Editing Bee Gees (section)

==History==
===1955–1966: Music origins, Bee Gees formation and popularity in Australia===
[[File:Bee Gees Plaque - Union Mills IOM - kingsley - 21-APR-09.jpg|right|thumb|Bee Gees plaque at Maitland Terrace/Strang Road intersection in Union Mills, [[Isle of Man]]]]

Born on the [[Isle of Man]] in the late 1940s, the Gibb brothers moved to their father [[Hugh Gibb]]'s home town [[Chorlton-cum-Hardy]], Manchester, England, in 1955. They formed a [[skiffle]]/rock-and-roll group, [[The Rattlesnakes (1950s band)|the Rattlesnakes]], which consisted of Barry on guitar and vocals, Robin and Maurice on vocals, and friends Paul Frost on drums and Kenny Horrocks on [[washtub bass#tea chest bass|tea-chest bass]]. In December 1957, the boys began to sing in harmony. The story is told that they were going to [[Lip sync|lip-sync]] to a record in the local Gaumont cinema (as other children had done on previous weeks), but, as they were running to the theatre, the fragile shellac 78-RPM record broke. The brothers had to sing live but received such a positive response from the audience that they decided to pursue a singing career.<ref name="Storyabout-pt2">{{cite web|url= http://www.brothersgibb.org/history-part-2.html|title= The story about The Bee Gees/Part 2—1950–1960|last= Adriaensen|first= Marion|publisher= Brothers Gibb|access-date= 9 May 2011|archive-date= 3 January 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110103230622/http://brothersgibb.org/history-part-2.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> In May 1958, the Rattlesnakes disbanded when Frost and Horrocks left, so the Gibb brothers then formed Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats, with Barry as "Johnny Hayes".<ref name="were">{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=KugbDQHX0R8C&q=the+rattlesnakes+tales+of+the+brothers&pg=PT66 |title= The Bee Gees – Tales of the Brothers Gibb |last= Hughes |first= Andrew |access-date= 29 January 2013|isbn= 9780857120045 |year= 2009|publisher= Omnibus Press }}</ref>

In August 1958, the Gibb family, including older sister Lesley and infant brother [[Andy Gibb|Andy]] (born in March 1958), emigrated to Australia and settled in [[Redcliffe, Queensland]], just north-east of [[Brisbane]]. The young brothers began performing to raise pocket money. [[Dirt track racing|Speedway]] promoter and driver Bill Goode, who had hired the brothers to entertain the crowd at the Redcliffe Speedway in 1960, introduced them to Brisbane radio-presenter jockey Bill Gates. The crowd at the speedway would throw money onto the track for the boys, who generally performed during the interval of meetings (usually on the back of a truck that drove around the track) and, in a deal with Goode, any money they collected from the crowd they were allowed to keep. Gates named the group the "BGs" (later changed to "Bee Gees") after his, Goode's and Barry Gibb's initials. The name was not specifically a reference to "Brothers Gibb", despite popular belief.<ref name="rocknames">{{Citation |last= Dolgins |first= Adam |title= Rock Names: From Abba to ZZ Top |edition= 3rd |page= 24 |publisher= Citadel |year= 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.beegees.com/1543-2/|title= Behind the Name: Bee Gees – Bee Gees|date= 21 August 2017|website= beegees.com|access-date= 30 April 2018|archive-date= 30 April 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180430181555/http://www.beegees.com/1543-2/|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.visitmoretonbayregion.com.au/blog/posts/the-history-of-the-bee-gees-redcliffe|title= The Bee Gees Redcliffe – The Gibbs Brothers Timeline|website= Visitmoretonbayregion.com.au|access-date= 30 April 2018}}</ref>

During the next few years, they began working regularly at resorts on the Queensland coast. Through his songwriting, Barry sparked the interest of Australian star [[Col Joye]], who helped the brothers get a recording deal in 1963 with [[Festival Records]] subsidiary [[Leedon Records]] under the name "Bee Gees". The three released two or three singles a year, while Barry supplied additional songs to other Australian artists. In 1962 the Bee Gees were chosen as the supporting act for [[Chubby Checker]]'s concert at the Sydney Stadium.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.brothersgibb.org/history-part-3.html |title= History Part 3 – The Story of the Bee Gees: 1960–1965 |first= Marion | last = Adriaensen |access-date= 26 January 2015 |archive-date= 1 January 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150101153432/http://www.brothersgibb.org/history-part-3.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>

From 1963 to 1966, the Gibb family lived at 171 Bunnerong Road, [[Maroubra, New South Wales|Maroubra]], in Sydney.<ref>{{cite news|last= Mitchell |first= Alex|title= Bob Carr's tribute to Bee Gees |url= https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/29/1085641764104.html|access-date= 16 April 2012|newspaper= Sydney Morning Herald|date= 30 May 2004}}</ref> Just before his death, Robin Gibb recorded the song "Sydney" about the brothers' experience of living in that city. It was released on his posthumous album ''[[50 St. Catherine's Drive]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title= Robin Gibb Sings Song For Sydney On Final Album|url= http://www.noise11.com/news/robin-gibb-sings-song-for-sydney-on-final-album-20140803|website= noise11.com|date= 3 August 2014|access-date= 4 August 2014}}</ref> The house was demolished in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1= Seiler|first1= Melissa|title= 'Tragedy' after the Bee Gees' former Maroubra home demolished |url= http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/southern-courier/tragedy-after-the-bee-gees-former-maroubra-home-demolished/news-story/b95747db75b73ce9fd54f0154f19c7eb|access-date= 29 September 2016|work= Daily Telegraph|date= 27 September 2016}}</ref>

A minor hit in 1965, "[[Wine and Women]]", led to the group's first LP, ''[[The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs]]''. By 1966 Festival Records was, however, on the verge of dropping them from the Leedon roster because of their perceived lack of commercial success. At this time the brothers met the American-born songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur [[Nat Kipner]], who had just been appointed A&R manager of a new independent [[Record label|label]], [[Spin Records (Australian label)|Spin Records]]. Kipner briefly took over as the group's manager and successfully negotiated their transfer to Spin in exchange for granting Festival the Australian distribution rights to the group's recordings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MILESAGO – Record Labels – Spin Records|url=http://www.milesago.com/Industry/spin.htm|access-date=31 October 2020|website=www.milesago.com}}</ref> Through Kipner the Bee Gees met engineer-producer, [[Ossie Byrne]], who produced (or co-produced with Kipner) many of the earlier Spin recordings, most of which were cut at his own small, self-built St Clair Studio in the Sydney suburb of [[Hurstville, New South Wales|Hurstville]]. Byrne gave the Gibb brothers virtually unlimited access to St Clair Studio over a period of several months in mid-1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milesago.com/industry/downunder.htm |title=DOWNUNDER RECORDS |publisher=milesago.com |access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref> The group later acknowledged that this enabled them to significantly improve their skills as recording artists. During this productive time, they recorded a large batch of original material—including the song that became their first major hit, "[[Spicks and Specks (song)|Spicks and Specks]]" (on which Byrne played the trumpet coda)—as well as cover versions of current hits by overseas acts such as the Beatles. They regularly collaborated with other local musicians, including members of beat band Steve & The Board, led by [[Steve Kipner]], Nat's teenage son.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/1261998/bee-gees-former-label-boss-nat-kipner-dies |title=Bee Gees' Former Label Boss Nat Kipner Dies |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=9 December 2009 |access-date=17 February 2015 |archive-date=15 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615132451/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/1261998/bee-gees-former-label-boss-nat-kipner-dies |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Frustrated by their lack of success, the Gibbs began their return journey to England on 4&nbsp;January 1967, with Ossie Byrne travelling with them. While at sea in January 1967, the Gibbs learned that ''[[Go-Set]]'', Australia's most popular and influential music newspaper, had declared "Spicks and Specks" the "Best Single of the Year".<ref>{{cite web|date=16 July 2010|title=Those old hits keep Stayin' Alive|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/those-old-hits-keep-stayin-alive/news-story/add1a4b056245ba1b95a44036da3ff53|access-date=31 October 2020|website=www.dailytelegraph.com.au}}</ref>

===1967–1969: International fame and touring years===
====''Bee Gees' 1st'', ''Horizontal'' and ''Idea''====
{{see also|The Bee Gees' concerts in 1967 and 1968}}
[[File:Bee gees 1970.JPG|thumb|250px|right|The Bee Gees in 1967 (left to right: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Vince Melouney, Maurice Gibb and Colin Petersen)]]
Before their departure from Australia to England, Hugh Gibb sent demos to [[Brian Epstein]], who managed [[the Beatles]] and directed NEMS, a British music store. Epstein passed the demo tapes to [[Robert Stigwood]], who had recently joined NEMS.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/487863/robin-gibb-of-the-bee-gees-dead-at-62 |title=Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees Dead at 62 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |last=Graff |first=Gary |date=20 May 2012 |access-date=19 February 2015}}</ref> After an audition with Stigwood in February 1967, the Bee Gees signed a five-year contract whereby [[Polydor Records]] would release their records in the UK, and [[Atco Records]] would do so in the US. Work quickly began on the group's first international album, and Stigwood launched a promotional campaign to coincide with its release.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exdHqRsPWAUC&q=robert+stigwood+audition+bee+gees&pg=PT5 |title=Rock Stars Do The Dumbest Things |first1=Margaret | last1 = Moser | first2 = Bill | last2 = Crawford |access-date=19 February 2015|isbn=9781429978385 |date=April 2007|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing }}</ref>

