24 luglio 2009: grande sorpresa al "Bee Gees Variety Club Silver Heart Awards", : un'esibizione a sorpresa di Barry e Robin Gibb, che hanno cantato dal vivo ALCUNE canzoni. Il live dei due Gibb non era previsto nel programma ufficiale della serata di beneficienza, nel corso del quale i Bee Gees sono stati premiati con il "Silver Heart", la più importante onorificienza del circuito benefico "Variety Club". Alla serata hanno preso parte anche la vedova di Maurice ed il figlio Adam, e la madre dei Gibb, Barbara. Nel corso della serata Ronan Keating ha cantato "Words" ed altri artisti hanno cantato altre canzoni dei Gibb. A detta dei presenti l'esibizione dei Gibb è stata ottima. "New York Mining Disaster", "Massachussets", "To love somebody", "Words" ,"You should be dancing" ed "How can you mend a broken heart"  le canzoni che componevano il set dell'esibizione a sorpresa dei Gibb, ammirata da circa 600 persone che hanno preso parte all'evento benefico. (Foto di Stuart Moser)

(Fonte: Facebook)

 VIDEO - Barry & Robin Gibb "How can you mend a broken heart"

Barry & Robin: surprise live appearance in Manchester

Barry and Robin Gibb sang five songs at the "Bee Gees Variety Club Silver Heart Awards", in a surprise live show. The songs were: "New York Mining Disaster", "Massachussets", "To love somebody", "Words" , "You should be dancing" and "How can you mend a broken heart" . (Picture by Stuart Moser)

(Source: Facebook)

La Reprise Records pubblicherà il prossimo 3 novembre due raccolte per festeggiare il cinquantesimo anno di carriera dei Bee Gees.

Si tratta di "Mythology", un boxset di 4 cd e del doppio cd "Ultimate Bee Gees".

I 4 CD di "Mythology" saranno dedicati a ciascuno dei 4 fratelli Gibb (Barry, Robin, Maurice ed, Andy sebbene quest'ultimo non sia mai stato un componente del gruppo. "E' il cinquantesimo anno dei Bee Gees. E per Bee Gees io intendo tutti e 4 i fratelli", spiega Barry Gibb, secondo il quale i quattro cd contengono le canzoni preferite da ognuno di loro. La playlist del cd dedicato a Maurice è stata scelta dalla vedova Yvonne e dai figli Adam e Samantha, mentre le canzoni che compongono il disco dedicato ad Andy sono state scelte dalla figlia Peta.

Il CD di Maurice contiene due inediti, “Angel Of Mercy” e “The Bridge”, mentre il CD di Andy contiene l'inedito “Arrow Through The Heart.” Le tre canzoni sono state ascoltate varie volte dai fan dei Gibb ed esistono varie versioni in numerosi bootleg, ma "Mythology" segnerà la loro prima pubblicazione ufficiale.

Il booklet che accompagna il cofanetto contiene foto di famiglia e tributi da parte di Elton John, Graham Nash (Crosby,Stills, Nash &Young), George Martin (il leggendario produttore dei Beatles), Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) e del loro primo manager Robert Stigwood.

La tracklist di "Mythology":

Disco 1 (Barry): Spirits (Having Flown), You Win Again, Jive Talkin', To Love Somebody, Tragedy, Too Much Heaven, First Of May, More Than A Woman, Love So Right, Night Fever, Words, Don't Forget To Remember, If I Can't Have You, Alone, Heartbreaker, How Deep Is Your Love, Love You Inside And Out, Stayin' Alive, Barker Of The UFO, Swan Song, Spicks & Specks
Disco 2 (Robin): I Am The World, New York Mining Disaster, I Can't See Nobody, Holiday, Massachusetts, Sir Geoffrey Saved The World, And The Sun Will Shine, The Singer Sang His Song, I've Gotta Get A Message To You,  I Started A Joke, Odessa, Saved By The Bell (solo), My World, Run To Me, Love Me, Juliet (solo), The Longest Night, Fallen Angel, Rings Around The Moon, Embrace, Islands In The Stream
Disco 3 (Maurice): Man In The Middle,  Closer Than Close, Dimensions, House Of Shame, Suddenly, Railroad (solo), Overnight, It's Just The Way, Lay It On Me, Trafalgar, Omega Man, Walking On Air, Country Woman, Angel Of Mercy, Above And Beyond, Hold Her In Your Hand (solo), You Know It's For You, Wildflower, On Time, The Bridge
Disco 4 (Andy): Shadow Dancing, I Just Want To Be Your Everything, (Love Is) Thicker Than Water, An Everlasting Love, Desire, (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away, Flowing Rivers, Words And Music, I Can't Help It (with Olivia Newton-John), Time Is Time, Me (Without You), After Dark, Warm Ride, Too Many Looks In Your Eyes, Man On Fire, Arrow Through The Heart, Starlight, Dance To The Light Of The Morning, In The End

"Ultimate Bee Gees: The 50th Anniversary Collection" è invece un doppio CD che contiene una selezione di successi di tutte le decadi della carriera dei Bee Gees, ed un medley dal vivo di alcune canzone scritte dai Gibb per altri artisti. La versione "deluxe" della raccolta conterrà un DVD con video inediti dei Bee Gees (speciali televisivi, interviste e video promozionali).

