Andy Gibb
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| Andy Gibb | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Andrew Roy Gibb |
| Born | March 5, 1958 Manchester, England |
| Origin | Redcliffe, Australia |
| Died | March 10, 1988 (aged 30) Oxford, England |
| Genre(s) | Pop, Disco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1975–1988 |
| Label(s) | RSO, Polydor |
| Associated acts | Bee Gees |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| Guitar, piano[citation needed] | |
Andy Gibb (Manchester, March 5, 1958 – Oxford, March 10, 1988) was an English singer and teen idol, and the youngest brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, also known as the Bee Gees.
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[edit] The early years
Born Andrew Roy Gibb in Manchester, England, to Hugh and Barbara Gibb, his family emigrated to Australia six months after his birth, settling in Redcliffe, Queensland, Queensland, near Brisbane.
Gibb began playing at tourist clubs around Spain's coastal Island of Ibiza, and later back in his homeland of the Isle of Man, as a young teenager. The idea of his joining the Bee Gees was often suggested, but the age gap between him and his elder brothers (more than 11 years younger than Barry, slightly more than eight years younger than twins Robin and Maurice) made this difficult to achieve.
After returning to Australia in 1975 to hone his craft as a singer and songwriter, Gibb began recording a series of his own compositions, one of which was released as a single on the ATA label, owned by veteran Australian performer, Col Joye. "Words and Music" would eventually reach Top Five on the Sydney music charts in 1976. This breakout would pave the way to an even greater milestone later that year — an invitation from Robert Stigwood (who, at the time, was also the Bee Gees' manager) to launch his international career signed to his label, RSO Records. Gibb soon moved to Miami Beach, Florida to begin working on songs with his brother Barry, and co-producers Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson.
Prior to leaving Australia, Gibb had married his girlfriend, Kim Reeder. They had one child, a daughter named Peta Jaye, born January 25, 1978, but the couple was already separated at the time of Peta's birth and would divorce later that year. Gibb reportedly only met his daughter once in 1981. As of 2007 Peta is known as Peta J. Reeder-Gibb and breeds Staffordshire Bull Terriers as well as being a respected dog show judge in New South Wales, Australia.[1]
[edit] Rise to the top
In the United States, Gibb became the first male solo artist to chart three consecutive Number One singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In July of 1977, he had his first major hit, "I Just Want to Be Your Everything", a song written by his brother Barry, just as his first album Flowing Rivers broke into the US Top 20, on its way to selling over a million copies. The album's second single "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" broke in early 1978 amidst the commercial explosion caused by his brothers' contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, replacing "Stayin' Alive" at the top of the US charts, and then surpassed by "Night Fever" when it reached the summit in mid-March. Continuing the momentum of his first successes, Gibb began work with the Gibb-Galuten-Richardson production team on his second album Shadow Dancing. The title track, written by all four Gibb brothers, was released as a single in the US in April 1978, and in mid-June began a seven week run at Number One, achieving platinum status. Two further Top Ten singles, "An Everlasting Love" (#5) and "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away" (#9), a cover of the earlier version by his brothers, were extracted from the album, which became another million seller.
Despite his impressive accomplishments, the pressures and excesses of such rapid success began to consume Gibb, and eventually he would succumb to drug addiction and the reality of a career in decline. In 1979, Gibb performed, along with the Bee Gees, ABBA, and Olivia Newton-John (duet with "Rest Your Love On Me"), at the Music for UNICEF Concert at the United Nations General Assembly, broadcast worldwide.
He returned to the studio to begin recording sessions for his final full studio album, After Dark.In March 1980 the last of Gibb's Top Ten singles charted just ahead of the album's release. "Desire", was recorded for the Bee Gees' 1979 album Spirits Having Flown, and featured their original track complete with Andy's original "guest vocal" track. A second single, "I Can't Help It", a duet with family friend Olivia Newton-John, reached the Top Twenty.
Later in the year, Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits was released as a finale to his contract with RSO Records, with two new songs: "Time Is Time" (number 15 in January 1981) and "Me (Without You)" (Gibb's last Top Forty chart entry) shipped as singles. "After Dark" and "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" were non single songs added to the album, the latter of which was a duet with PP Arnold, who had previously worked with Barry Gibb, including singing uncredited backups on, "Bury Me Down By The River" from Cucumber Castle.
[edit] Career stall-out
As a relationship with actress Victoria Principal ensued, Gibb worked on several projects outside of the recording studio. These included acclaimed performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on Broadway, Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance in Los Angeles, and a stint as co-host of the television music show Solid Gold.
As Gibb's drug use intensified, he was becoming unreliable and he was eventually removed from each of those said endeavors. His romance with Principal also ended shortly thereafter, but not before recording and releasing a duet of the Everly Brothers' classic "All I Have To Do Is Dream". This would be Gibb's last official single, and his last US chart entry, peaking at number 51. The Gibb family claims Andy never recovered from his break-up with Victoria Principal and remain mute on the subject matter. Gibb had no other notable romances but was linked briefly to ice skater Tai Babilonia and Donna Rice.
His family convinced him to seek treatment for his drug addiction; after a stint at the Betty Ford Clinic in the mid-1980s, Gibb toured small venues with a stage show of his greatest hits and covers. He also appeared in guest-starring roles on several television situation comedies...notably Gimme A Break! and Punky Brewster. Gibb's performances showed him to have (seemingly) recovered from his addiction. Following an expansive and popular East Asia tour, he regularly performed shows in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. He also enjoyed a two-week engagement at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel in March 1986. It was there that the best bootleg recording of his live performances was allegedly made. Although Andy's work in his new lifestyle was well-received, he never managed to recapture the phenomenal success of his teens. In 1987, with his debts far outweighing his income, Gibb was forced to declare bankruptcy.
Determined to revive his recording career, Gibb returned to work alongside brothers Barry and Maurice. Their series of demo recordings would eventually secure him a contract with the UK branch of Island Records. One of the demos, "Man On Fire", was released posthumously on a self-titled 1991 Polydor anthology. Another demo, "Arrow Through The Heart" (though unreleased to the present day), would be featured on an episode of VH1's series Behind the Music.
[edit] Death
In March 1988, Andy celebrated his 30th birthday in London while working on a new album. Soon after, he entered John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, complaining of chest pains. He died on March 10, 1988, just five days after his 30th birthday. His death from myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), following a long battle with cocaine addiction, which had weakened his heart.
[edit] Albums
US chart positions follow parenthetically, if applicable
- Flowing Rivers, RSO, 1977 (US #19)
- Shadow Dancing, RSO, 1978 (US #7)
- After Dark, RSO, 1980 (US #21)
- Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits, RSO, 1980 (US #49)
- Andy Gibb, Polydor, 1991
- Andy Gibb: Millennium, Polydor, 2001
[edit] Singles
US and UK chart positions follow parenthetically, if applicable
- "Words and Music / Westfield Mansions" (Australia), ATA, 1976
- "I Just Want to Be Your Everything, RSO, 1977 (US #1, 4 weeks) (UK #26)
- "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water", RSO, 1978 (US #1, 2 weeks)
- "Shadow Dancing", RSO, 1978 (US #1, 7 weeks)
- "An Everlasting Love", RSO, 1978 (US #5) (UK #10)
- "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away", RSO, 1978 (US #9)
- "Desire", RSO, 1980 (US #4)
- "I Can't Help It" (Duet with Olivia Newton-John, RSO, 1980 (US #12)
- "Time Is Time", RSO, 1980 (US #15)
- "Me (Without You)", RSO, 1981 (US #40)
- "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (Duet with Victoria Principal), RSO, 1981 (US #51)