Stigwood proclaimed that the Bee Gees were "The most significant new musical talent of 1967", thus initiating the comparison of the Bee Gees to the Beatles. Before recording the first album, the group expanded to include [[Colin Petersen]] and [[Vince Melouney]].<ref name="ink">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/the-brief-movie-stardom-of-colin-smiley-petersen/|magazine=Filmink|date=26 November 2024|access-date=26 November 2024|title=The Brief Movie Stardom of Colin (Smiley) Petersen}}</ref><ref name= pc49>{{cite web|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19826/m1/ |title=Show 49 – The British are Coming! The British are Coming!: With an emphasis on Donovan, The Bee Gees, and The Who, Part 6 |work=Digital Library |publisher=UNT |access-date=9 July 2011}}</ref> "[[New York Mining Disaster 1941]]", their second British single (their first-issued UK 45 [[Revolutions per minute|rpm]] was "Spicks and Specks"), was issued to radio stations with a blank white label listing only the song title. Some DJs immediately assumed this was a new single by the Beatles and started playing the song in [[Rotation (music)|heavy rotation]]. This helped the song climb into the top 20 in both the UK and US.<ref>{{cite web|date=14 April 2020|title=The Bee Gees release their first international hit New York Mining Disaster 1941 in 1967|url=https://www.popexpresso.com/2020/04/14/the-bee-gees-release-their-first-international-hit-new-york-mining-disaster-1941-in-1967/|access-date=31 October 2020|website=Pop Expresso}}</ref>

No such chicanery was needed to boost the Bee Gees' next single, "[[To Love Somebody (song)|To Love Somebody]]", into the US Top 20. Originally written for [[Otis Redding]], "To Love Somebody", a soulful ballad sung by Barry, has since become a pop standard recorded by many singers.<ref>{{cite web|title=To Love Somebody – The Songs Of The Bee Gees 1966–1970 – Record Collector Magazine|url=https://staging-www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/love-somebody-songs-bee-gees-1966-1970|access-date=31 October 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111105718/https://staging-www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/love-somebody-songs-bee-gees-1966-1970|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another single, "[[Holiday (Bee Gees song)|Holiday]]", released in the US, peaked at No.&nbsp;16.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Bee Gees|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bee-gees/chart-history/hsi/|access-date=31 October 2020|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

The parent album, ''[[Bee Gees' 1st|Bee Gees 1st]]'' (their first internationally), peaked at No.&nbsp;7 in the US and No.&nbsp;8 in the UK. Bill Shepherd was credited as the arranger. After recording that album, the group recorded their first BBC session at the [[Playhouse Theatre]], [[Northumberland Avenue]], in London, with Bill Bebb as the producer, and they performed three songs. That session is included on ''BBC Sessions: 1967–1973'' (2008).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Bee-Gees-The-BBC-Sessions-1967-1973/release/1478006 |title=Bee Gees, The* – BBC Sessions 1967–1973 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=19 February 2015}}</ref> After the release of ''Bee Gees' 1st'', the group was first introduced in New York as "the English surprise".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ykEAAAAMBAJ&q=bee+gees+bee+gees%27+1st+billboard&pg=PA7 |title=The Children of Rock; Belt the Blues |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=20 July 1967 |access-date=24 January 2015}}</ref> At that time, the band made their first British TV appearance on ''[[Top of the Pops]]''. Maurice recalled:

{{blockquote|[[Jimmy Savile]] was on it and that was amazing because we'd seen pictures of him in the Beatles fan club book, so we thought we were really there! That show had [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]], us, [[the Move]], and [[The Rolling Stones|the Stones]] doing '[[Let's Spend the Night Together]]'. You have to remember this was really before the superstar was invented so you were all in it together.{{Sfn|Bilyeu|Cook|Hughes|2009}} }}

In late 1967, they began recording their second album. On 21&nbsp;December 1967, in a live broadcast from [[Liverpool Cathedral|Liverpool Anglican Cathedral]] for a Christmas television special called ''How On Earth?,'' they performed their own song, "Thank You For Christmas" which was written especially for the programme, as well as a medley of the traditional Christmas carols "[[Silent Night]]", "[[The First Noel]]" and "[[Mary's Boy Child]]" (the latter incorrectly noted as "[[Hark! The Herald Angels Sing]]" on tape boxes and subsequent release). The songs were all pre-recorded on 1&nbsp;December 1967 and the group lip-synched their performance. The recordings were eventually released on the "Horizontal" reissue bonus disc in 2008. The folk group [[The Settlers (band)|the Settlers]] and Radio 1 disc-jockey, [[Kenny Everett]], also performed on the programme, which was presented by the Reverend Edward H. Patey, dean of the cathedral.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhino.com/article/rhino-factoids-bee-gees-christmas-special|title=Rhino Factoids: Bee Gees Christmas Special – Rhino|website=Rhino.com|access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Bee Gees cover of KRLA Beat January 27 1968.jpg|thumb|Bee Gees on the cover of the 27 January, 1968 issue of [[KRLA Beat]]]]
January 1968 began with a promotional trip to the US. [[Los Angeles Police Department|Los Angeles Police]] were on alert in anticipation of a Beatles-type reception, and special security arrangements were being put in place.<ref name=pc49 /> In February, ''[[Horizontal (album)|Horizontal]]'' repeated the success of their first album, featuring the group's first UK No.&nbsp;1 single "[[Massachusetts (Bee Gees song)|Massachusetts]]" (a No.&nbsp;11 US hit) and the No.&nbsp;7 UK single "[[World (Bee Gees song)|World]]".<ref name="Charts">[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/bee%20gees/ "Bee Gees: UK Charts History"]. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 December 2014</ref> The sound of the album ''Horizontal'' had a more "rock" sound than their previous release, although ballads like "[[And the Sun Will Shine]]" and "[[Really and Sincerely]]" were included. The ''Horizontal'' album reached No.&nbsp;12 in the US and No.&nbsp;16 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/12951/bee-gees/|work=[[Official Charts]]|title=Official Charts - Bee Gees|access-date=24 January 2024}}</ref>

With the release of ''Horizontal'', they also embarked on a Scandinavian tour with concerts in [[Copenhagen]]. Around the same time, the Bee Gees turned down an offer to write and perform the soundtrack for the film ''[[Wonderwall (film)|Wonderwall]]'', according to director [[Joe Massot]].{{Sfn|Bilyeu|Cook|Hughes|2009}}

On 27 February 1968, the band, backed by the 17-piece Massachusetts String Orchestra, began their first tour of Germany with two concerts at [[Laeiszhalle|Hamburg Musikhalle]]. In March 1968, the band was supported by [[Procol Harum]] (who had a hit "[[A Whiter Shade of Pale]]") on their German tour.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0DMDAwAAQBAJ&q=bee+gees+procol+harum&pg=PT68 |title=Procol Harum: The Ghosts Of A Whiter Shade of Pale |first=Henry | last = Scott-Irvine |access-date=19 February 2015|isbn=9780857128027 |date=20 November 2012 |publisher=Omnibus Press }}</ref> As Robin's partner Molly Hullis recalls: "Germans were wilder than the fans in England at the heights of [[Beatlemania]]." The tour schedule took them to 11 venues in as many days with 18 concerts played, finishing with a brace of shows at the Stadthalle, [[Braunschweig]].

After that, the group was off to [[Switzerland]]. As Maurice described it:

{{blockquote|There were over 5,000 kids at the airport in Zurich. The entire ride to Bern, the kids were waving Union Jacks. When we got to the hotel, the police weren't there to meet us and the kids crushed the car. We were inside and the windows were all getting smashed in, and we were on the floor.{{Sfn|Bilyeu|Cook|Hughes|2009}} }}

On 17 March, the band performed "Words" on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''. The other artists who performed on that night's show were [[Lucille Ball]], [[George Hamilton (actor)|George Hamilton]] and [[Fran Jeffries]].<ref>{{Citation |contribution-url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-ed-sullivan-show/march-17-1968-the-bee-gees-lucille-ball-george-hamilton-fran-jeffries-108953/ |title=The Ed Sullivan show |contribution=17 March 1968: The Bee Gees, Lucille Ball, George Hamilton, Fran Jeffries |publisher=TV |access-date=14 May 2013 |archive-date=17 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017035552/http://www.tv.com/shows/the-ed-sullivan-show/march-17-1968-the-bee-gees-lucille-ball-george-hamilton-fran-jeffries-108953/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 27&nbsp;March 1968, the band performed at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London.{{Sfn|Bilyeu|Cook|Hughes|2009}}

[[File:The Bee Gees.png|thumb|The Bee Gees performing on Dutch television ''Twien'' in 1968]]
Two more singles followed in early 1968: the ballad "[[Words (Bee Gees song)|Words]]" (No.&nbsp;8 UK, No.&nbsp;15 US) and the double A-sided single "[[Jumbo (Bee Gees song)|Jumbo]]" backed with "[[The Singer Sang His Song]]". "Jumbo" only reached No.&nbsp;25 in the UK and No.&nbsp;57 in the US. The Bee Gees felt "The Singer Sang His Song" was the stronger of the two sides, an opinion shared by listeners in the [[Netherlands]] who made it a No.&nbsp;3 hit.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

Further Bee Gees chart singles followed: "[[I've Gotta Get a Message to You]]", their second UK No.&nbsp;1 (No.&nbsp;8 US), and "[[I Started a Joke]]" (No.&nbsp;6 US), both culled from the band's third album ''[[Idea (album)|Idea]]''.<ref name="Charts" /> ''Idea'' reached No.&nbsp;4 in the UK and was another top 20 album in the US (No.&nbsp;17).<ref name="Charts" />

After the tour and TV special to promote the album, Vince Melouney left the group, desiring to play more of a blues style music than the Gibbs were writing. Melouney did achieve one feat while with the Bee Gees: his "[[Idea (album)|Such a Shame]]" (from ''Idea'') is the only song on any Bee Gees album not written by a Gibb brother.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