La traclist di "Ultimate Bee Gees: The 50th Anniversary Collection" (potrebbe subire delle modifiche, ancora non è definitiva):

Disco 1 – “A Night Out” : You Should Be Dancing, Stayin’ Alive, Jive Talkin’, Night Fever, Nights On Broadway, More Than A Woman, Tragedy,  Love You Inside & Out, You Win Again, Boogie Child, One, Secret Love, Alone, This Is Where I Came In, Spirits Having Flown, Fanny (Be Tender With My Love), Still Waters (Run Deep), If I Can’t Have You, Spicks & Specks,

Disco 2 – “A Night In” : How Deep Is Your Love, Emotion, Too Much Heaven, New York Mining Disaster 1941, To Love Somebody, Holiday, Massachusetts, Words, World, For Whom The Bell Tolls, First Of May, I Started A Joke, Love So Right, Lonely Days, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Run To Me, I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You, The Singer Sang His Song, Don’t Forget To Remember, Medley
(Islands In The Stream, Heartbreaker, Guilty, Immortality, Grease).

(Fonti: beegees.com ,  barrygibb.com , robingibb.com , billboard.com )

Bee Gees' 50th Anniversary Inspires Two New Collections

The Bee Gees' 50th anniversary will be celebrated with a pair of retrospective packages on Nov. 3 from Reprise.
"Mythology" is a four-disc box set curated and produced by surviving Bee Gees Barry and Robin Gibb that will dedicate one disc each to the three brothers in the group, including the late Maurice Gibb, and one to their late younger brother Andy Gibb. Maurice's wife and three children chose the tracks for his disc, while Andy's daughter Peta chose the 19 songs for his section of the package.
Barry Gibb notes that the 81 selections represent "pretty much our personal favorites," and Robin and Maurice's discs will each feature solo tracks as well as Bee Gees songs. Barry's disc, meanwhile, is loaded up with hits such as "Jive Talkin'," "Stayin' Alive," "Night Fever," "Spirits (Having Flown)," "More Than a Woman" an "Tragedy." The accompanying booklet includes family photos and tributes from Elton John, Brian Wilson, Graham Nash, George Martin and Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees' longtime manager and label boss.
Coming out the same day is "The Ultimate Bee Gees: The 50th Anniversary Collection," a more modest two-disc, 39-track set that closes with a live medley of songs the trio wrote for others -- including "Islands in the Stream," "Heartbreaker," "Guilty," "Immortality" and the theme song for "Grease." A deluxe edition of "The Ultimate Bee Gees" will come with a DVD featuring videos and TV appearances, many unreleased, from throughout the group's career. (Source: billboard.com)

Reprise Honors Barry, Maurice, Robin, And Andy Gibb With MYTHOLOGY, A Four-Disc Boxed Set That Features A Disc Dedicated To Each Brother.

MYTHOLOGY Features Two Previously Unreleased Maurice Gibb Tracks, And One Previously Unreleased Track By Andy Gibb .Simultaneous Release Of ULTIMATE BEE GEES: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION, A Double-Disc Career Retrospective; Also Available As Deluxe Edition With DVD Of Previously Unreleased Footage.

