Bee Gees: Secrets behind the one band which ever came close to being 'bigger than The Beatles'
The Bee Gees and The Beatles are going head-to-head in a battle of the biopics, as RJ Gibb reveals a Spielberg-backed film about the Gibb brothers starts filming in September - just as Sam Mendes prepares four Beatles movies starring Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan
They were two of the biggest bands of all time and now The Bee Gees and The Beatles are fighting for supremacy in a new battle of the biopics. Leading British stars Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan announced last month they were to play Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr in four Sam Mendes films about The Fab Four.
But today, speaking exclusively to The Mirror, RJ Gibb, son of late Bee Gees star Robin Gibb, reveals that the eagerly awaited Paramount movie about the Gibb brothers will start shooting in September - sparking a box office skirmish between two musical megabands.
RJ Gibb claims Steven Spielberg has joined forces with Gladiator director Ridley Scott to make the movie, with the working title You Should Be Dancing. RJ, named after dad Robin John, says: "Our biopic is happening. Graham King, who wrote the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody is writing our movie. Spielberg has a part of the action and Ridley Scott will be directing.
"Our movie, hopefully, starts filming this September. We are all very excited, as it has been a few years in the making. The Beatles versus the Bee Gees, you don't get much bigger. Of course the Beatles sold more records... but The Bee Gees, well, they had longevity."
Shooting in London and Miami, the biopic will chart the rags to riches rise of the Gibb brothers - Barry, Maurice and Robin.
Born on the Isle of Man, before moving to Manchester and then emigrating to Australia, it will follow their journey to chart success in Oz and beyond - after record producer Robert Stigwood introduced them to a worldwide audience.
Global stardom followed, with the Bee Gees selling more than 220 million records and making history in 1977, when their soundtrack album to the Saturday Night Fever movie became the biggest selling album of all time, selling 40 million copies.
RJ, 42, reveals that the biopic may also include newly unearthed early recordings made by the then penniless Gibbs in 1967, when they busked in exchange for their passage aboard SS Fairsky from Australia back to the UK.
He says: "We have just found songs they recorded on board that ship. We have some amazing things we want to show the world for the first time. They were coming back to (the UK) to meet Robert Stigwood.
"My dad told me how they asked the captain if they could do a show each night to entertain the passengers in order to pay their fare." Busking on a guitar, they would slap a suitcase for drums.
"Thankfully, my grandfather Hughie recorded the sessions where my dad and his brothers can be heard covering songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Adam Faith.
"It is audio gold as these songs have never been heard before. My dad would have been 16 at the time."
RJ, who has just released his own single Let It Be You, says: "These new songs will be sought after, especially with the new biopic. The president of the Bee Gees fan club located them somewhere. My grandmother Barbara entrusted someone with the tapes and they have now given them back to us
"Thankfully, my grandfather recorded everything as he was always walking around with a tape recorder. He always had the latest bit of kit. The world has never heard the Bee Gees cover songs by the Stones or The Beatles before. Nobody knows they exist."
RJ, who is being consulted over the new movie with Barry Gibb, hopes the band's first live debut in 1957 will be included, when they were known as The Rattlesnakes, before changing their name to The Bee Gees.
Speaking from his dad's 12th century home in Thame, Oxfordshire, he shares his hope that the movie will include their first UK performance at the Gaumont Cinema in Manchester.
He says: "That night they were meant to be lip synching, but Maurice dropped the wax recording and it smashed so they had to sing for real."
RJ also hopes the biopic will reveal the secret behind the Bee Gees' famous harmonies.
"They sang in toilets, as they used the tiled walls for the resonance and it helped tone their sound, ' he laughs. "My dad said they used to sing in the best toilets in Australia.'
His dad also told him how the engine noise as he flew over Germany helped him devise the rhythm to the song I Started A Joke.
'It was just like a Hoover or a fan sound ,but Dad heard the melody. It is incredible. These kind of stories need to go into the biopic," says RJ.