The band were due to begin a seven-week tour of the US on 2&nbsp;August 1968, but on 27&nbsp;July, Robin collapsed and fell unconscious. He was admitted to a London nursing home for nervous exhaustion, and the American tour was postponed.{{Sfn|Bilyeu|Cook|Hughes|2009}} The band began recording their sixth album, which resulted in their spending a week recording at [[Atlantic Studios]] in New York. Robin, still feeling poorly, missed the New York sessions, but the rest of the band put away instrumental tracks and demos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/68.html |work=Gibb Songs |title=1968 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |publisher=Columbia |access-date=14 May 2013}}</ref>

====''Odessa'', ''Cucumber Castle'' and break-up====
[[File:The Bee Gees - This is Tom Jones, Season 1, Episode 3 (1969).jpg|thumb|right|The Bee Gees performing at ''[[This Is Tom Jones|The Tom Jones Show]]'' in early 1969, one of the last performances with Robin as he left the group later in March]]
By 1969, Robin began to feel that Stigwood had been favouring Barry as the frontman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-15431875|title=Obituary: Robin Gibb|date=21 May 2012|work=BBC News|access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref>

The Bee Gees' performances in early 1969 on the ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' and ''[[This Is Tom Jones|The Tom Jones Show]]'', singing "I Started a Joke" and "First of May" as a medley, were the final appearances of the group with Robin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/69.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1969 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref>

Their next album, which was to have been a concept album called ''Masterpeace'', evolved into the double-album ''[[Odessa (Bee Gees album)|Odessa]]''. Most rock critics felt this was the best Bee Gees album of the 1960s with its progressive rock feel on the [[Odessa (City on the Black Sea)|title track]], the country-flavoured "[[Marley Purt Drive]]" and "[[Odessa (Bee Gees album)|Give Your Best]]", and ballads such as "[[Melody Fair]]" and "[[First of May (Bee Gees song)|First of May]]" (the last of which became the only single from the album and a UK # 6 hit). Feeling the flipside, "[[Lamplight]]", should have been the A-side, Robin quit the group in mid-1969 and launched a solo career.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/arts/music/robin-gibb-62-member-of-the-bee-gees-dies-at-62.html|work=[[New York Times]]|date=20 May 2012|title=Robin Gibb, a Bee Gee With a Taciturn Manner, Dies at 62|first=Ben|last= Sisario|access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref>

The first of many Bee Gees compilations, ''[[Best of Bee Gees]]'', was released featuring the non-LP single "[[Words (Bee Gees song)|Words]]" plus the Australian hit "[[Spicks and Specks (song)|Spicks and Specks]]". The single "[[Tomorrow Tomorrow (Bee Gees song)|Tomorrow Tomorrow]]" was also released and was a moderate hit in the UK, where it reached No.&nbsp;23, but it was only No.&nbsp;54 in the US. The compilation reached the top 10 in both the UK and the US.<ref name="Charts" />

While Robin pursued his solo career, Barry, Maurice and Petersen continued as the Bee Gees on their next album, ''[[Cucumber Castle]]''. The band made their debut performance without Robin at [[Hippodrome, London#The Talk of the Town|Talk of the Town]]. They had recruited their sister, Lesley, to participate in at least one performance at this time as a replacement for Robin.<ref name="Lesley Gibb 1969">{{cite web |title=Lesley Gibb Joins Brothers of the Bee Gees |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-bu-lesley-gibb-jo/34585743/ |website=Newspaper.com |publisher=Detroit Free Press |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=4 July 1969}}</ref> To accompany the album, they also filmed a [[Cucumber Castle (film)|TV special]] with [[Frankie Howerd]] and cameos from several other contemporary pop and rock stars, which aired on the BBC in December 1970. Petersen played drums on the tracks recorded for the album but was fired from the group after filming began (he went on to form the [[Humpy Bong]] with [[Jonathan Kelly]]). His parts were edited out of the final cut of the film and [[Pentangle (band)|Pentangle]] drummer [[Terry Cox]] was recruited to complete the recording of songs for the album.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2016/10/friday-nuggets-early-bee-gees-drum-fun/|title=Friday Nuggets: Early Bee Gees Drum Fun
|magazine=[[Modern Drummer]]|access-date=22 January 2022|date=28 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/australian-singers-turned-actors/|title=Australian Singers Turned Actors|date=14 July 2019}}</ref> A proposed feature film starring the group, ''[[Lord Kitchener's Little Drummer Boys]]'', was not made.

After the album was released in early 1970, it seemed that the Bee Gees were finished. The leadoff single, "[[Don't Forget to Remember]]", was a big hit in the UK, reaching No.&nbsp;2, but only reached No.&nbsp;73 in the US. The next two singles, "[[I.O.I.O.]]" and "[[If Only I Had My Mind on Something Else|If I Only Had My Mind on Something Else]]", barely scraped the charts. On 1&nbsp;December 1969, Barry and Maurice parted ways professionally.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sandoval|first=Andrew|title=The Day-By-Day Story, 1945–1972|year=2012|publisher=Retrofuture Day-By-Day|isbn=978-0-943249-08-7 |pages=102–115 |edition=1st |type=paperback}}</ref>

Maurice started to record his first solo album, ''[[The Loner (Maurice Gibb album)|The Loner]]'', which was not released. Meanwhile, he released the single "[[Railroad (song)|Railroad]]" and starred in the West End musical ''Sing a Rude Song''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcdustsucker.de/disco/alben/railroad.htm |title=Bee Gees Discography: Maurice Gibb – Railroad (Single) |publisher=Mcdustsucker.de |access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref> In February 1970, Barry recorded a solo album which never saw official release either, although "[[I'll Kiss Your Memory]]" was released as a single backed by "This Time" without much interest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Barry-Gibb-Ill-Kiss-Your-Memory-This-Time/release/1544685 |title=Barry Gibb – I'll Kiss Your Memory / This Time |date=May 1970 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref> Meanwhile, Robin saw chart success in Europe and Australia with his UK No.&nbsp;2 hit "[[Saved by the Bell (song)|Saved by the Bell]]" from the album ''[[Robin's Reign]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11536234/Lost-Robin-Gibb-album-to-be-released-thanks-to-fans.html|title='Lost' Robin Gibb album to be released thanks to fans|first=Hannah|last=Furness|work=[[Daily Telegraph]]|publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group Limited]]|access-date=24 January 2024|date=14 April 2015}}</ref>

===1970–1974: Reformation===
[[File:Bee Gees Midnight Special 1973.jpg|thumb|left|The Bee Gees performing at ''The Midnight Special'' in 1973]]
In mid 1970, according to Barry, "Robin rang me in Spain where I was on holiday [saying] 'let's do it again'". By 21&nbsp;August 1970, after they had reunited, Barry announced that the Bee Gees "are there and they will never, ever part again". Maurice said, "We just discussed it and re-formed. We want to apologise publicly to Robin for the things that have been said."<ref name="were" /> Earlier, in June 1970, Robin and Maurice recorded a dozen songs before Barry joined and included two songs that were on their reunion album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/70.html|title=Gibb Songs : 1970|work=columbia.edu}}</ref> Around the same time, Barry and Robin were about to publish the book ''On the Other Hand''.<ref name="were" /> They also recruited [[Geoff Bridgford]] as the group's official drummer. Bridgford had previously worked with [[The Groove (band)|the Groove]] and [[Tin Tin (band)|Tin Tin]] and played drums on Maurice's unreleased first solo album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/69.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1969 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref>

In 1970, ''[[2 Years On]]'' was released in October in the US and November in the UK. The lead single "[[Lonely Days]]" reached No.&nbsp;3 in the United States, promoted by appearances on ''[[The Johnny Cash Show]],'' ''[[Johnny Carson]]'s [[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson|Tonight Show]]'', ''[[The Andy Williams Show]]'', ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]'' and ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''.<ref name="were" />

Their ninth album, ''[[Trafalgar (album)|Trafalgar]]'', was released in late 1971. The single "[[How Can You Mend a Broken Heart]]" was their first to hit No.&nbsp;1 on the US charts, while "[[Israel (Bee Gees song)|Israel]]" reached No.&nbsp;22 in the Netherlands. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" also brought the Bee Gees their first [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]]. Later that year, the group's songs were included in the soundtrack for the film ''[[Melody (1971 film)|Melody]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/19/the-bee-gees-40-greatest-songs-ranked|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=22 January 2024|title=The Bee Gees' 40 greatest songs – ranked!|first=Alexis|last=Petridis|date=19 January 2023}}</ref>

In 1972, they hit No. 16 in the US with the non-album single "[[My World (Bee Gees song)|My World]]", backed by Maurice's composition "[[On Time (song)|On Time]]". Another 1972 single, "[[Run to Me (Bee Gees song)|Run to Me]]" from the LP ''[[To Whom It May Concern (Bee Gees album)|To Whom It May Concern]]'', returned them to the UK top 10 for the first time in three years.<ref name="Charts" /> Bridgford left the group partway through recording, and the band chose not to hire a new member to replace him.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/bee-gees-10-best-songs/|title=The 10 best Bee Gees songs of all time|magazine=[[Far Out Magazine]]|access-date=22 January 2024|first=Tyler|last=Golson|date=1 September 2021}}</ref> The resulting three-piece lineup of Barry, Robin and Maurice would remain unbroken for the remainder of the band's active years. On 24&nbsp;November 1972, the band headlined the "Woodstock of the West" Festival at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Los Angeles Coliseum]] (which was a West Coast answer to [[Woodstock]] in New York), which also featured [[Sly and the Family Stone]], [[Stevie Wonder]] and the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdayinrock.com/index.php/general/1972-the-los-angeles-coliseum-plays-host-to-the-woodstock-of-the-west/ |title=1972 – The Los Angeles Coliseum plays host to the Woodstock of the West |publisher=This Day in Rock |first1=Stu |last1=Sweatman |access-date=15 February 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150215162832/http://www.thisdayinrock.com/index.php/general/1972-the-los-angeles-coliseum-plays-host-to-the-woodstock-of-the-west/ |archive-date= 15 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kdkb-fm.firstmediaworks.com/article.asp?id=579627|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215182715/http://kdkb-fm.firstmediaworks.com/article.asp?id=579627|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 February 2015|title= November 24|publisher=93.3 KDKB Rocks Arizona |access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref> Also in 1972, the group sang "[[Hey Jude]]" with [[Wilson Pickett]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoQ2RglvBl4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/KoQ2RglvBl4| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Wilson Pickett and Bee Gees Hey Jude |author=POLLOIDER |date=26 February 2007 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=15 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