Both Available From Reprise November 3

(Los Angeles, July 16, 2009) — As members of both The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, winners of both the Lifetime Achievement (2000) and Legend Awards (2003) from the Recording Academy, seven Grammy® Awards, BMI Icon Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 Brit Awards, it’s hard to overstate the significance of what the Bee Gees accomplished in the 50 years since brothers Barry, Robin, and the late Maurice Gibb began calling themselves the Bee Gees. To celebrate the Bee Gees’ golden anniversary, Reprise honors the singing siblings with a pair of special releases: a four-disc boxed set and a career retrospective that includes a DVD of previously unreleased footage in the deluxe edition. MYTHOLOGY and a ULTIMATE BEE GEES: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION will both be available worldwide on November 3, at all retail outlets, including www.BeeGees.com, for a suggested list price of $54.98 (CD) and $39.99 (digital) for MYTHOLOGY, and $24.98 (deluxe with DVD), $19.98 (standard CD), and $19.99 (digital) for the THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION. Curated and produced by Barry and Robin Gibb, MYTHOLOGY contains four discs, each spotlighting a different Gibb brother, including one dedicated to Andy, who was not part of the group. The songs were chosen by Barry, Robin, Maurice’s widow Yvonne (and their children Adam & Samantha) and Andy’s daughter Peta. “These are pretty much our personal favorites,” Barry explains in the liner notes. “This is now the Bee Gees 50th Anniversary. And by the Bee Gees I mean all four brothers.” “I always see our songs as ‘just us brothers’ having a good time,” adds Robin Gibb. “When I look back now, it is more about the journey, not the arrival.” MYTHOLOGY also features a scrapbook of family photos, many never-before published, along with tributes from artists such as George Martin, Brian Wilson, Elton John, Graham Nash, and the band’s longtime manager Robert Stigwood. Spanning the Bee Gees’ five-decade career, the set’s 81 tracks touch on several of the group’s best-known hits. But mainly, the collection digs into the Bee Gees’ vast catalog to highlight deep tracks such as the early single “Spicks And Specks” (1966); the title track from the 1969 concept album Odessa; the single B-side “Country Woman” (1971); “Spirits Having Flown” (1979), the title track from the 35 million-selling album; “Overnight” (1987) from the multi-platinum ESP; “Closer Than Close” (1997) from Still Waters; and “Man In The Middle” (2001) from the Bee Gees 20th and final studio album before Maurice’s passing in 2003. MYTHOLOGY also features the debut of a pair of previously unreleased Maurice Gibb tracks: “Angel Of Mercy” and “The Bridge.” The final disc spotlights Andy Gibb, who was not a member of Bee Gees, but worked with his brothers throughout his career before his death in 1988 at the age of 30. Notably, Andy’s first 3 singles all went to #1 in the US, a feat that had never been previously accomplished. The compilation opens with “Shadow Dancing” (1978), a #1 smash cowritten by all four brothers that appeared on Andy’s second album. Nearly all of the songs from his 1977 debut Flowing Rivers are featured, including the back-to-back #1 singles: “I Just Want To Be Your Everything” and “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water.” The set contains “I Can’t Help It,” a duet with Olivia Newton-John that cracked the Top 20 and several tracks from his final studio album After Dark (1980), including the Top 10 single “Desire.” MYTHOLOGY also marks the debut of “Arrow Through The Heart,” a song Andy recorded shortly before his death that was intended for a comeback album.

ULTIMATE BEE GEES: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION is the second release celebrating the Bee Gees’ 50-year anniversary. The two-disc set features the many hits and chart-topping singles, plus their performances of a selection of hit songs they wrote for others. The DVD, available in the deluxe edition, offers a treasury of unreleased videos, spanning the Bee Gees’ entire career with previously unreleased television appearances, live performances, and promo videos.

(Sources:  beegees.com ,  barrygibb.com , robingibb.com )

L'Ufficio Filatelico nazionale dell'Isola di Man dedica una serie speciale di francobolli ed il conio di una moneta al cinquantesimo anno di carriera dei Bee Gees.

Il set di francobolli, che contiene 8 francobolli raffiguranti foto e copertine di alcuni album dei Bee Gees, può essere acquistato online sul sito ufficiale dell' Ufficio Filatelico nazionale dell'Isola di Man: http://www.iompost.com/stamps/

Il set e la moneta sono stati pubblicati il 1 luglio, e sono stati donati ai Gibb nel corso della loro recente visita nell'Isola di Man, per il conferimento dell'onorificienza "Freemen of the Boroughs" di Douglas. Per l'occasione l'Ufficio, in data 10 luglio, ha realizzato una speciale raccolta dei francobolli con annullo filatelico personalizzato ("Bee Gees Freemen Special Cover").

(Source: www.iompost.com)

"Bee Gees Freemen Special Cover"

We commemorate the glorious homecoming of the Brothers Gibb to the Isle of Man on the day when they were declared 'Freemen of the Borough of Douglas' - to coincide with their 50th anniversary in music - back on the Island where it all began.

Pictured above, in the Douglas Town Hall with Barry and Robin, are Mr Alex Downie (IOM Government minister responsible for Coins) and Mr Alan Crowe (IOM Government minister and Chairman of The Isle of Man Post Office)

(Source: www.iompost.com)

Un riconoscimento ai 50 anni di carriera ed a tutto quello che hanno fatto per l'Isola di Man. Ecco il motivo del conferimento a Barry, Robin e Maurice Gibb dell'onorificienza "Freemen of the Borough" , che in passato fu attribuita a personaggi del calibro di Winston Churchill.

I fratelli Gibb sono nati nell'isola e nel corso della loro carriera varie volte hanno svolto attivita benefica a favore di iniziative di beneficienza a favore di istituzioni dell'Isola di Man. Robin ha recentemente acquistato nell'sola una tenuta ed ha dichiarato che il titolo del suo prossimo album sarà "50 St Catherine's Drive", l'indirizzo della casa dove sono nati i tre Gibb a Douglas, capoluogo dell'isola.