Casting is underway for the new movie and RJ believes rumours that Hollywood star Bradley Cooper will play Barry Gibb are true.
"Casting is always up in the air until the last moment,' he says. 'The last I heard, Bradley was in line to play uncle Barry.
"I saw Rami Malek in the Queen biopic and he looked uncannily like my dad in the early 60s. I did put that forward for Rami to play Dad and, for a while, it was considered, but I don't think Graham King wants to use the same actors. I am sure there is someone out there who wants to play my dad."
Despite the Gibb brothers' musical harmony, things could be less harmonious on the road, according to RJ. He says: "Creative brothers do row, but when it came down to it, they loved nothing more than being on the road together.
"The Bee Gees were an incredible team." Moving to other volatile brother teams, RJ is delighted to see the Gallagher brothers reuniting as Oasis.
Back in 2021, Noel spoke highly of the Bee Gees in the documentary How Do You Mend A Broken Heart, saying: "You can't buy that (Bee Gees) sound from a shop. When you have family members singing together it is unique. They are an important chapter in the book of music."
In a mutual show of respect, RJ says: "I was very pleased when I heard Oasis were getting back together. I think it is wonderful.
"I have met them a few times. They are fun guys, a bit off the wall but who isn't in this industry?. All geniuses are like that. Noel took it a bit to heart what happened (clash with Liam) but it is positive they are coming back.
"I guess when you are brothers you can speak your mind. You can say something when you are family, you can say the most terrible things but if it is your brother they will forgive you."
Hinting that he could have new songs on the way, which he recorded with his dad, before his death from cancer and intestinal surgery complications in 2012, aged 62, RJ says: "As well as carrying a torch for my dad I am finding my own voice.
"But I do have about six or seven songs that I wrote with my dad before he passed that have never been released. There are some musical gems with him singing along with me which I can turn into a mainstream song."
Writing up until his death, RJ says his dad even penned songs with brother Barry, who visited from his home in Miami, before he died.
"Barry and my dad were close at the end. I know they wrote together in the hospital room," says RJ.
"They were talking just before dad was diagnosed about working together again. So who knows? Those songs could come out at some point.'
Unashamedly proud of The Bee Gees and of his dad's legacy, RJ adds: "The Bee Gees are the soundtrack to a lot of people's lives.
"My dad was my best friend. We were like brothers. That is why it was so hard to lose him. But growing up with the legacy has been a blessing. I mean, what better shadow to live in.'
RJ Gibb's new single Let It Be You is out now. The summer mix of Lose Control by RJ Gibb and DJ Kokiri is available on all platforms.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Return of the Mack star Mark Morrison's team hit out as battery charge dropped
Mark Morrison, whose song Return of the Mack topped the UK charts in 1996, was taken into custody on Saturday but denied that any battery occurred at Le Bar à Vin in Palm Beach, Florida A battery charge against British singer Mark Morrison - best known for his 1996 hit Return of the Mack - has been dropped. The musician, 51, was taken into custody on Saturday after an alleged altercation at Le Bar à Vin in Palm Beach, Florida. However, the star's lawyers have today confirmed he was at the restaurant to talk to the manager and attempt to collect payment on behalf of a local singer who had performed at the venue. Although the "conversation escalated", Mr Morrison's lawyers said no physical altercation happened and now police have been able to dismiss the battery charge. In a statement, King Legal Group said: "The decision to nolle prosse (formally decline prosecution) ends what should never have been a criminal matter in the first place. "Mr Morrison has consistently and unequivocally denied that any battery occurred. There was no physical altercation—only a demand for fairness and accountability. The evidence never supported criminal intent or conduct." The legal team explained how Mr Morrison, whose track Return of the Mack spent two weeks as UK number one in April 1996, values standing up for what he believes in. However, they suggested race may have played a role in how the singer was treated. "While we are relieved the State has dismissed the charge, the underlying context cannot be ignored. The refusal to pay — coupled with how quickly the situation was