Bee Gees at the BBC

As Sir Barry Gibb celebrates his 80th birthday, he joins his brothers Robin and Maurice talking about their early lives. They come back to their home country to hang out in the swinging sixties with the likes of The Beatles and face the challenge of writing songs. Although they would later equal the Fab Four’s chart success in the era of Saturday Night Fever, sometimes writing two number one songs in one afternoon. They also talk about their unique bond as brothers and Barry describes his sadness after Maurice and then Robin died. They discuss writing and working with other artists, in different genres, including Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Frankie Valli, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. We hear how the falsetto singing first started, which bridge inspired Jive Talkin’ and how they changed John Travolta’s life. Barry remembers their friendship with Steve Wright and the surprise when he hid Michael Aspel in the radio studio to bring out the This Is Your Life big red book, as well as his more recent triumphant and emotional solo performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

Presenters featured include Jo Whiley, Gary Barlow, Johnnie Walker, Bob Harris, Jenni Murray and Steve Wright.