(Fonte: Douglas Borough Conseil online e robingibb.com)

Bee Gees receive honorary Freedom of the Borough

Douglas Borough Council has conferred the honorary Freedom of the Borough on Barry, Robin and the late Maurice Gibb – collectively one of the world’s most famous vocal groups, the Bee Gees.
The conferment ceremony was held in the Council Chamber of Douglas Town Hall on Friday July 10, attended by Barry and Robin Gibb, their mother Barbara and members of the Gibb family during a special meeting of the full Council.
Barry and Robin Gibb were met at the Town Hall by the Chief Executive Kathy Rice and Council Leader David Christian. While in reception the guests were treated to a song – Roll Away by Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam - performed by children from Ballacottier School who had assembled outside the Town Hall, which proved a poignant opening to the proceedings and clearly delighted the distinguished guests.
The Mayor of Douglas Councillor Michael Gelling welcomed Barry and Robin Gibb and their family to the Council Chamber, following which Council Leader David Christian delivered his proposer’s speech. He said the day would be remembered as a ‘milestone’ in the history of the Council, for the honorary Freedom of the Borough to be conferred on three brothers who not only had made such a major contribution to popular music over the past 50 years but also had never forgotten the land of their birth, the Isle of Man. 
He continued: ‘The Gibb brothers have always taken every opportunity to speak of their Manx roots and of their deep affection for the Island that was their home in early childhood.’
Speaking of the Gibb brothers’ ties with the Island Councillor Christian explained all three were born in Douglas and had lived with their late father Hugh and mother Barbara in and around the capital in their youth.  He explained how music had figured in their lives from an early age. Hugh Gibb had been a drummer and bandleader who, like his sons were to do many years later, played to packed houses in Douglas.
Later the family moved to Manchester then emigrated to Australia, ‘and the rest,’ said Councillor Christian, ‘is history’.
He said the Bee Gees’ musical accomplishments were legion. They held multiple Grammy and Ivor Novello awards and in 1997 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  In addition, Robin Gibb had accepted a lifetime achievement award on behalf of the Bee Gees at the 2008 Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence ceremony.
Councillor Christian said: ‘Barry, Robin and Maurice - with their international profile and legendary status in rock and roll history - could not have been better ambassadors for the Isle of Man. Their recording of Ellan Vannin helped raise thousands of pounds for Manx charities and even now, following the sad passing of Maurice, Barry and Robin continue - at every opportunity - to raise awareness of the Isle of Man to a truly global audience.’
Seconding Councillor Christian’s proposal, Councillor Mrs Raina Chatel said: ‘ That these three brothers created so much wonderful music has earned them a place in history. That these three brothers should have been such wonderful ambassadors for the Isle of Man has earned them a place in our hearts.’
As honorary Freemen of the Borough of Douglas the Bee Gees join an illustrious roll call, one that includes Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Norman Wisdom, His Honour Deemster Jack Corrin CBE, Geoff Duke OBE, three former Mayors of Douglas , George Chatel MBE, Inkerman Faragher and Fred Kennish, and also one of the world’s finest road racing cyclists, Manxman Mark Cavendish.
The framed vellum commemorating the conferment of the honorary Freedom of the Borough of Douglas presented by the Mayor was designed and created in calligraphy by local artist Colleen Corlett.
Accepting the vellum, Robin Gibb thanked Douglas Borough Council for conferring the honour, which he said: “was very humbling”, adding he was proud to be Manx. 
Barry Gibb expressed his thanks for the wonderful honour and spoke of his childhood memories, in particular, “the magnificent smell of the sea surrounding the Island, which is like nowhere else in the world.” 
Following the ceremony Barry and Robin Gibb and their immediate family met briefly with the Mayor and Members of the Council before leaving to continue filming footage in Douglas that will form part of their 50th anniversary documentary.

(Source: Douglas Borough Conseil online & robingibb.com)

Barry e Robin GIbb ricordano l'amico Micheal Jackson, scomparso a 50 anni il 25 giugno 2009.

Micheal Jackson era il padrino di uno dei figli di Barry, (Micheal), ed era nota la grande amicizia e stima dei fratelli Gibb nei confronti del "Re del Pop". Jackson prese parte al funerale di Maurice nel gennaio 2003, accompagnando di persona alla cerimonia funebre Barry e la sua famiglia.

Oltre ad avere scritto insieme per Diana Ross la canzone "Eaten alive", è noto che esistono altre collaborazioni tra i Gibb (in particolare Barry) e Micheal Jackson. Nel dicembre 2002 Barry e Micheal scrissero "All  in your name", canzone di protesta per la guerra in Iraq, ma in numerose altre occasioni nel corso degli anni 80 e 90 si è parlato di altre composizioni firmate dai Gibb e Jackson.

"Micheal era mio amico, siamo devastati, abbiamo perso un caro membro della nostra famiglia", ha scritto Barry nel suo sito.

"Questa tragedia ci dovrebbe insegnare a valutare ed apprezzare i regali che tutti abbiamo nel mondo", si legge nel messaggio pubblicato da Robin nel suo sito.