By 1973, however, the Bee Gees were in a rut. The album ''[[Life in a Tin Can]]'', released on Robert Stigwood's newly formed [[RSO Records]], and its lead-off single, "[[Saw a New Morning]]", sold poorly with the single peaking at No.&nbsp;94. This was followed by an unreleased album (known as ''[[A Kick in the Head Is Worth Eight in the Pants]]''). They also released an album only available in South America, ''[[Kitty Can (album)|Kitty Can]]''. Another compilation album, ''[[Best of Bee Gees, Volume 2]]'', was released in 1973, although it did not repeat the success of [[Best of Bee Gees|Volume 1]]. On 6&nbsp;April 1973 episode of ''[[The Midnight Special (TV series)|The Midnight Special]]'' they performed "[[Money (That's What I Want)]]" with [[Jerry Lee Lewis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHQGdh2CTWs |author=JerryLeeLewisTV |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/CHQGdh2CTWs| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Jerry Lee Lewis & Bee Gees -Money (Live 1973) |date=13 February 2009 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=17 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Also in 1973, they were invited by [[Chuck Berry]] to perform two songs with him onstage at ''The Midnight Special'': "[[Johnny B. Goode]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1oaf2hEXwY |author=julio on line |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/t1oaf2hEXwY| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Bee Gees Chuck Berry Johnny B Goode (Live At Midnight Special 73).mpg |date=29 May 2011 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=15 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and "[[Reelin' and Rockin']]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5NwvAiRmvw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/n5NwvAiRmvw| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live |author=Mark Pountney Music |title=Reelin' and Rockin' - Chuck Berry The Midnight Special 1973 with Bee Gees |date=10 June 2007 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=15 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

After a tour of the United States in early 1974 and a Canadian tour later in the year,<ref name="Inc.1974">{{cite magazine|first=Martin | last = Melhuish|title=From the Music Capitals of the World|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tQcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47|date=12 October 1974|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=47–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> the group ended up playing small clubs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/74.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1974 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=5 December 2014}}</ref> As Barry joked, "We ended up in, have you ever heard of [[Batley Variety Club|Batley's the variety club]] in ([[West Yorkshire]]) England?".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OvYUAgAAQBAJ&q=bee+gees+mr.+natural&pg=PT138 |title=The Bee Gees: The Biography |first=David N. | last = Meyer |access-date=5 December 2014|isbn=9780306821578 |date=9 July 2013|publisher=Hachette Books }}</ref>

On the advice of [[Ahmet Ertegun]], head of their US label [[Atlantic Records]], Stigwood arranged for the group to record with [[soul music]] producer [[Arif Mardin]]. The resulting LP, ''[[Mr. Natural (Bee Gees album)|Mr. Natural]]'', included fewer ballads and foreshadowed the [[rhythm and blues|R&B]] direction of the rest of their career. When it, too, failed to attract much interest, Mardin encouraged them to work within the soul music style. The brothers attempted to assemble a live stage band that could replicate their studio sound. Lead guitarist [[Alan Kendall]] had come on board in 1971 but did not have much to do until ''Mr. Natural''. For that album, they added drummer Dennis Bryon, and they later added ex-[[Strawbs]] keyboard player Blue Weaver, completing the Bee Gees band that lasted through the late 1970s. Maurice, who had previously performed on piano, guitar, harpsichord, electric piano, organ, [[mellotron]] and bass guitar, as well as [[mandolin]] and [[Moog synthesizer|Moog synthesiser]], by then confined himself to bass onstage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jan/10/a-diminished-chord-the-story-of-the-bee-gees/|date=10 January 2021|access-date=22 January 2024|first=Philip|last=Martin|title= CRITICAL MASS: A diminished chord — The story of the Bee Gees|
work=[[Arkansas Democrat Gazette]]}}</ref>

===1975–1979: Turning to disco===
====''Main Course'' and ''Children of the World''====
[[File:Bee Gees' wordmark logo (1975-1981).gif|thumb|upright=1.1|Bee Gees' wordmark logo (1975–1981)]]
At [[Eric Clapton]]'s suggestion, the brothers moved to [[Miami|Miami, Florida]], early in 1975 to record at [[Criteria Studios]]. After starting off with ballads, they eventually heeded the urging of Mardin and Stigwood, and crafted more dance-oriented [[disco]] songs, including their second US No.&nbsp;1, "[[Jive Talkin']]", along with US No.&nbsp;7 "[[Nights on Broadway]]". The band liked the resulting new sound. This time the public agreed by sending the LP ''[[Main Course]]'' up the charts. This album included the first Bee Gees songs wherein Barry used [[falsetto]],<ref>{{cite web |last=James|first=Nicholas|title=Main Course – Bee Gees|url=http://www.beegeesreviews.info/reviews/maincourse.htm|work=Bee Gees reviews |access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref> something that became a trademark of the band. This was also the first Bee Gees album to have two US top-10 singles since 1968's ''Idea''.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} ''Main Course'' also became their first charting R&B album.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

On the Bee Gees' appearance on ''The Midnight Special'' in 1975, to promote ''Main Course'', they sang "To Love Somebody" with [[Helen Reddy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh_GJ9uEhQg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Mh_GJ9uEhQg| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=HELEN REDDY JAMMING WITH THE BEE GEES – MIDNIGHT SPECIAL – THE QUEEN OF 70s POP |date=30 January 2012 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=17 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Around the same time, the Bee Gees recorded three Beatles covers—"[[Golden Slumbers]]/[[Carry That Weight]]", "[[She Came In Through the Bathroom Window|She Came in Through the Bathroom Window]]" with Barry providing lead vocals, and "[[Sun King (song)|Sun King]]" with Maurice providing lead vocals, for the unsuccessful musical/documentary ''[[All This and World War II]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/75.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1975 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref>

The next album, ''[[Children of the World]]'', released in September 1976, was filled with Barry's new-found falsetto and Weaver's synthesizer disco licks.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} The first single from the album was "[[You Should Be Dancing]]", which features percussion work by musician [[Stephen Stills]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/stephen-stills-interview-were-still-here-haha-haha-ha-8772387.html |title=Stephen Stills interview: 'We're still here, haha haha ha!' |date=17 August 2013 |access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref> The song pushed the Bee Gees to a level of stardom they had not previously achieved in the US, though their new R&B/disco sound was not as popular with some diehard fans. The pop ballad "[[Love So Right]]" reached No.&nbsp;3 in the US, and "[[Boogie Child]]" reached US No.&nbsp;12 in January 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/77.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1977 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref> The album peaked at No.&nbsp;8 in the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/76.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1976 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref>

====''Saturday Night Fever'' and ''Spirits Having Flown''====
Following a successful live album, ''[[Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live]]'', the Bee Gees agreed with Stigwood to participate in the creation of the [[Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack)|''Saturday Night Fever'' soundtrack]]. It was a turning point in their career. The cultural impact of both the film and the soundtrack was significant throughout the world, and epitomized the [[disco]] phenomenon on both sides of the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=James|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/01/14/DD113470.DTL&hw=appreciate&sn=223&sc=222 |title=APPRECIATION / Contributor to a sound that went beyond disco |website=sfgate.com|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=14 January 2003 |access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref>

The band's involvement in the film did not begin until post-production. As [[John Travolta]] asserted, "The Bee Gees weren't even involved in the movie in the beginning&nbsp;... I was dancing to [[Stevie Wonder]] and [[Boz Scaggs]]."<ref name="Kashner">Sam Kashner, "Fever Pitch", ''Movies Rock'' (Supplement to ''The New Yorker''), Fall 2007, unnumbered page.</ref> Producer Robert Stigwood commissioned the Bee Gees to create the songs for the film.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/how-can-you-mend-a-broken-group-the-bee-gees-did-it-with-disco-20120520 |title=How Can You Mend a Broken Group? The Bee Gees Did It With Disco |date=14 July 1977 |magazine=Rolling Stone |last=Rose |first=Frank |access-date=18 February 2015}}</ref> The brothers wrote the songs "virtually in a single weekend" at [[Château d'Hérouville|Château d'Hérouville studio]] in France.<ref name="Kashner" /> Barry Gibb remembered the reaction when Stigwood and music supervisor Bill Oakes arrived and listened to the demos:

{{blockquote|They flipped out and said these will be great. We still had no concept of the movie, except some kind of rough script that they'd brought with them.&nbsp;... You've got to remember, we were fairly dead in the water at that point, 1975, somewhere in that zone—the Bee Gees' sound was basically tired. We needed something new. We hadn't had a hit record in about three years. So we felt, Oh Jeez, that's it. That's our life span, like most groups in the late '60s. So, we had to find something. We didn't know what was going to happen.<ref name="Kashner" />}}

Bill Oakes, who supervised the soundtrack, asserts that ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'' did not begin the disco craze but rather prolonged it: "Disco had run its course. These days, ''Fever'' is credited with kicking off the whole disco thing—it really didn't. Truth is, it breathed new life into a genre that was actually dying."<ref name="Kashner" />

