paying' for Bee Gee home stay". BBC News. 2006-12-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6213401.stm. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
- ^ Will Woodward and Richard Luscombe in Miami (29 December 2006). "Miami price: Blair feels the heat | Politics". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2006/dec/29/musicnews.labour. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- ^ a b "Bee Gees star Robin Gibb axes string of live dates after being rushed to hospital". Daily Mail (London). 5 April 2011. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1373337/Bee-Gees-star-Robin-Gibb-axes-string-Brazil-live-dates-rushed-hospital.html. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
- ^ Bull, Sarah (19 October 2011). "Bee Gees star Robin Gibb discharged from hospital and 'keen to get back to work' after colon inflammation". Daily Mail (London). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2050670/Bee-Gees-star-Robin-Gibb-rushed-hospital-crippling-stomach-pains.html. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
- ^ Bryant, Tom (25 October 2011). "Bee Gees star Robin Gibb’s brave battle against crippling illness". Daily Mirror (London). http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/10/25/bee-gees-star-robin-gibb-s-brave-battle-against-crippling-illness-115875-23512662/. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
- ^ Boyle, Simon (28 October 2011). "Bee Gees Robin Gibb: fresh fears for star after he pulls out of charity event". Daily Mirror (London). http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/editors-picks/2011/10/28/bee-gees-robin-gibb-fresh-fears-for-star-after-he-pulls-out-of-charity-event-115875-23519948/#ixzz1cm353R4N. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ McCormack, Kirsty (31 October 2011). "Positive thinking: A frail-looking Robin Gibb is feeling 'great' as he hopes to top the charts again". Daily Mail (London). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2055510/Frail-looking-Robin-Gibb-insists-feels-great-hopes-charts-again.html. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ "Bee Gee Robin Gibb: frail singer is battling liver cancer". mirror.co.uk. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/most-popular/2011/11/20/brave-bee-gee-robin-gibb-is-battling-liver-cancer-115875-23574414/. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- ^ "'How my obsession with the Titanic has helped save my life,' says cancer-stricken Robin Gibb working with his son on orchestral requiem to those who perished". Mail On Sunday (London). 22 January 2012. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2089867/Robin-Gibb-How-obsession-Titanic-helped-save-life.html?ITO=1490. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
- ^ "Bee Gees star Robin Gibb in remission from cancer". New York Post. 4 March 2012. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/music/bee_gees_star_robin_gibb_in_remission_RkTmnpBeIUr4bUIw6dieUK. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
[edit] External links
- Robin Gibb Official site
- Robin Gibb's MySpace page
- Gibb Songs Magnet by Joseph Brennan
- Words & Music, Fans Of The Brothers Gibb
- Promo Video, My Lover's Prayer
- Robin Gibb at the Internet Movie Database
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- 1949 births
- Living people
- Manx people
- People from Thame
- People with cancer
- English-language singers
- English male singers
- English pop singers
- English child singers
- English singer-songwriters
- English vegans
- Musicians from Manchester
- People from Brisbane
- English record producers
- English tenors
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Ivor Novello Award winners
- Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees
- Bee Gees members
- Grammy Award winners
- Reality television judges
- English expatriates in Australia
- English expatriates in the United States