(Fonti: barrygibb.com e robingibb.com)

Barry and Robin Gibb on Micheal Jackson's death

"Michael was my friend, the only recording artist I truly knew and who truly knew me. He was the Godfather to my son Michael. We have lost a dear member of our family, we are devastated. Michael you will live forever in our hearts. Fly away butterfly take it to your journeys end. We will always love you". (Barry Gibb)

"We’ve not only lost a great friend in Michael but also lost a wonderful sensitive human being. The Bee Gees heard music with the same ears. Michael had a great voice and millions of people yet to be born will sing his songs. This tragedy should teach us a lesson to value and praise those gifts while we still have them in the world. If even a small portion of the praise that is bestowed on Michael Jackson now in death was given to him last year in life, he might well still be with us. That is the sad truth. One consolation is that he will triumph by his legacy."   (Robin Gibb)

(Source: barrygibb.com and robingibb.com)

Barry Gibb si è esibito il 14 marzo dal vivo a Sydney (Australia), concludendo il "Sound relief", il concerto di beneficienza organizzato in favore delle vittime dei numerosi incendi che hanno devastato l'Australia nel corso dei mesi precedenti.

Il "Sound Relief" (che ha raccolto 5  milioni) prevedeva concerti contemporanei a Melbourne ed a Sydney. Numerose star internazionali ed australiane hanno preso parte all'importante evento. A Melbourne si sono esibiti, tra gli altri, la popstar australiana Kylie Minogue ed i Midnight Oil, che si sono appositamente riuniti per l'occasione. A Sydney, oltre a Barry Gibb, (collaborato da Olivia Newton-John), i Coldplay e Taylor Swift.

L'esibizione di Barry (in ottima forma) è durata 40 minuti. La playlist: "Words", "To love somebody", "Jive talkin", "Islands in the Stream", "Guilty" e "How can you mend a broken heart" (con Olivia Newton-John), "You should be dancing" e "Spicks and specks".

Il numeroso pubblico del Sydney Cricket Corner (oltre 40.000 spettatori) ha accolto Barry con una lunga standing ovation ed ha accompagnato con entusiasmo l'esibizione.

Chris Martin dei Coldplay (che ha assistito sia alle prove che all'esibizione di Barry), all'inizio dello show della sua band, ha urlato al pubblico: "I've waited my whole life to be an opening act for The Bee Gees, it doesn't get any better than this, Sidney!!!" ("ho atteso tutta la mia vita per essere la band di apertura dei Bee Gees, non potrebbe essere meglio di così, Sydney!").

"Islands in the Stream", la canzone di Barry, Robin e Maurice Gibb, singolo di beneficienza per il "Comic Relief" 2009, ha esordito questa settimana al numero uno della classifica dei singoli del Regni Unito.

Ciò rende i fratelli Gibb gli unici artisti in assoluto nella storia delle classifiche inglesi ad avere avuto una propria canzone al numero uno dei singoli in ognuna delle ultime cinque decadi ('60, '70, '80, '90 e prima decade del nuovo secolo).

In assoluto, nel Regno Unito è l'undicesima volta al numero uno per Barry e Robin Gibb e la decima per Maurice Gibb.

"Islands in the Stream", originariamente incisa da Kenny Rogers e Dolly Parton oltre a raggiungere la vetta delle classifiche USA nel 1983, raggiunse originariamente il #7 in UK e nel 1988 il #2 con la cover di Pras Michel (Ghetto Superstar").

Nella versione 2009 del singolo di beneficienza, ribattezzata "(Barry) Islands in the Stream", da notare la partecipazione ai cori di Robin Gibb, insieme a Tom Jones.
(Fonte: BBC , Billboard)

Islands In The Stream was originally a number seven hit for Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton in 1983, and also formed the basis of Ghetto Superstar, a number two hit for Pras Michel feat. Dirty Ol’ bast*rd & Mya in 1998. It was written by Robin, Maurice and Barry Gibb – The Bee Gees - and is the 11th number one penned by Robin and Barry, and the 10th by Maurice [in the UK]. Aside from their own five number ones, they have also written chart-toppers for Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Take That, Boyzone and Steps.

The single is a remake of Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers' 1983 smash "Islands In The Stream," now credited to Vanessa Jenkins & Bryn West, characters in the BBC's hit comedy series "Gavin & Stacey," as played by Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon. The new version, renamed "(Barry) Islands In The Stream" in reference to the Welsh district in which the series is partly set, features guest appearances by Tom Jones and Robin Gibb, who co-wrote the original with brothers Barry and Maurice. It was produced by veteran sideman Hugh Padgham.

This means that Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb are the only artists to have number 1 songs in each of the past five decades ('60, '70, '80, '90  and first decade of the new century). (Source: BBC , Billboard)

"Mi piacerebbe vedere Odessa presentato come un musical, basato sull'intero album. Mi piacerebbe farlo con Robin, con un'intera orchestra e magari con altri artisti. Preferirei fare questo, al posto di tentare un altro greatest hits dei Bee Gees"

E' uno dei passaggi più interessanti di un'intervista telefonica concessa da Barry Gibb al quotidiano inglese "The Guardian" in occasione dell'uscita della ristampa di "Odessa".

"Spero di essere in grado di trovare un livello per fare uscire fuori queste idee con Robin. Non parliamo molto. Sarò in Inghilterra a Luglio, ci vedremo e gli parlerò di Odessa".

Nell'intervista Barry cerca di spiegare con le numerose e diverse influenze musicali "subite"  dai Gibb le stranezze compositive di Odessa, doppio album che nel 1969 non riuscì a confermare i grandi successi dei precedenti album, sebbene il singolo "First of May" ebbe un buon successo commerciale.

