Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (2024)

19 January 2024, 15:59

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (1)

By Giorgina Ramazzotti

The brothers appeared on 'American Idol' for what would officially be the Bee Gees' final public performance.

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Bee Gee brothers Robin and Barry Gibb gave what would later become known as their final performance during the finale of American Idol in 2010.

The duo gave a stunning rendition of 'How Deep Is Your Love', just two years before Robin Gibb would die of kidney failure brought on by his battle with cancer.

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The finale of American Idol saw the two Bee Gees be joined by the show's finalists, Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus, for what would become their iconic last performance – and the final time Barry Gibb would perform with any of his brothers on stage.

The appearance came seven years after the death of Robin's twin, Maurice Gibb, and 22 years after the death of the band's youngest brother, Andy Gibb in 1988.

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (3)
Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (4)
Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (5)

Fans of the Bee Gees took to the comment section of the video to pay tribute to the brothers' last show, with one saying: "Oh my God... how I miss Maurice seeing this. RIP Maurice and Robin. You're terribly missed."

Another commented on how lucky the show's contestants were to sing with the brothers, writing: "I have to wonder if these kids even understood or recognised the magnitude of this moment," with another adding: "The opportunity to harmonise with the Gibbs is a blessing. RIP Robin and Maurice."

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Another commentator was nostalgic hearing the famous hit from 1977: "Certain songs have a way of taking us back to a much simpler, happy time," with a fifth fan stating, "this is literally my best moment [from] all singing competitions."

'How Deep Is Your Love' became one of the Bee Gees' most popular hits, becoming famous as part of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack and later covered by Take That in 1996 as their last single before the band's 2006 comeback.

The video of Barry and Robin Gibb performing on American Idol was recorded nine years after the original three Bee Gees last performed together in 2001.

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (6)
Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (7)

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (8)

Robin & Barry Gibb on American Idol

The Gibb brothers sang 'You Should Be Dancing' on June 17 at the Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, marking the date as the anniversary of the final time fans would see Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb publicly perform together.

"When the Saturday Night Fever songs were performed ('Night Fever', 'More Than A Woman' and 'Jive Talkin') the entire stadium was on their feet clapping, singing, dancing and being whipped into a frenzy," wrote fan Jeff Wells of the final performance.

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"Finally, as the show was closing and the last chords of 'You Should Be Dancing' were being played, the Bee Gees were thanking the audience and entertaining the crowd when suddenly the sky lit up above Dodger Stadium with a tremendous display of fireworks," said Wells.

"It was a spectacular end to the entire performance and the crowd responded with a thunderous roar of approval."

The sensational last performance of 'You Should Be Dancing' would not actually be their last show as a trio, but it was the final performance of the Gibb brothers recorded on video.

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (9)
Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (10)

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (11)

Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive Music Video

The Bee Gees' final ever performance actually came eight months later on February 23, 2002 at the Love and Hope Ball in Miami, but there is no video of the trio's private last performance.

At the last show, Barry and Maurice played 'Words' and classic songs by the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and The Everly Brothers, before Robin joined them to perform other Bee Gees hits.

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Barry Gibb has since spoken about his sadness of losing all of his brothers, and in an interview featured on Australian show Sunday Night in 2012, just a few months after Robin's death, Barry said: "I’m the last man standing. I’ll never be able to understand that as I’m the eldest."

Barry broke down in tears during the interview, admitting that he had never done that before when speaking about the subject.

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (12)
Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (13)
Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (14)

"Nobody ever really know what the three of us felt about each other," he added. "Only the three of us knew.

"It was such a unifying thing, the three of us became one person. We all had the same dream. That's what I miss more than anything else."

More recently the singer had an opportunity to publicly pay tribute to his brothers when he was honoured for his lifetime artistic achievements at the 2023 Kennedy Center Honours.

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Sir Barry Gibb was joined by five legendary artists at the awards ceremony on December 3, 2023, including Billy Crystal and Dionne Warwick, to be celebrated for their contributions to the 'cultural life of the nation'.

At the end of his acceptance speech, Barry paid tribute to his late brothers, saying he wouldn't have achieved the success he had in his lifetime without them by his side.

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (15)

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (16)

President Joe Biden on Barry Gibb - 46th Kennedy Center Honors (White House Reception)

"Thank you all, this is the most incredible honour of my life," he told the room, which included President Biden.

"Without my brothers, I wouldn't be standing here. I salute Maurice, Robin, and Andy. We were a family of music and a family of love."

Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand and Paul McCartney appeared in pre-recorded messages for Barry Gibb, before country band Little Big Town sang the Bee Gees’ 'Lonely Days'.

