TRAGIC Robin Gibb died surrounded by his wife and children last night.
His family annouced with “great sadness” that Robin, 62, had lost
his brave fight with colon cancer.
In a brief statement they said: “Sunday 20 May, 2012 at 10:46: 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.
“The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very
difficult time.”
His sons Robin-John and Spencer, daughter Melissa and wife Dwina had been at
his bedside throughout at his stay in a Chelsea hospital.
His Bee Gee brother Barry, who has been supporting him throughout, was
mourning from across the Atlantic as he’d recently flown back to America.
Robin was hailed last night as “one of the most important people in the
history of British music,” by Paul Gambaccini, who said the brothers
were second best UK songwriters ever after the Beatles.
“Everyone should be aware that the Bee Gees are second only to Lennon and
McCartney as the most successful songwriting unit in British popular music.
“Their accomplishments have been monumental. Not only have they written their
own number one hits, but they wrote huge hit records for Barbra Streisand,
Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Celine Dion, Destiny’s Child, Dolly Parton and
Kenny Rogers, the list goes on and on.”
Gambaccini later described Gibb as one of the most influential British artists
EVER. “He was one of the important figures in the history of British music –
and I mean of all time, I don’t mean just the last few years or the rock
era, I mean of all time,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“He and Barry and Maurice wrote 23 number one records (with the exception of
Maurice who wrote 22). They are the only song writers to have number ones in
the last five decades. They did briefly have the number one album of all
time – Saturday Night Fever. Something of this magnitude is bigger than just
the last few years.”
Broadcaster and pal Mike Read
said the singer had an “incredible voice” and described him as a one-off
talent.
“Robin had the voice, the pathos, and he was a great writer.
“In his head he could come up with some great melodies. I was delighted to
work with him. He had a gift for melody and a gift for lyrics and left a
phenomenal legacy, a phenomenal catalogue.”
Referring to the Bee Gees, the former BBC Radio One DJ said: “They had every
accolade under the sun. They were able to write great commercial songs that
touched people over a very long period of time. They had every award, every
gold disc, every platinum disc, the Grammys the lot and had been doing it so
long but were still so good at it.”
In April, Robin slipped into a coma after contracting pneumonia and was given
just days to live.
But he shocked doctors by staging a remarkable recovery and was even
communicating again with his family.
His relatives sang to him and wife Dwina said that he had cried when she
played him the song Crying by Roy Orbison.
At the time Dr Andrew Thillainayagam, of Imperial College, London, said: “It
is testament to Robin’s extraordinary courage, iron will and deep reserves
of physical strength that he has overcome quite incredible odds.”
He added: “The road ahead for Robin remains uncertain but it is a
privilege to look after such an extraordinary human being.”
But Robin recently lost the ability to speak and had been communicating with
family and close friends by blinking due to a tracheotomy tube in his neck.
His twin brother Maurice died in 2003 after complications following an
operation to correct an intestinal blockage and his younger brother Andy,
who was not part of the Bee Gees but a successful singer in his own right,
died in 1988 from heart failure at 30.
Robin and Barry briefly retired the group’s Bee Gee name in his honour but
later returned to performing.
The band sold more than 200 million records worldwide with hits such as How
Deep Is Your Love, Stayin’ Alive and Night Fever.
Known for their big hair, tight white suits and high-pitched voices the band
produced a string of number one singles and were indicted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Gibb had surgery on his bowel 18 months ago for an unrelated condition but a
tumour was discovered and he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon and
subsequently of the liver.
And speaking exclusively to The Sun two months ago, Robin said his illness
could be “payback” for his success with the band.
He said: “I sometimes wonder if the tragedies my family has suffered are a
kind of karmic price for all the fame and fortune the Bee Gees have had.”
A statement from Sony Music on Twitter said: “Rest in peace, Robin Gibb.
Thanks for the music.”
Former Westlife star Brian McFadden paid tribute on the social network saying:
“Rip robin Gibb. I hope you’re at peace now.”
Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott wrote: “Just heard about Robin
Gibb. A good friend, a brilliant musician and a man who turned all of us
into wannabe Travoltas!”
Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams was also among the stars paying tribute,
saying: “Robin Gibb RIP. Very sad to hear about yet another great singer
dying too young.”
British singer songwriter Mick Hucknall wrote: “RIP Robin Gibb. A musical
giant,” while former X Factor judge Dannii Minogue said: “We start believin’
now that we can be who we are – Grease is the word…RIP Robin Gibb.”
Glen Power, of Irish band The Script, used the band’s official Twitter page to
say: “R.I.P. Robin Gibb. We met Robin+Barry in NY. Such a lovely guy.
Prayers 2 his family. 2 many Legends being taken from us 2 early 🙁 G.”
Eighties rock band Duran Duran posted on their feed: “Sorry to hear about the
passing of Robin Gibb of the BeeGees. Our condolences to his friends and
family.”
Please leave your own tribute to Robin Gibb below.
From poverty to world fame
By MARTIN PHILLIPS, Senior Feature Writer
THE twinkle behind the trademark round, blue-tinted spectacles has gone out
for ever.
Born on the Isle of Man on December 22, 1949, 35 minutes before his twin
Maurice, Robin Gibb grew up in poverty.
His family moved first to Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester then emigrated to
Australia in 1958. The twins, with elder brother Barry, practised their
harmonies in the gents’ lavatory of the local John Lewis.
The Bee Gees’ musical careers flourished after the family returned to England
in 1967.
Massachusetts was their first UK No1, selling five million copies. That year
Robin and fiancée Molly Hullis survived the Hither Green rail crash, which
killed 49 people. They married in 1968.
Robin left the Bee Gees, but returned before their second era of success with
the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever in 1977. His marriage collapsed but
in 1985 he wed artist Dwina Murphy, having son Robin John (RJ). Robin was
made a CBE with his brothers in 2002, but Maurice died the following year.
In his final year Robin and RJ composed classical work the Titanic Requiem. It
was the last in Robin’s string of remarkable musical achievements.