Barry rivela che alla fine degli anni 90 i Bee Gees avrebbero voluto suonare interamente Odessa alla Royal Albert Hall di Londra, anche perchè l'album subì una grande rivalutazione da parte della critica musicale. Come si vede da quanto dichiara Barry la cosa non è del tutto accantonata, e potrebbe rappresentare un degno tributo alla memoria di Maurice Gibb.

(Fonte: Guardian)

The Bee Gee's Odessa file

On the phone from his Florida home, Barry Gibb is racking his brain. "I think Odessa was an attempt to do a rock opera," he offers. "It sort of turned itself into a bit of a mish mash, but our intentions were honourable. I think we wanted to do something that could be put on stage. There was supposed to be a thematic thing going on," he adds, "but it just kind of wandered off into the distance."

The eldest Bee Gee rarely speaks to the press these days: a prickly reputation precedes him. But discussing the Gibb brothers' remarkable 1969 concept album, Odessa – forgotten in the wake of their disco reinvention; recently reissued as a sumptuous three-CD box set – he turns out to be a hugely amiable, witty, self-deprecating raconteur, if understandably a little foggy on the exact details: "It was 40 years ago," he protests more than once.

Gibb might be forgiven for having blotted the whole Odessa experience from is memory. It was begun in the midst of an American tour abandoned owing to poor ticket sales, despite the band's success in the US ("We'd had a lot of hits but no live status," he says; "We weren't exactly Led Zeppelin, were we?"), and completed amid such acrimony that Robin left the band weeks after its release. Then the album flopped, plunging the band into further turmoil. "For four years we couldn't get arrested," says Gibb, of a period during which the band split up, reformed and found themselves reduced to playing supper clubs. "It was a really, really disturbing time when we knew we were good, but no one wanted to listen." He laughs. "Funnily enough, we've had a few of those."

Perhaps the public's muted response to Odessa is unsurprising. The Bee Gees were a weird band even by the standards of the late 60s. Their output zigzagged wildly between intense ballads destined to become standards – Words, To Love Somebody, I've Gotta Get a Message to You – and baroque pop-psychedelia with imponderable lyrics about racing drivers and fridges. But no record encapsulated the Gibb brothers' majestically skewed pop vision like Odessa, which amid the usual gorgeously orchestrated heartbreak, featured mock national anthems, country and western and a title track that set a new benchmark for their magnificent oddness: harps, flamenco guitars, mock-Gregorian chanting, a burst of Baa Baa Black Sheep, lyrics about icebergs and vicars and emigrating to Finland. Quite what Odessa's concept was supposed to be remains a mystery, but it's the kind of album you listen to rapt, baffled as to what's going to happen next.

Gibb thinks Odessa's weirdness had less to do with the era's psychedelic excesses than the peculiarities of the brothers' upbringing. "Our music became so speckled because we had all these insane influences from growing up in Australia – Col Joye and the Joy Boys, Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, it was a pop scene unto itself. Then we were five weeks at sea going to Australia, five weeks at sea coming back. We'd been inside the pyramids, been to India, up the Suez Canal, in the Sahara Desert.

"By the time we arrived back in England, we'd had all these unusual cultural influences pounded into us. I really think that has a lot to do with our songwriting, these strange songs, unusual lyrics and abstractions."

In the late 90s, buoyed by the album's critical re-evaluation, the Bee Gees mooted a plan to play Odessa in its entirety at the Royal Albert Hall. Most people assumed that idea was quietly shelved after Maurice Gibb's death in 2003, but apparently not. "I'd love to see it presented as an actual musical, played through as an album. I would love to do it with Robin, with a full orchestra, maybe with other artists. I would rather do that than try to do the Bee Gees greatest hits again.

"I'd like to be able to find a level of knocking these thoughts out with Robin," he says, suddenly sounding a bit wistful: the surviving brothers' relationship apparently remains as fractious discuss these things. We don't speak very much." Then he perks up. "I'm coming to England in July, actually. I'll see him then. I'll get him by the lapels and talk about Odessa."

(Source: Guardian)

Robin Gibb e Tom Jones canteranno i cori del singolo di beneficienza realizzato dalla famosa organizzazione benefica inglese "Comic Relief", che dal 1985 organizza eventi ed iniziative artistiche per finanziare le attività in favore delle popolazioni povere in tutto il mondo. Il giorno del naso rosso (Red Nose Day) è l'evento annuale più importante nella raccolta dei fondi per il Comic Relief, e quest'anno una canzone dei Bee Gees è stata scelta per favorire le donazioni.

Si tratta di una cover della celebre "Islands in the stream" , la canzone scritta da Barry, Robin e Maurice Gibb e portata alle vette delle classifiche USA da Dolly Parton e Kenny Rogers nel 1983. In seguito la canzone fu ripresa da Pras Micheal nel 1988, raggiungendo nuovamente le vette di molte classifiche, tra le quali quella inglese.

