Bee Gees honoured at home

Dianne Bourne
July 25, 2009

THERE was Friday Night Fever at Manchester's Palace Hotel as the Bee Gees returned to home turf to collect the latest honour in their glittering music career.

Celebrating 50 years in showbiz, brothers Robin and Barry Gibb were joined by a host of family and 600 friends who packed in to see them receive The Variety Club's highest honour, the Silver Heart, for their outstanding contribution to music and charity work.

Brother Maurice, who died suddenly in 2003, was represented at the awards by his wife Yvonne and son Adam in what was an emotional night for the Gibbs - back in the city where they spent much of their childhood.

It was as kids living on Keppel Road in Chorlton they first began to sing together and perform in local movie theatres.

Robin, 59, said: "It was in Manchester when we started our career really. It really was here where our interest in music first began, simple as that.

"So to be honoured here for doing something we love is a great thing."

A host of music and showbiz stars headed to the do to pay their tribute to the band, whose hits include Night Fever, How Deep Is Your Love and Tragedy.

Boyzone star Ronan Keating got huge cheers as he sang his solo hit Words penned by the Bee Gees.

 Soap Star Superstar Richard Fleeshman performed his favourite Bee Gees song Massachusetts and entertainer Joe Longthorne also performed to the delight of the crowds.

Music impresario Sir Tim Rice, DJ Mike Read, and music expert Paul Gamberchini were among those paying tribute.

Mike said: "They are absolutely terrific songwriters and have always been influential, even though people don't often give them the credit they deserve."

It was something of a family reunion for the band, with a host of their cousins who still live in Manchester at the bash.

They included Hazel Gibb-Shacklock and her family who all live in Stretford.

She said: "When we were growing up nobody really believed that our cousins were the Bee Gees. Even now some people don't believe me!"

Robin and Barry's mum Barbara, 88, was causing almost as much a stir as her sons.

Barbara, born and raised in Worsley, said: "People from all over the world have come here and they all want to come and chat. I know how it must feel for celebrities now."

Bee Gees Lovefest

July 26, 2009

THERE was nothing but brotherly love between Bee Gees Robin and Barry Gibb back home in Manchester at the weekend.

The singing brothers were in the city to receive a prestigious Variety Club award at the Palace Hotel, and in accepting the Silver Heart gong, emotions were clearly running high.

There's certainly no need to question just how deep is the love between the two surviving Bee Gees.

Barry said: "We've always been mistaken for two brothers who weren't really into each other as people - but the real truth is we love each other dearly."

Robin added: "I think Barry has said it all and I do love Barry very much - and that's not just because he's my brother, it's because I love him."

More than 500 fans, as well as a host of the brothers' family and friends, packed into the event, including proud mum Barbara, 88.

Their brother Maurice, who died suddenly in 2003, was represented by his wife Yvonne and son Adam, and fondly remembered by Barry.
He said: "Mo was a delight, Mo was the magician, he was the guy who did magic tricks for children - he was magic, he was mystical and he was our brother."

And to the delight of fans, Barry and Robin made a surprise live performance of a host of their biggest hits - the first time they have sang together in nine years.

First up were 1967 hits New York Mining Disaster and To Love Somebody, as well as their worldwide smash Massachusetts.

There was a touching How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? Before Barry picked up the tempo and got the whole room boogying with 70s smash You Should Be Dancing.

Barry, 62, thanked guests at the bash for making it a `lifetime experience'.

He said: "These days we look for lifetime experiences, we don't think about what's tomorrow or next week, we look for lifetime experiences and this is certainly one of them, so we thank you all for coming."

Meanwhile, Robin fondly recalled how the brothers had started singing as children living on Keppel Road in Chorlton.

He said: "From the very early days of early digits, when we lived on Keppel Road and Barry got his first guitar, everything was self-taught, we were just listening to the radio and we wrote songs together.

"We had no friends - we were a bit like the Brontes, only male!"

Celebrity guests queued up to pay their tributes, including Ronan Keating who performed Boyzone's debut number one, the Bee Gees-penned Words. He said: "It was our first number one, and it made things happen for us. We owe the Bee Gees so much for that."

The brothers were filmed at the bash for an upcoming documentary celebrating their 50 years in showbiz this year.

And Robin has even hinted that there may be more new material yet to come from he and Barry.

To watch a short video of Barry and Robin performing go to...

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/video/?bcpid=1138292711&bctid=30772598001