Three Bee Gees singles—"[[How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees song)|How Deep Is Your Love]]" (US No.&nbsp;1, UK No.&nbsp;3), "[[Stayin' Alive]]" (US No.&nbsp;1, UK No.&nbsp;4) and "[[Night Fever]]" (US No.&nbsp;1, UK No.&nbsp;1)—charted high in many countries around the world, launching the most popular period of the disco era.<ref name="Charts"/> They also penned the song "[[If I Can't Have You (Bee Gees song)|If I Can't Have You]]", which became a US No.&nbsp;1 hit for [[Yvonne Elliman]], while the Bee Gees' own version was the B-side of "Stayin' Alive". Such was the popularity of ''Saturday Night Fever'' that two different versions of the song "[[More Than a Woman (Bee Gees song)|More Than a Woman]]" received airplay, one by the Bee Gees, which was relegated to an album track, and another by [[Tavares (group)|Tavares]], which was the hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/bee-gees/more-than-a-woman-which-version-is-best/|title=More Than A Woman - Which Version Is Best?|work=[[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]]|access-date=22 January 2024|publisher=[[Global Media & Entertainment|Global]]|date=2 December 2014|archive-date=19 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119193842/https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/bee-gees/more-than-a-woman-which-version-is-best/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During a nine-month period beginning in the Christmas season of 1977, [[List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1978|seven songs]] written by the brothers held the No.&nbsp;1 position on the US charts for 27 of 37 consecutive weeks: three of their own releases, two for brother [[Andy Gibb]], the [[Yvonne Elliman]] single, and "[[Grease (song)|Grease]]", performed by [[Frankie Valli]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/78.html|title=Gibb Songs: 1978|publisher=Columbia University|access-date=4 December 2023}}</ref>

Fuelled by the film's success, the soundtrack broke multiple industry records, becoming the highest-selling album in recording history to that point. With more than 40&nbsp;million copies sold, ''Saturday Night Fever'' is among music's top five best selling soundtrack albums. {{as of|2010}}, it is calculated as the [[List of best-selling albums|fourth highest-selling album]] worldwide.<ref name="Everyhit records">{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com/recordalb.html|title=Record-Breakers and Trivia—Albums|publisher=Every hit |access-date=28 November 2011}}</ref>

In March 1978, the Bee Gees held the top two positions on the US charts with "Night Fever" and "Stayin' Alive", the first time this had happened since the Beatles. On the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart for 25&nbsp;March 1978, five songs written by the Gibbs were in the US top 10 at the same time: "Night Fever", "Stayin' Alive", "If I Can't Have You", "Emotion" and "Love Is Thicker Than Water". Such chart dominance had not been seen since April 1964, when the Beatles had all five of the top five American singles. Barry Gibb became the only songwriter to have four consecutive number-one hits in the US, breaking the [[John Lennon]] and [[Paul McCartney]] 1964 record. These songs were "Stayin' Alive", "Love Is Thicker Than Water", "Night Fever" and "If I Can't Have You".<ref>{{cite web|last=Brownfield|first=Troy|title=Beating the Beatles: Can Anyone Take the Top Five Again?|url=https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2019/04/beating-the-beatles-can-anyone-take-the-top-five-again/|website=saturdayeveningpost.com|publisher=Saturday Evening Post|date=4 April 2019|access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref>

The Bee Gees won five [[Grammy Awards]] for ''Saturday Night Fever'' over two years: [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], [[Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical|Producer of the Year]] (with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson), two awards for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]] (one in 1978 for "How Deep Is Your Love" and one in 1979 for "Stayin' Alive"), and [[Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices|Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices]] for "Stayin' Alive".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1979/02/16/grammy-awards-billy-joels-ballad-upsets-bees-gees-anthem/c898e39c-34f5-4825-9d98-714d869a6668/|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|title= Billy Joel's Ballad Upsets Bees Gees' Anthem|first1=Joseph|last1=McLellan|first2=Eve|last2=Zibart|access-date=22 January 2024|date=16 February 1979}}</ref>

During this era, Barry and Robin also wrote "[[Emotion (Samantha Sang song)|Emotion]]" for an old friend, Australian vocalist [[Samantha Sang]], who made it a top 10 hit, with the Bee Gees singing backing vocals. Barry also wrote the title song to the film version of the Broadway musical ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'' for [[Frankie Valli]] to perform, which went to No.&nbsp;1.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/why-didnt-barry-gibb-sing-the-grease-theme-song/|access-date=22 January 2024|first=Tyler|last=Golsen|title=Why didn't Barry Gibb sing the 'Grease' theme song?|date=17 September 2023|magazine=[[Far Out Magazine]]}}</ref>

The Bee Gees also co-starred with [[Peter Frampton]] in Robert Stigwood's film ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)|Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' (1978), loosely inspired by the classic 1967 album by the Beatles. The movie had been heavily promoted prior to release and was expected to enjoy great commercial success. However, it was savaged by film critics as a disjointed mess and ignored by the public. The soundtrack charted top five in the U.S., but only top 38 in Britain. The single "[[Oh! Darling]]", credited to Robin Gibb, reached No.&nbsp;15 in the US.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Robin Gibb|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robin-gibb/chart-history/hsi/|access-date=27 October 2021|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

The Bee Gees' follow-up to ''Saturday Night Fever'' was the ''[[Spirits Having Flown]]'' album. It yielded three more hits: "[[Too Much Heaven]]" (US No.&nbsp;1, UK No.&nbsp;3), "[[Tragedy (Bee Gees song)|Tragedy]]" (US No.&nbsp;1, UK No.&nbsp;1), and "[[Love You Inside Out]]" (US No.&nbsp;1, UK No.&nbsp;13).<ref name="Charts" /> This gave the act six consecutive No.&nbsp;1 singles in the US within a year and a half, equalling the Beatles and surpassed only by [[Whitney Houston]].<ref name="singles">{{cite journal| title=Jet |journal=Jet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WLADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54|date=2 May 1988|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|page=54|issn=0021-5996}}</ref>

In January 1979, the Bee Gees performed "Too Much Heaven" as their contribution to the [[Music for UNICEF Concert]] at the [[United Nations General Assembly]].<ref>Fred Bronson, "Too Much Heaven", in ''The Billboard Book of Number One Hits'' (Los Angeles: Billboard Books, 2003), 496. {{ISBN|0823076776}}, 9780823076772</ref> During the summer of 1979, the Bee Gees embarked on their largest concert tour covering the US and Canada. The [[Spirits Having Flown Tour|Spirits Having Flown tour]] capitalised on Bee Gees fever that was sweeping the nation, with sold-out concerts in 38 cities. The Bee Gees produced a video for the title track "[[Too Much Heaven]]", directed by Miami-based filmmaker Martin Pitts and produced by Charles Allen. With this video, Pitts and Allen began a long association with the brothers.<ref>On Pitts, see https://imvdb.com/n/martin-pitts</ref>

The Bee Gees even had a country hit in 1979 with "[[Rest Your Love on Me]]", the flip side of their pop hit "Too Much Heaven", which made the top 40 on the country charts. It was also a 1981 hit for [[Conway Twitty]], topping the [[country music]] charts.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944–2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=360}}</ref>

The Bee Gees' success rose and fell with the disco bubble. By the end of 1979, disco was rapidly declining in popularity, and the backlash against disco put the Bee Gees' American career in a tailspin. Encouraged by [[Steve Dahl]]'s [[Disco Demolition Night]], radio stations around the US began promoting "Bee Gee-Free Weekends". Following their remarkable run from 1975 to 1979, the act had only one more top 10 single in the US, and that did not come until the single "'''One'''" reached number 7 in 1989.<ref name="rank">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/487819/bee-gees-rank-third-among-groups-for-most-hot-100-no-1s-in-history|title=Bee Gees Rank Third Among Groups for Most Hot 100 No. 1s in History|magazine=Billboard| access-date =9 November 2019|date=21 May 2012|first=Keith|last=Caulfield}}</ref>

Barry Gibb considered the success of the ''Saturday Night Fever'' soundtrack both a blessing and a curse:

{{blockquote|''Fever'' was No. 1 every week&nbsp;... It wasn't just like a hit album. It was No.&nbsp;1 every single week for 25 weeks. It was just an amazing, crazy, extraordinary time. I remember not being able to answer the phone, and I remember people climbing over my walls. I was quite grateful when it stopped. It was too unreal. In the long run, your life is better if it's not like that on a constant basis. Nice though it was.<ref name="Kashner" />}}

===1980–1986: Outside projects, band turmoil, solo efforts and decline===
Robin co-produced [[Jimmy Ruffin]]'s ''[[Sunrise (Jimmy Ruffin album)|Sunrise]]'' released in May 1980, but the songs were started in 1979; the album contains songs written by the Gibb brothers, including the single "Hold On To My Love".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/80.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1980 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref>

In March 1980, Barry Gibb worked with [[Barbra Streisand]] on her album ''[[Guilty (Barbra Streisand album)|Guilty]]''. He co-produced, and wrote or co-wrote all nine of the album's tracks (four of them written with Robin, and the title track with both Robin and Maurice). Barry also appeared on the album's cover with Streisand and duetted with her on two tracks. The album reached No.&nbsp;1 in both the US and the UK, as did the single "[[Woman in Love]]" (written by Barry and Robin), becoming Streisand's most successful single and album to date. Both of the Streisand/Gibb duets, "[[Guilty (Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb song)|Guilty]]" and "[[What Kind of Fool]]", also reached the US Top 10.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.sony.com/content/sony/en/en_us/SCA/company-news/press-releases/sony-music-entertainment/2005/new-barbra-streisandbarry-gibb-collaborative-album-guilty-pleasures-to-be-released-as-cd-and-dualdisc-on-tuesday-september-20.html|title=New Barbra Streisand-Barry Gibb Collaborative Album, 'Guilty Pleasures,' to be Released as CD and DualDisc on Tuesday, September 20|work=[[Sony Music Entertainment]]|date=29 August 2005|access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref>