I protagonisti principali della cover saranno due attori popolarissimi in Gran Bretagna, Rob Brydon e Ruth Jones, che interpretano Bryn e Nessa nel popolarissimo show televisivo della BBC "Gavin & Stacey".

La canzone sarà disponibile a partire via web dal prossimo 8 marzo, anche se la distribuzione effettiva è prevista in concomitanza con il "Red Nose Day" (13 marzo).

(Fonte : Look to the Stars)

Robin Gibb Helps Out With Red Nose Day Single

Bee Gees founder Robin Gibb has joined a host of celebrities to record a song to benefit this year’s Comic Relief Red Nose Day.

The singer appears on a new version of Islands In The Stream alongside stars such as Tom Jones, Rob Brydon and Gavin and Stacey stars Ruth Jones and Joanne Page, to be released March 13 – the date of this year’s Red Nose Day.

Brydon was one of the many stars to attend the launch of this year’s appeal in London yesterday, and urged the public to make the 11th annual Red Nose Day the best one ever despite the recession.

“There has never been a more important time to show generosity,“ he said. “It would be great to make it the best one ever in the current climate.”

Comic Relief uses comedy to help raise awareness and funds for those in need and are especially committed to helping end poverty and social injustice in the UK and around the world. Red Nose Day is their major annual fundraising appeal.

(Source : Look to the Stars)

Il nuovo anno si apre con la pubblicazione della ristampa di "Odessa (Deluxe Editon)", il concerto di beneficienza a Londra per celebrare la musica dei Bee Gees, e voci su un presunto futuro viaggio "nostalgico" di Barry e Robin in Australia.

In ordine di data, subito dopo capodanno, si sono diffuse nel web notizie circa un viaggio di Barry e Robin Gibb nei luoghi del loro inizio di carriera, in Australia. Le notizie riportavano un certo disinteresse della comunità di Redcliffe, la città dove i Gibb di fatto iniziarono a scrivere le loro prime canzoni. Un mega tributo ai Gibb invece sarebbe programmato a Sidney, con un concerto pieno di mega-star australiane. Tuttavia, dopo una convulsa serie di iniziative per assicurare un adeguato benvenuto ai Gibb pure a Redcliffe, è arrivata dal management di Barry un parziale ridimensionamento delle notizie diffuse, definite non ancora del tutto attendibili, visto che ad oggi nè Barry nè Robin hanno confermato il viaggio e neanche l'eventuale periodo e modalità di svolgimento. Insomma pare che ci sia stato una semplice maifestazione di volontà non seguita da fatti concreti.

Il 9 gennaio a Londra (Battersea) si è tenuto un concerto di beneficienza in favore dell'Outward Fund Trust, organizzazione benefica di cui è presidente Robin Gibb, che ha coinvolto un gruppo di stelle del pop e del rock britannico, insieme ad una serie di giovanissimi protagonisti, per lo più vincitori di selezioni televisivi simili ad "X-factor". Il tema della serata era la celebrazione della musica dei Bee Gees, pertanto i fortunati (e generosi, visto che l'incasso della serata è di 250.000 sterline) ascoltatori presenti (circa un migliaio), hanno ascoltato i principali successi dei fratelli Gibb (come Bee Gees, ma anche come autori), eseguiti da una serie di grandi artisti della scena britannica. Tra i presenti Bill Wyman (ex Rolling Stones), Mark King (Level 42), Paolo Nutini, Natasha Hamilton (Atomic Kitten), la Spice Girl Mel C , Lulu, la star del soul Beverley Knight e l'ormai immancabile Valerija, la star russa nota ai fans dei Gibb per una sua cover di "Stayin'alive" in cui partecipava pure il buon Robin. Tra le canzoni eseguite anche "Heartbreaker" e "Chain Reaction", mentre il gran finale è stata una versione di "How deep is your love" cantata da tutti i partecipanti all'evento. (Nella foto, da sinistra: Bill Wyman con la figlia  Matilda, Valerija, Mel C, Natasha Hamilton, Mark King, Lulu e Robin Gibb).

In alcune dichiarazioni rilasciate subito prima dell'evento, Robin ha fatto riferimento alla realizzazione di un film sulla musica dei Gibb, alla stregua di "Mamma mia", il film basato sui successi degli Abba, uno dei maggiori successi cinematografici del 2008. "L' idea è in sviluppo in questi giorni, seguiranno annunci su larga scala", ha detto Robin al Times, ed ha annunciato che a giugno incontrerà Barack Obama in merito alle problematiche sui diritti d'autore. "Non sarà un remake di "Saturday Night Fever", e comprenderà le canzoni che abbiamo scritto per gli altri", ha aggiunto Robin. In un'altra intervista, Dwina, la moglie di Robin, ha detto con molta chiarezza che Robin è ancora profondamente addolorato, (in uno stato di lutto), per la morte del fratello Maurice, avvenuta il 12 gennaio 2003.