criminalised — raises legitimate concerns about whether race played a role in how Mr Morrison was treated. It's not lost on us that advocating for fair pay, especially as a Black man in a position of leadership, can be met with suspicion instead of dialogue," the statement added. "Mr Morrison has spent years supporting local artists and standing up for what's right. That won't change. He is grateful for those who stood by him, and he remains committed to uplifting the artistic community in Palm Beach County and beyond. Towards that end, and in furtherance of Mr Morrison's commitment to his community, he is donating the $1000.00 (£730) bond used to secure his appearance, to Little Smiles, a local children's charity." Mr Morrison posed for a mugshot in a blue jumpsuit before he was released on Sunday morning. The musician has had a long history of both musical success and legal troubles. He burst onto the music scene in the mid-90s, enjoyed significant success with Return of the Mack. The song became an anthem of its time, widely regarded as one of the defining tracks of the 1990s R&B movement. Its success propelled Mr Morrison into the spotlight, and he quickly became one of the genre's most promising stars.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Princess Diana asked when I'd play for England - I knew racists didn't want it'
The legendary former cricketer looks back at some of his most remarkable meetings during his heyday, dealing with racism and the words of Viv Richards which still resonate Rocking and rumbling, as David 'Syd' Lawrence used to describe his bustling persona, the promising fast bowler greeted visiting royalty with his customary genial warmth. Voted Young Cricketer of the Year by a jury of learned scribes, Lawrence collected his gong at the most memorable net practice of his life. 'What made that award extra special was that it was presented to me by the patron of Gloucestershire Cricket Club… the Princess of Wales,' said Lawrence. ' Princess Diana visited the club and had a tour of all the facilities, including watching us have a net. I was only jogging in off a few paces but she still thought I bowled extremely fast. 'Naturally I was shocked by her sudden death in 1997 and thought back many times to that day she spent with us at Gloucestershire. As a result of her patronage, three people from the club were invited to her funeral at Westminster Abbey, and I was one of those asked to attend. Jack Russell and Andy Stovold were the other two. 'We were sat directly behind a couple of Americans. One was Dr Henry Kissinger, a former US secretary of state and brilliant political thinker, the other was Ruby Wax, a comedian, actress and writer who often appeared on television throughout the 1980s and 90s. 'She would not shut up! I don't think I've ever heard someone talk as incessantly as she did that day. At one point Jack leaned forward and gently motioned for her to be quiet. She smiled and agreed to do just that, and promptly started talking again. "When I spoke with Diana back in 1986, she did ask me about playing for England and whether it might happen soon. I told her I hoped so, and that if I played at Lord's then I might meet her mother-in-law too. She had a chuckle at that, which I dined out on for a little while.' The prospect of Lawrence going on to play for England was not universally approved among the country's redneck fringes. One heinous scrap of anonymous correspondence through the post advised him 'to go back to the f*****g jungle.' For the first British-born Black player to win Test caps, it was a dark reminder of a nation's swivel-eyed tendency. 'English cricket has long been littered with racists and apologists for racism,' wrote Lawrence in his searing new book, after his shattering diagnosis of motor neurone disease. 'Back in 1980 I was playing my first game for the Gloucestershire second team and one evening I was in my hotel room when I got a knock at the door. I opened it to find that one of my team-mates had left a banana skin there for me to find. It was a classic racist trope that was used to compare Black people to monkeys. 'I was the butt of the 'joke'. And it hurt. I wish I could tell you that I confronted the person who put it there and had it out with them, but I didn't. I wish I could tell you that I laughed it off, but I didn't. I sat down on my bed and I cried. If this is the way that my own team-mates see me, then what about those I'm playing against? 