In 1981, the Bee Gees released the album ''[[Living Eyes (Bee Gees album)|Living Eyes]]'', their last full-length album release on RSO. This album was the first CD ever played in public, when it was played to viewers of the BBC show ''[[Tomorrow's World]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bilyeu|first1=Melinda|first2=Hector |last2=Cook |first3=Andrew Môn |last3=Hughes |publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2004|isbn=978-1-84449-057-8|title=The Bee Gees: tales of the brothers Gibb|page=519}}</ref> With the disco backlash still running strong, the album failed to make the UK or US Top 40—breaking their streak of Top 40 hits, which started in 1975 with "[[Jive Talkin']]". Two singles from the album fared little better—"[[He's a Liar]]", which reached No.&nbsp;30 in the US, and "[[Living Eyes (song)|Living Eyes]]", which reached No.&nbsp;45.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

In 1982, [[Dionne Warwick]] enjoyed a UK No.&nbsp;2 and US [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary No.&nbsp;1]] hit with her comeback single, "[[Heartbreaker (Dionne Warwick song)|Heartbreaker]]", taken from her [[Heartbreaker (Dionne Warwick album)|album of the same name]], written largely by the Bee Gees and co-produced by Barry Gibb. The album reached No.&nbsp;3 in the UK and the Top 30 in the US, where it was certified Gold.

A year later, [[Dolly Parton]] and [[Kenny Rogers]] recorded the Bee Gees-penned track "[[Islands in the Stream (song)|Islands in the Stream]]", which became a US and Australian No.&nbsp;1 hit and entered the Top 10 in the UK. Rogers' 1983 album, ''[[Eyes That See in the Dark]]'', was written entirely by the Bee Gees and co-produced by Barry. The album was a Top 10 hit in the US and was certified Double Platinum.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/kenny-rogers-10-essential-songs-970871/islands-in-the-stream-1983-970879/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=21 March 2020|first1=Stephen L.|last1=Betts|first2=Jon|last2=Freeman|title=Kenny Rogers: 10 Essential Songs|access-date=24 January 2024}}</ref>

The Bee Gees had greater success with the [[Staying Alive (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] to ''[[Staying Alive (1983 film)|Staying Alive]]'' in 1983, the sequel to ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]''. The soundtrack was certified platinum in the US, and included their Top 30 hit "[[The Woman in You]]".{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

Also in 1983, the band was sued by Chicago songwriter [[Selle v. Gibb|Ronald Selle]], who claimed the brothers stole melodic material from one of his songs, "Let It End", and used it in "How Deep Is Your Love". At first, the Bee Gees lost the case; one juror said that a factor in the jury's decision was the Gibbs' failure to introduce expert testimony rebutting the plaintiff's expert testimony that it was "impossible" for the two songs to have been written independently. However, the verdict was overturned a few months later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/83.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1983 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref>

In August 1983, Barry signed a solo deal with MCA Records and spent much of late 1983 and 1984 writing songs for this first solo effort, ''[[Now Voyager]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/84.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1984 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref> Robin released three solo albums in the 1980s, ''[[How Old Are You? (album)|How Old Are You?]]'', ''[[Secret Agent (Robin Gibb album)|Secret Agent]]'' and ''[[Walls Have Eyes]]''. Maurice released his second single to date, "[[Hold Her in Your Hand]]", the first one having been released in 1970.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hughes |first=Andrew |title=The Bee Gees – Tales of the Brothers Gibb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KugbDQHX0R8C&q=i%27ll+kiss+your+memory+bee+gees&pg=PT571 |year=2009 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=9780857120045 |access-date=7 January 2014}}</ref>

In 1985, [[Diana Ross]] released the album ''[[Eaten Alive (album)|Eaten Alive]]'', written by the Bee Gees, with the title track co-written with [[Michael Jackson]] (who also performed on the track). The album was again co-produced by Barry Gibb, and the single "[[Chain Reaction (Diana Ross song)|Chain Reaction]]" gave Ross a UK and Australian No.&nbsp;1 hit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerry/lifestyle/the-top-ten-this-week-in-1986-dazzling-diana-ross-leads-star-studded-line-up/40205314.html|title=The top ten this week in 1986: dazzling Diana Ross leads star studded line-up|work=[[Irish Independent]]|first=Jim|last=Hayes|publisher=[[Independent News & Media]]|date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

===1987–1999: Comeback, return to popularity and Andy's death===
The Bee Gees released the album ''[[E.S.P. (Bee Gees album)|E.S.P.]]'' in 1987, which sold over 2&nbsp;million copies.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mario Luzzato | last = Fegiz|title=Una lacrima nel ritorno dei Bee Gees|url=http://archivio.corriere.it/Archivio/interface/view.shtml#!/NDovZXMvaXQvcmNzZGF0aS9AMzE1NDI%3D|date=25 April 1989|language=it|newspaper={{Lang|it|Corriere della Sera}}|page=25|quote=L'album "ESP", che, con due milioni di copie vendute il mondo (cifra lontana dai record dei passato, battutu solo da| 
access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref> It was their first album in six years and their first for [[Warner Records|Warner Bros. Records]]. The single "[[You Win Again (Bee Gees song)|You Win Again]]" went to No.&nbsp;1 in numerous countries, including the UK,<ref name="UKCharts">{{Citation |last=Roberts |first=David |year=2006 |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |place=London |publisher=Guinness World Records|title-link=British Hit Singles & Albums}}</ref> and made the Bee Gees the first group to score a UK No.&nbsp;1 hit in each of three decades: the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.<ref>{{Citation |first1=Dafydd |last1=Rees |first2=Luke |last2=Crampton |year=1991 |title=Rock movers & shakers |volume=1991 |chapter=Part 2 |page=46}}</ref> The single was a disappointment in the US, charting at No.&nbsp;75, and the Bee Gees voiced their frustration over American radio stations not playing their new European hit single, an omission which the group felt led to poor sales of their current album in the US. The song won the Bee Gees the 1987 British Academy's [[Ivor Novello Awards|Ivor Novello Award]] for [[Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically|Best Song Musically and Lyrically]], and in February 1988 the band received a [[Brit Award]] nomination for [[Brit Award for British Group|Best British Group]].<ref>{{cite news|first=David |last=Lister |title=Pop ballads bite back in lyrical fashion: David Lister charts a sea change away from rap towards memorable melodies |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/pop-ballads-bite-back-in-lyrical-fashion-david-lister-charts-a-sea-change-away-from-rap-towards-memorable-melodies-1438995.html |date=28 May 1994 |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref>

The Bee Gees later got together with [[Eric Clapton]] to create a group called '[[1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time|the Bunburys]]' to raise money for English charities. The group recorded three songs for ''The Bunbury Tails'': "We're the Bunburys" (which eventually became the opening theme to the 1992 animated series ''The Bunbury Tails''), "Bunbury Afternoon", and "Fight (No Matter How Long)". The last song reached No.&nbsp;8 on the rock music chart and appeared on ''[[1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time|The 1988 Summer Olympics Album]]''.<ref name="Bunburys">{{cite web |url=https://www.bathroomreader.com/2014/06/bee-gees-meet-eric-clapton-bunbury-tails/ |title=The Bee Gees Meet Eric Clapton |work=Uncle John's Bathroom Reader |date=27 June 2014 |access-date=29 July 2017 |archive-date=29 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729221353/https://www.bathroomreader.com/2014/06/bee-gees-meet-eric-clapton-bunbury-tails/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Bee Gees' next album, ''[[One (Bee Gees album)|One]]'' (1989), featured "Wish You Were Here", a song dedicated to their younger brother [[Andy Gibb|Andy]], who had died in 1988 of [[myocarditis]] resulting from a viral infection. The album also contained their first US Top 10 hit (No.&nbsp;7) in a decade, "One" (an Adult Contemporary No.&nbsp;1). After the album's release, the band embarked on its first world tour in 10 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1989/08/03/the-bee-gees-after-the-fever/0f9d95a1-e813-4199-a815-5c9f6e081a78/|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|title=THE BEE GEES, AFTER THE FEVER|date=3 August 1989|accessdate=23 October 2024|first=Richard|last=Harrington}}</ref>

In the UK, Polydor issued a single-disc hits collection from ''Tales'' called ''[[The Very Best of the Bee Gees]]'', which contained their biggest UK hits. The album became one of their best-selling albums in that country, and was eventually certified Triple Platinum.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/barry-gibb-shares-stories-behind-bee-gees-biggest-hits-news/|title=Barry Gibb Shares Stories Behind Bee Gees' Biggest Hits|first=Madeline|last=Crone|work=[[American Songwriter]]|accessdate=23 October 2024|date=7 April 2021}}</ref>

Following their next album, ''[[High Civilization]]'' (1991), which contained the UK top five hit "[[Secret Love (Bee Gees song)|Secret Love]]", the Bee Gees went on a European tour. After the tour, Barry Gibb began to battle a serious back problem, which required surgery. In addition, he had [[arthritis]] which, at one point, was so severe that it was doubtful that he would be able to play guitar for much longer. Also, in the early 1990s, Maurice Gibb finally sought treatment for his alcoholism, which he had battled for many years with the help of [[Alcoholics Anonymous]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2003/jan/18/20030118-084437-1909r/|date=18 January 2023|title=Maurice Gibb's harmonizing influence|work=[[The Washington Times]]|access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref>