Dal 13 gennaio è disponibile nei principali negozi (online e non) la ristampa (remasterizzata e con inediti) di "Odessa", il doppio album originalmente pubblicato con la celebre copertina di velluto nel 1969. La versione del quarantennale prevede tre CD, di cui uno contiene inediti e versioni "alternative" di alcune canzoni dell'album, per la prima volta disponibili al pubblico. L' album è stato accolto con molto favore dalla critica, raccogliendo recensioni molto lusinghieri, visto che da sempre è stato considerato un lavoro, che, sebbene non accompagnato da vendite esaltanti, contiene alcuni dei migliori momenti compositivi e sperimentali del periodo forse più creativo della carriera dei fratelli Gibb. Recensioni: Billboard, All Music Guide.

(Fonti: Times Online, Google News)

Saturday Night Fever starting to bubble up again

The Mamma Mia! phenomenon has shifted another £300 million into the Abba bank account. But what of their disco-era contemporaries, the Bee Gees? Thirty years after Saturday Night Fever, isn’t it time to revive one of pop’s most hit-packed catalogues for a new film?

“It’s developing as we speak. We are about to make some massive announcements,” Robin Gibb tells us before leading an all-star band, including Bill Wyman and Mel C, through a night of Bee Gee classics at a ball in Battersea to raise funds for the Outward Bound Trust.

Don’t dust off those white flares just yet though – the film won’t be a return to Night Fever. “It will include songs we wrote for other people, like Chain Reaction, Heartbreaker and Islands in the Stream,” Gibb said. He is now lobbying governments to protect songwriters’ royalties. “I am going to speak to Obama at the White House in June.” And the Bee Gee is offering GB the use of his mansion in Miami. “I have a lot of respect for Gordon Brown. Everyone needs a holiday.”

Robin Gibb still grieves for his twin brother Maurice

London, Jan 13 (ANI): Brit singer/songwriter Robin Gibb has still not gotten over the death of his twin brother Maurice Gibb. Maurice, who had been part of the Bee Gees, a band formed by his twin Robin and elder brother Barry, had died six years ago on January 12. Robin was looking pale and thin, as he flew into London from Los Angeles for a charity ball in aid of the Outward Bound Trust at the weekend. “Robin has not got over the death of his twin,” the Daily Express quoted his wife Dwina as saying. “It is something he will never get over. It is on-going really,” she added.

Odessa Deluxe edition out on 13 january

Review. Reprise/Rhino went all-out for their deluxe edition treatment of the Bee Gees' 1969 Odessa album. Disc one of the three-CD set has the album (originally a double LP) in its original mono mix; disc two presents it in its original stereo mix; and disc three, most excitingly for Bee Gees fans and collectors, offers 22 previously unreleased tracks (and one promotional radio spot). It goes without saying, perhaps, that this is a pretty specialized affair even by the standards of deluxe editions, especially as Odessa is not exactly considered a core classic late-'60s rock album by mainstream audiences. It has its merits, however, and even though ownership of both the stereo and mono CDs might not be considered essential by the average Bee Gees fan, fanatics will appreciate having both of them side by side (especially as the mono mixes were made available in the U.S. for the first time here).
The real interest, of course, lies in the abundant previously unreleased material. Most of this, it should be cautioned, consists of alternate versions/mixes and demos of songs that made it onto the album — in fact, there demos or alternate takes for every song from Odessa besides "The British Opera" — although there are two previously unissued tunes, "Pity" and "Nobody's Someone," that didn't make it onto the album in any form. As is the case with alternates on many expanded/deluxe CDs, you'd never put these recordings on par with the officially released versions. Mostly they tend to confirm the Bee Gees' judgment as to what takes and arrangements were used on the final LP, with some obviously hesitant performances and a few songs lacking final lyrical polish. But there are some notable interesting differences in the batch, like the "You'll Never See My Face Again" minus orchestration; an early version of "Edison" with different lyrics, at that point titled "Barbara Came to Stay"; a much sparser, fairly rudimentary demo of "Melody Fair," one of the best and most famous songs on the album; "Never Say Never Again" with an up front heavy fuzz guitar that was erased from the finished master; a demo of "First of May" with nothing more than piano backing; and, perhaps most unexpectedly of all, a version of "With All Nations (International Anthem)" with lyrics, although the one on the official LP ended up being instrumental. As for the two songs with no counterparts on the actual Odessa album, "Nobody's Someone" is a characteristically pleasantly sad, rather sorrowful (if rather lightweight) Bee Gees original that was covered almost 30 years later by a virtually unknown artist named Andrew (no last name); "Pity" is a more upbeat midtempo piano-dominated number, but with a skeletal arrangement obviously in need of completion.
Thorough liner notes explain the origination of the tracks and the differences between the official and previously unreleased versions. Thus overall, this, like Reprise/Rhino's box set The Studio Albums 1967-1968 (which gives a similar expanded treatment to the three previous Bee Gees albums), is a valuable supplement to the group's standard '60s discography. It is a release, however, that will be somewhat limited in appeal to the general pop and rock audience, who might not have the patience to sort through all the multiple versions.

(Source: All Music Guide)