'I promised myself that would never happen again and that winter I went to the local gym in Bristol, The Empire, where the Commonwealth gold medal weightlifter Precious McKenzie used to train, and worked so hard on transforming my body into one that was not only fit for purpose on the field but one that wouldn't be messed with off it.' When racist fans bombarded him with Klansman vitriol and bananas in a Sunday League game against Yorkshire at Scarborough 41 years ago, the pond life were lucky 'Syd' didn't wade into the crowd to educate them. Seven years later, at the same venue, it happened again. 'As the bananas started to appear, Yorkshire physio Wayne Morton dived into the crowd to confront the racists and was hauled out by the police who were trying to keep things calm,' recalled Lawrence. 'A punter managed to get to me by the side of the pitch and confront me. 'Lawrence, you Black b******!' he said. I was ready to swing for him, but Darren Gough managed to intervene just in time.' Lawrence was always grateful for the words of his childhood hero and mentor, Viv Richards, whose lecture after a weekend making the acquaintance of Somerset and Avon police still resonates with him. 'You are a young Black man, and it will never be easy being a Black man trying to make your way, but you need to be strong. They are waiting for you to f*** up,' warned King Viv. 'They don't want to respect you and they want you to fail. Don't give them the satisfaction of proving them right about you. Use your cricket ability to prove them wrong.' It is an unjustified allocation of ill fortune that one of cricket's greatest characters, who fought back from the graphic disintegration of his knee during a Test match against New Zealand in Wellington 33 years ago, should be cut down by such a savage illness. Lawrence can no longer walk or talk, and at 61 he has planned his own funeral. But for all its darkness, his memoir is a rocking and rumbling good read.
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
ITV Love Island star dumped from villa before show started in cruel twist
ITV Love Island star dumped from villa before show started in cruel twist One Love Island star got dumped from the villa - before the show even aired One Love Island star has already been dumped from the villa (Image: ITV ) One Love Island star has already faced the chop from the hit ITV show before it even airs, as Maya Jama makes a return to host the new series, which is set to commence on our screens tonight. Although Love Island makes its highly-anticipated return this evening, fans are in for a shock as one contestant faces an early exit due to a dramatic twist – they'll be leaving moments after their arrival in the villa. It's been disclosed that tonight will see a female contestant leave following the entrance of a bombshell. Toni, a high-end VIP waitress from the glitzy city of Las Vegas, was revealed just yesterday as a new addition to the villa lineup. In disclosing her aspirations, she expressed her desire for "someone that can make me laugh - I'm super outgoing. And someone that's quite active. Maybe one day we could start our own family together." For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter Adventurous Toni also shared her excitement for British lads: "It's time to try something new! I have some British friends and they're pretty charming. I think all Americans love a good accent. British men are just more polite, with better manners." However, the bubbly American's entry spells immediate trouble for one of the original stars, as her presence will cause the swift removal of another contestant. The unnamed individual has already been ousted from the tropical setting, with viewers poised to witness the drama unfold during tonight's premiere episode, reports the Mirror. Article continues below "This girl will be sorely missed as was already proving to be a big character. The was absolutely gutted to leave. But the series has twists and turns at every stage and this isn't the usual dumping viewers might expect after a bombshell arrives," a source disclosed to The Sun. "Executive producer Mike Spencer-Hayter has promised drama for the tenth anniversary and this format point will not disappoint." Speaking with The Mirror about what to anticipate in the upcoming series, the show's executive producer revealed his plans. Mike expressed: "If sex happens, we'll show it. The Hideaway will be open 24 hours. We need to keep the show fresh and exciting. After 10 years, the stats speak for themselves. The show will continue to thrive. We the producers need to stay ahead of the curve. The whole 'twists and turns' thing is about making the show fresh. We're going to give it all we've got." Article continues below As she gave a glimpse into the upcoming episodes, new host Maya Jama remarked: "I feel like they forgot last year that you could come in the Hideaway at any time. We did tell them, but they kept forgetting!"