In 1993, the group returned to the Polydor label and released the album ''[[Size Isn't Everything]]'', which contained the UK top five hit "For Whom the Bell Tolls". Success still eluded them in the US, however, as the first single released, "[[Paying the Price of Love]]", only managed to reach No.&nbsp;74 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], while the parent album stalled at No.&nbsp;153.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

In 1997, they released the album ''[[Still Waters (Bee Gees album)|Still Waters]]'', which has reached No.&nbsp;2 in the UK (their highest album chart position there since 1979) and No.&nbsp;11 in the US. The album's first single, "[[Alone (Bee Gees song)|Alone]]", gave them another UK Top 5 hit and a top 30 hit in the US. ''Still Waters'' was the band's most successful US release of their post-RSO era.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.nestor.minsk.by/mg/articles/1998/35/1000.html|title=Bee Gees :: Stayin' Alive|journal=[[Музыкальная Газета]]|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425203310/http://www.nestor.minsk.by/mg/articles/1998/35/1000.html|archive-date=25 April 2017|access-date=3 April 2020|issue=35|year=1998 |language=ru}}</ref>

At the [[Brit Awards 1997|1997 BRIT Awards]] held in [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court]], London on 24&nbsp;February, the Bee Gees received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.<ref name="1997Awards">{{Citation |url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1997 |year=1997 |title=Brit Awards |access-date=9 December 2011 |archive-date=12 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112053839/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1997 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 14&nbsp;November 1997, the Bee Gees performed a live concert in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] called ''[[One Night Only (Bee Gees album)|One Night Only]]''. The show included a performance of "Our Love (Don't Throw It All Away)" synchronised with a vocal by their deceased brother Andy and a guest appearance by [[Celine Dion]] singing "[[Immortality (Celine Dion song)|Immortality]]". The "One Night Only" name grew out of the band's declaration that, due to Barry's health issues, the Las Vegas show was to be the final live performance of their career. After the immensely positive audience response to the Vegas concert, Barry decided to continue despite the pain, and the concert expanded into their last full-blown world tour of "One Night Only" concerts.{{Sfn|Bilyeu|Cook|Hughes|2009}}{{Page needed|date=December 2013}} The tour included playing to 56,000 people at London's [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] on 5&nbsp;September 1998 and concluded in the newly built [[Stadium Australia|Olympic Stadium]] in Sydney, Australia on 27&nbsp;March 1999 to 72,000 people.{{Sfn|Bilyeu|Cook|Hughes|2009}}{{Page needed|date=December 2013}} During the ''One Night Only'' tour, the Bee Gees also finally gave live performances of ''[[Grease (song)|Grease]];''<ref name=grease>{{cite news|url=https://www.beegees.com/behind-track-grease/|title=Behind The Track: "Grease"|publisher=beegees.com|access-date=4 December 2023|archive-date=4 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204164334/https://www.beegees.com/behind-track-grease/|url-status=dead}}</ref> though Barry previously wrote the song for the 1978 [[Grease (film)|film of the same name]], it was performed mainly by Frankie Valli.<ref name=grease />

In 1998, the group's soundtrack for ''Saturday Night Fever'' was incorporated into a [[Saturday Night Fever (musical)|stage production]] produced first in the West End and then on Broadway. They wrote three new songs for the adaptation. Also in 1998, the brothers released "[[Ellan Vannin (poem)|Ellan Vannin]]" for [[Isle of Man|Manx]] charities, recorded the previous year. Known as the unofficial national anthem of the Isle of Man, the brothers performed the song during their world tour to reflect their pride in the place of their birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2iom.com/iomthebeegees.html |title=The Bee Gees – Born in the Isle of Man |publisher=2iom |access-date=26 October 2011}}</ref>

The Bee Gees closed the century with what turned out to be their last full-sized concert, known as ''BG2K'', on 31&nbsp;December 1999.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/586688.stm |access-date=22 January 2024 |title=In pictures: Celebrity celebrations worldwide |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=1 January 2000}}</ref>

===2000–2008: ''This Is Where I Came In'', Maurice's death, and split===
In 2001, the group released what turned out to be their final album of new material, ''[[This Is Where I Came In]]''. The album was another success, reaching the Top 10 in the UK (being certified Gold), and the Top 20 in the US. [[This Is Where I Came In (song)|The title track]] was also a UK Top 20 hit single.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/this-is-where-i-came-in/ |title=Official Singles Chart Results Matching: This Is Where I Came In |date=7 April 2001 |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> They celebrated their 35th anniversary, and the album, by performing on the television series ''Live by Request'' on the American cable television network A&E.<ref name="BB Live by Request 2001">{{cite magazine |last1=Jeckell |first1=Barry A. |title=Billboard Bits: Bee Gees, Music Midtown, Ween, and More |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billboard-bits-bee-gees-music-midtown-ween-and-more-79992/ |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Billboard |access-date=21 July 2024 |date=25 April 2001}}</ref>

The last concert of the Bee Gees as a trio was at the ''Love and Hope Ball'' in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|last=Média|first=Bell|title=What Happened February 23rd In Pop Music History|url=https://www.iheartradio.ca/news/what-happened-february-23rd-in-pop-music-history-1.8846391|access-date=25 December 2020|website=www.iheartradio.ca|language=en-CA}}</ref> Maurice Gibb died unexpectedly on 12&nbsp;January 2003, at age 53, from a heart attack while awaiting emergency surgery to repair a [[Bowel infarction|strangulated intestine]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2652147.stm |title=Bee Gees question brother's treatment|date=13 January 2003|work=BBC News |access-date=12 November 2009}}</ref> Initially, his surviving brothers announced that they intended to carry on the name "Bee Gees" in his memory, but as time passed they decided to retire the group's name, leaving it to represent the three brothers together.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2682763.stm|title=Bee Gees band name dropped|date=22 January 2003|work=BBC News |access-date=12 November 2009}}</ref>

The same week that Maurice died, Robin's solo album ''[[Magnet (album)|Magnet]]'' was released. On 23&nbsp;February 2003, the Bee Gees received the [[Grammy Legend Award]], they also became the first recipients of that award in the 21st century. Barry and Robin, along with Maurice's son Adam, accepted the award in a tearful ceremony.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F96BA72E6C4286F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D|title=The 45th Annual Grammy Awards|date=24 February 2003|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|format=Payment required to access full article|access-date=19 February 2015}}</ref> On 2&nbsp;May 2004, Barry and Robin Gibb received the [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] award at [[Buckingham Palace]]; their nephew Adam accepted his father Maurice's posthumous award.<ref name="brothersgibb">{{cite web |url=http://www.brothersgibb.org/reports-cbe.html |title=Barry, Robin and Maurice's son Adam received the CBE award |publisher=Brothersgibb.org |date=27 May 2004 |access-date=2 June 2011 |archive-date=17 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017173320/http://www.brothersgibb.org/reports-cbe.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In late 2004, Robin embarked on a solo tour of Germany, Russia, and Asia. During January 2005, Barry, Robin, and several legendary [[One World Project|rock artists]] recorded "Grief Never Grows Old", the official [[Humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake#Fundraising events|tsunami relief]] record for the [[Disasters Emergency Committee]]. Later that year, Barry reunited with [[Barbra Streisand]] for her top-selling album ''[[Guilty Pleasures (Barbra Streisand album)|Guilty Pleasures]]'', released as ''[[Guilty Pleasures (Barbra Streisand album)|Guilty Too]]'' in the UK as a sequel album to the previous ''[[Guilty (Barbra Streisand album)|Guilty]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/bee-gees/barry-gibb-kiss-barbra-streisand-grammy-awards-1981-video/|date=14 April 2022|access-date=22 January 2024|title=When Barry Gibb tenderly kissed Barbra Streisand live on stage at the 1981 Grammy Awards|publisher=[[Global Entertainment]]|work=[[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]]}}</ref> Also in 2004, Barry recorded his song "I Cannot Give You My Love" with [[Cliff Richard]], which became a UK top 20 hit single; Maurice's keyboard work from a 2001 demo version was included in this 2003 version.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/03.html|title=Joseph Brennan – Gibb Songs: 2003|publisher=Columbia.edu|access-date=27 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/cliff%20richard/ |website=Official Charts Company |title=Cliff Richard |access-date=21 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026173253/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/CLIFF%20RICHARD/ |archive-date=26 October 2011}}</ref>

In February 2006, Barry and Robin reunited on stage for a Miami charity concert to benefit the Diabetes Research Institute. It was their first public performance together since Maurice's death. The pair also played at the 30th annual [[Prince's Trust]] Concert in the UK on 20&nbsp;May 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8s2jb9Szr4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/V8s2jb9Szr4| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Bee Gees (Barry – Robin) Princes Trust Concert |website=YouTube |date=11 October 2011 |access-date=19 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===2009–2012: Return to performing and Robin's death===
On 14 March 2009, Barry teamed with [[Olivia Newton-John]] to present the one-hour finale performance at a star-studded 12-hour live concert at Sydney's [[Sydney Cricket Ground]], part of [[Sound Relief]], a fundraiser to aid victims of the February 2009 [[Victorian Bushfires]] that devastated large tracts of heavily wooded and populated south-eastern Australia, where the Gibb family once lived. The concert was televised live nationally across Australia on the [[MAX (Australian TV channel)|Max TV]] cable network.<ref name="SR-Sydney">{{cite web|title=SOUND RELIEF :: SYDNEY INFO|url=http://www.soundrelief.com.au/sydlineup.php|website=Sound Relief|access-date=10 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014211857/http://www.soundrelief.com.au/sydlineup.php|archivedate=14 October 2009}}</ref> On 10&nbsp;July 2009, Barry and Robin were named as Freemen of the Borough of Douglas (Isle of Man); the award was also bestowed posthumously to Maurice.<ref name="iomtoday1">{{cite news|url= http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Bee-Gees-named-Freemen-of.5449394.jp |title=Bee Gees named Freemen of the Borough|author=Rachael Bruce|date=10 July 2009|newspaper=Isle of Man Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528163038/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/bee-gees-named-freemen-of-the-borough-1-1793643 |archive-date=28 May 2016}}</ref>