Michael Buble was also on hand to praise Gibb’s iconic hair, and sang his version of 'How Can You Mend a Broken Heart', which helped launch Buble’s career, and Ariana DeBose also performed a medley of Gibb’s biggest hits.

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death (2024)

FAQs

Bee Gees' final show: When Barry Gibb gave emotional last performance with Robin before brother's death? ›

Bee Gee brothers Robin and Barry Gibb gave what would later become known as their final performance during the finale of American Idol in 2010. The duo gave a stunning rendition of 'How Deep Is Your Love', just two years before Robin Gibb would die of kidney failure brought on by his battle with cancer.

What was the problem between Robin and Barry Gibb? ›

No sooner had they become famous than the Bee Gees fell out – or, rather, Barry and Robin did: none of the brothers had a clearly defined role in the band, and they ended up arguing over who was the frontman. “Before we ever became famous were the best times of our lives,” he says.

What was the cause of death for Robin and Maurice Gibb? ›

Cancer had spread from his colon to his liver, and in the weeks before his death he had pneumonia and for a while was in a coma. Mr. Gibb was the second Bee Gee and third Gibb brother to die. His fraternal twin and fellow Bee Gee, Maurice Gibb, died of complications of a twisted intestine in 2003 at 53.

What was the last performance of the Bee Gees? ›

The Bee Gees' final ever performance actually came eight months later on February 23, 2002 at the Love and Hope Ball in Miami, but there is no video of the iconic last moment.

Why did Barry Gibb not get along with his brothers? ›

Barry also revealed that there were several periods during their 5 decades in music when he, Robin and Maurice didn't get along, most notably after their initial rise to fame in the late 1960s fuled by hits like “To Love Somebody.” Robin and Barry in particular began to fight over who deserved to be the group's ...

Which Bee Gee had an open marriage? ›

Dwina Gibb, 61, an artist, writer and bisexual self-styled druid priestess, said she and the singer had a “certain kind of freedom” in their marriage, but loved each other deeply. More than one women: Robin Gibb performs in Dubai in 2008, four years before his death, aged 62.

Did Barbra Streisand have a relationship with Barry Gibb? ›

While the chemistry between the pair is undeniable - despite their decades of collaboration - the duo have never been in a relationship. Streisand has been married twice.

Was Maurice Gibb sober when he died? ›

Maurice would remain sober until his death.

Which Bee Gee was married to an Irish woman? ›

The Bee Gees (from left) Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb.

Was Robin Gibb married when he died? ›

He fathered child with housekeeper, his wife is bisexual, druid priestess. May 22, 2012 — -- As Robin Gibb's family makes plans for his funeral, his devoted wife of 28 years, Dwina Gibb, who remained steadfastly at his bedside, has a interesting family dynamic to contend with.

Did Maurice Gibb have a funeral? ›

MIAMI BEACH - About 200 mourners, including singer Michael Jackson and other celebrities, joined family members Wednesday at a private funeral service for Maurice Gibb as the county medical examiner disclosed it was reviewing the sudden death of the Bee Gees band member at a local hospital.

What was the last song Robin Gibb recorded? ›

Robin Gibb - "Sydney" (unfinished composition) 2011. Robin Gibb's last recorded song was featured on a posthumously released album named after the house where he was born.

Why did the Bee Gees do one night only? ›

The album's title was originally meant to reflect the band's plan that the Las Vegas concert would be their final live performance ever.

Did Maurice and Barry Gibb get along? ›

Barry Gibb lost his younger siblings - Robin Gibb, who died in 2012 from cancer, and Maurice Gibb, who died in 2003 from a heart attack - and he admits he has never found "peace" with the fact that he and his brothers didn't really get along with one another before their passing and is something that he will always ...

Who was Andy Gibb in love with? ›

Andy Gibb was briefly married to his high school sweetheart, Kim Reeder, and they had a daughter named Peta in 1978. By 1980, Andy, who had previously been romantically linked with Susan George, Marie Osmond, and Olivia Newton-John, became involved with Dallas star Victoria Principal.

Why was Robin Gibb in a coma? ›

In an interview with BBC radio in early February he proclaimed that he had made a "spectacular recovery" from cancer. But when the Titanic concert debuted in London last week, Robin Gibb wasn't there. "Sadly the reports are true that Robin has contracted pneumonia and is in a coma.

What was the cause of death for Andy Gibb? ›

At around 8:30 am on 10 March 1988, Gibb's doctor informed him more tests were needed to determine the cause of his chest pains. Shortly afterward, Gibb slumped into unconsciousness and died as a result of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle most likely caused by a virus.

Does Barry Gibb have any siblings left? ›

Barry's siblings are older sister Lesley Evans, and younger brothers - twins Maurice and Robin, and Andy Gibb.

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