In late 2009, Barry and Robin announced plans to record and perform together once again as the Bee Gees.<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news |author=BBC News |title=Bee Gees to perform on Strictly |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8308513.stm |date=15 October 2009 |access-date=16 October 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091018103028/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8308513.stm| archive-date= 18 October 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref> Barry and Robin performed on the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' on 31&nbsp;October 2009<ref>{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=Bee Gees to perform on Strictly |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8308513.stm |date=15 October 2009 |access-date=16 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018103028/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8308513.stm|archive-date=18 October 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> and appeared on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC-TV]]'s ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' on 17&nbsp;November 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/opinion/29sun3.html |title=Stayin' Alive |newspaper=The New York Times |date=28 November 2009 |access-date=6 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421014921/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/opinion/29sun3.html |archive-date=21 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 15&nbsp;March 2010, Barry and Robin inducted the Swedish group [[ABBA]] into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Stooges, ABBA Headline Eclectic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony |date=16 March 2010 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633996/20100316/iggy_pop_and_the_stooges.jhtml |publisher =MTV |access-date =20 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317185132/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633996/20100316/iggy_pop_and_the_stooges.jhtml |archive-date=17 March 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 26&nbsp;May 2010, the two made a surprise appearance on the ninth-season finale of ''[[American Idol]]''.

On 20 November 2011, it was announced that Robin, then aged 61, had been diagnosed with [[liver cancer]], a condition he had become aware of several months earlier. He had become noticeably thinner in previous months and had to cancel several appearances due to severe abdominal pain.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Robin Gibb diagnosed with liver cancer |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8902510/Robin-Gibb-diagnosed-with-liver-cancer.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8902510/Robin-Gibb-diagnosed-with-liver-cancer.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=20 November 2011|first=Anita|last=Singh|work=[[The Sunday Telegraph]]|location=London |access-date=20 November 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Robin joined British military trio [[the Soldiers]] for the Coming Home charity concert on 13&nbsp;February 2012 at the [[London Palladium]], in support of injured servicemen. It was his first public appearance for almost five months and, as it turned out, his final one.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.coming-home.org.uk/content/robin-gibb-and-soldiers-concert|title=Robin Gibb and The Soldiers in concert|publisher=Haig Housing Trust Coming Home|access-date=26 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603035832/http://www.coming-home.org.uk/content/robin-gibb-and-soldiers-concert|archive-date=3 June 2013}}</ref> On 14&nbsp;April 2012, it was reported that Robin had contracted [[pneumonia]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Gibb fights for life with pneumonia |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iVRxBlJlzg01tpW6QQEPP-UysRDA?docId=B20888811334395256A0 |access-date=15 April 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=14 April 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> in a [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]] hospital and was in a coma.<ref>{{cite news|last=Donnelly|first=Laura|title=Robin Gibb in coma and fighting for his life|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9204362/Robin-Gibb-in-coma-and-fighting-for-his-life.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9204362/Robin-Gibb-in-coma-and-fighting-for-his-life.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=15 April 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=14 April 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Although he came out of his coma on 20&nbsp;April 2012, his condition deteriorated rapidly<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/robin-gibb-making-good-progress-family-4844432 |place=NZ |title=Robin Gibb making good progress |publisher=TV |date=21 April 2012 |access-date=21 May 2012}}</ref> and he died on 20&nbsp;May 2012 of liver and kidney failure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/obit/story/2012-04-14/robin-gibb-obit/55097560/1 |title=Robin Gibb of Bee Gees dies at 62 |work=USA Today |date=14 April 2012 |access-date=21 May 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917165728/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/obit/story/2012-04-14/robin-gibb-obit/55097560/1|archive-date=September 17, 2012}}</ref>

===2013–present: Looking back at a lifetime of music===
In September and October 2013, Barry performed his [[Mythology Tour|first solo tour]] "in honour of his brothers and a lifetime of music".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/395513/The-last-surviving-Bee-Gee-speaks-movingly-of-life-without-his-lost-siblings|title=The last surviving Bee Gee speaks movingly of life without his lost siblings|first=Sadie|last=Nicholas|date=29 April 2013|website=Express}}</ref> In addition to the Rhino collection, ''The Studio Albums: 1967–1968'', Warner Bros. released a box set in 2014 called ''The Warner Bros Years: 1987–1991'' that included the studio albums ''E.S.P.'', ''One'' and ''High Civilization'' as well as extended mixes and B-sides. It also included the band's entire 1989 concert in [[Melbourne]], Australia, available only on video as ''All for One'' prior to this release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/14.html |title=Gibb Songs: 2014 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref> The documentary ''The Joy of the Bee Gees'' was aired on [[BBC Four]] on 19&nbsp;December 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04v8677 |title=The Joy of the Bee Gees |publisher=BBC Four |date=19 December 2014 |access-date=19 February 2015}}</ref>

On 23 March 2015, 13STAR Records released a box set ''1974–1979'' which included the studio albums ''Mr. Natural'', ''Main Course'', ''Children of the World'' and ''Spirits Having Flown''. A fifth disc called ''The Miami Years'' includes all the tracks from ''Saturday Night Fever'' as well as B-sides. No unreleased tracks from the era were included.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/bee-gees-1974-1979-five-disc-box/ |title=Bee Gees/ 1974–1979 five-disc box |last=Sinclair |first=Paul |date=2 February 2015 |publisher=superdeluxeedition.com |access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref>

After a hiatus from performing, Barry Gibb returned to solo and guest singing performances. He occasionally appears with his son, [[Steve Gibb]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/article36942819.html|title=Musician-songwriter Stephen Gibb got a hard-rocking start|last=Cohen|first=Howard|date=19 September 2015|website=[[Miami Herald]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410111823/https://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/article36942819.html|archive-date=10 April 2020|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> In 2016, he released ''[[In the Now]]'', his first solo effort since 1984's ''Now Voyager''. It was the first release of new Bee Gees-related music since the posthumous release of Robin Gibb's ''[[50 St. Catherine's Drive]]''. Also in 2016, [[Capitol Records]] signed a new distribution deal with Barry and the estates of his brothers for the Bee Gees catalogue, bringing their music back to [[Universal Music Group|Universal]].<ref name="variety capitol">{{cite news |last=Roshanian |first=Arya |url=https://variety.com/2016/music/news/bee-gees-capitol-records-1201928990/ |title=Capitol Records Signs Bee Gees to Long-Term Contract, Aims to 'Reinvigorate' Catalog |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=Variety Media, LLC |date=29 November 2016 |access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="Capitol">{{cite news |title=Capitol Records signs the Bee Gees to long-term worldwide agreement encompassing the legendary group's entire catalogue of recorded music |url=https://www.universalmusic.com/capitol-records-signs-the-bee-gees-to-long-term-worldwide-agreement-encompassing-the-legendary-groups-entire-catalogue-of-recorded-music/ |publisher=Universal Music Group |date=29 November 2016}}</ref>

In late 2020, a documentary titled ''[[The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart]]'' was released on HBO Max; it was received with positive reviews and won an Emmy award.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_bee_gees_how_can_you_mend_a_broken_heart |access-date=15 May 2023 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/bee-gees-how-can-you-mend-broken-heart |access-date=15 May 2023 |website=Television Academy}}</ref> A few months later, an as-yet-untitled biopic about the Bee Gees was announced to be in development at Paramount, with [[Kenneth Branagh]] directing and Barry Gibb serving as an executive producer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |title=Kenneth Branagh to Direct Bee Gees Biopic for Paramount |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/kenneth-branagh-bee-gees-movie-paramount-1234922261/ |work=Variety |date=10 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Melas |first=Chloe |title=Kenneth Branagh to direct Bee Gees movie |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/11/entertainment/kenneth-branagh-bee-gees-paramount-movie-trnd/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=11 March 2021}}</ref>

Barry released his third solo studio album, ''[[Greenfields (album)|Greenfields]]'', on 8&nbsp;January 2021. It consisted of re-imagined Bee Gees songs from throughout their career, newly recorded in a primarily acoustic style with vocal contributions from a variety of country musicians including [[Dolly Parton]], [[Keith Urban]] and [[Miranda Lambert]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=8 January 2021 |title=Barry Gibb Returns With Country Collection 'Greenfields' Featuring Dolly Parton, Keith Urban & More: Listen |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/barry-gibb-greenfields-dolly-parton-keith-urban-listen-9508575/ |access-date=15 May 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> The album debuted at No.&nbsp;1 in both the UK and Australia – the latter of which set a record for the oldest artist to top the [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]] charts – while also peaking at No.&nbsp;15 on the US [[Billboard 200]] (and No.&nbsp;2 on the US Billboard Top Album Sales chart) and being met with favourable reviews.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barry Gibb lands his first solo Number 1 album with Greenfields |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/barry-gibbs-greenfields-becomes-his-first-solo-number-1-on-the-official-albums-chart-the-greatest-moment-of-my-life-__32134/ |access-date=15 May 2023 |website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Barry Gibb scores first solo ARIA Charts #1 album |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/barry-gibb-scores-first-solo-aria-charts-1-album |access-date=15 May 2023 |website=www.aria.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=20 January 2021 |title=Barry Gibb Scores Top 5 Debut on Billboard's Top Album Sales Chart With 'Greenfields' |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/barry-gibb-top-album-sales-chart-greenfields/ |access-date=15 May 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 by Barry Gibb |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/greenfields-the-gibb-brothers-songbook-vol-1/barry-gibb |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref>