Bee Gees: Children of the World

by Bob Stanley

A compelling and unique biography of one of the best-selling bands of all time, told with synapse-rattling insight by renowned pop scholar Bob Stanley.

The world is full of Bee Gees fans. Yet, for a band of such renown, little is known about Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb.

Weren't two of them twins? Didn't one of them marry Lulu? Where does Andy fit into the Gibb family tree? And why did they storm out of that Clive Anderson interview?

People tend to have their favourite era of the Bee Gees' career, but many listeners are also conscious that there is more to uncover about the band. This book will provide the perfect route in, pulling together every fascinating strand to tell the story of a group with the imagination of the Beatles, the pop craft of ABBA, the drama of Fleetwood Mac and the emotional heft of the Beach Boys.

Uniquely, the Bee Gees' tale spans the entire modern pop era - they are the only group to have scored British top-ten singles in the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s - and includes world-conquering disco successes like 'Stayin' Alive' and 'More Than a Woman', both from the soundtrack of hit film Saturday Night Fever.

But the Bee Gees' extraordinary career was one of highs and lows. From a vicious but temporary split in 1969 to several unreleased albums, disastrous TV and film appearances, and a demoralising cabaret season, the group weren't always revelling in the glow of million-selling albums, private jets and UNICEF concerts. Yet, even in the Gibbs' darkest times, their music was rarely out of the charts, as sung by the likes of Al Green, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and Destiny's Child.

Capturing the human story at the heart of the Bee Gees, this book will be a lyrical and stylish read, delighting hardcore fans with its details while engaging casual pop readers who simply want to know more about this important and enigmatic group.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published June 7, 2023

About the author

Bob Stanley has worked as a music journalist, a DJ, and a record label owner and is the cofounder and keyboard player for the band Saint Etienne. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Peter Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"They were inventive, shape-shifting, writers of death-haunted melodies, with voices that sounded like no one else."

What is the music hill you are willing to die on? Mine is that The Bee Gees are one of the finest pop groups of all time - a trio of songwriting maestros who have never been suitably appreciated. This unfashionable opinion leaves me open to ridicule from my friends, but I will defend their brilliance to my death.

Bob Stanley, once of 90s indie band St Etienne, has emerged as one of the best music writers around. His Story of Pop, one of my favourite books of recent years, contained a fantastic chapter on The Bee Gees. At the time I thought to myself: wouldn't it be amazing if he wrote a whole biography of the Gibb brothers? And much to my delight, here it is. In his own words it is his "attempt to give them their rightful place at the very top of pop’s table."

Stanley takes us back to when the brothers were kids, living a nomadic existence according to the whims of their parents Hugh and Barbara. They spent early years on the Isle of Man, before a difficult spell in Manchester and happier times in Australia. Money was always scarce, and when their father realised the talent living under his own roof, he wasn't long arranging paid gigs for his boys. Prolific songwriters at an early age, they were soon were climbing the pop charts Down Under. But it was a move back to the UK and an alliance with the legendary producer Robert Stigwood that helped launch their global profile.

You get a good feel for the personalities of the Gibbs through Stanley's stories. Like any siblings, they bickered and disagreed quite a bit, but arguments were usually solved over a cup of tea. Barry, the eldest, was the de facto leader, a musical mastermind. He became close friends with Michael Jackson in later years, who was godfather to his son. Robin was a gifted songwriter in his own right and clashed with Barry at times. He was a bit of a maverick compared to his brothers, an eccentric and a history nerd. Maurice was a multi-instrumentalist - he was known as the comedian of the band, more light-hearted than the other two. He struggled with alcohol addiction for a long time before turning sober in the 90s. And of course there was Andy, the youngest Gibb, who had a decent pop career of his own until dying tragically at the age of 30.

Stanley provides us with a wealth of information about the recording of the Bee Gees' music. I particularly enjoyed the sections on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, when the band were at the peak of their powers. Karl Richardson, their sound engineer, talks about the first time he heard a track that would go on to become a juggernaut:

"‘I distinctly remember Barry saying, “Boy, Karl, have I got a song for you,” and sitting down to play “Stayin’ Alive” on an acoustic guitar. It was like a chant and it was unbelievable. I said, “Barry, don’t forget that rhythm. That’s a number-one record.” I knew, five bars in, no questions asked. You couldn’t get past the intro without knowing it was a smash.’"

Though they were often derided for their lyrics, Stanley recognises that those words contained moments of true clarity:

"‘Night Fever’ is all love and abandon and desperation. The moment of surrender, the understanding that your time in the club can feel like the only time that counts. It’s worth sweating through a forty-hour nine-to-five job just for those fleeting hours, precious hours when music and dancing were everything. You would share the feeling with every other boy and girl in the place. You let your inhibitions go. You were more alive than you’d ever been. This feeling is both exhilarating, and borderline terrifying. ‘Here I am,’ sang Barry at key moments, when the music swooped downwards, away from the light and air of the verse, and suddenly it was all self-awareness. ‘I can’t hide!’."

And Stanley is not without a sense of humour - his description of their album E.S.P. sounding "like a cutlery battle at the bottom of a lift shaft" made me laugh.

The 80s began a difficult period for The Bee Gees and Stanley examines this with great perception. Victims of the disco backlash, the group felt unwanted and unloved. Feeling that nobody needed to hear from them directly, they poured their hearts into writing for other artists. Islands in the Stream, Chain Reaction and Heartbreaker were just three slices of pop perfection that they came up with during this strange yet fertile time. Their triumphant return to the mainstream came with 1987's You Win Again (one of the best songs of the decade in my eyes).

The book winds up on a sad note with the deaths of Maurice and Robin. Only Barry is left and the Bee Gees name has been retired, but what a ride it has been. My one complaint is that there are no interactions with the group themselves - difficult now that only one remains of course, but how wonderful would it have been to hear Barry look back on that unbelievable career? Nevertheless, Children of the World is a terrific read. Bob Stanley is an illuminating guide through one of pop music's finest discographies - if anybody needs convincing about the true genius of The Bee Gees, they need look no further.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting biography of the band written by a fan throughout their career the ups and downs

[Tim Gillett · Rating 4 out of 5]

So prolific over such a long period are the Bee Gees that a mighty tome could be written about them. It puzzled me as to how Bob Stanley has covered their lives in under three hundred and fifty pages. The answer is he's concentrated on their music with only scant regard to their private lives.

It's a chronological account of their music, both the material they wrote and recorded themselves and the vast amount of songs they wrote for other artistes, often producing them. The basics of their private lives are there, their humble upbringing on the Isle of Man, Manchester, and then becoming ten pound poms to Australia. Before the music starts, the author paints a vivid picture of their poor upbringing, lack of education, petty and sonetimes more serious crime, and an observation the author returns to more than once in their later lives - how they failed to socially mix and make friends in their early years - they "were way more insular and independent than most of their contemporaries - and they weren't even teenagers yet." According to Robin Gibb, they "were like the Bronte sisters; we created our own world and fed off our fantasies and ideas."

Bob Stanley emphasises, quite rightly, how young the boys were when they started to write and sing. Even on the passage out to Australia, the teenagers entertained other passengers, singing Everly Brothers hits, calling themselves Barry and the Twins.

Each chapter begins with a top 10 from the period the author's describing and at the height of their fame, it's a reminder of the successful grip they had on pop music in the UK and the US, as well as so many other countries.

But Bob Stanley writes of the long time it took the Bee Gees to become established. The first small breakthrough came in 1959 in Australia when a speedway track owner spotted the Gibb brothers' potential when they sang to the crowd in between races - "people threw them coins in appreciation. On the very first occasion they made £10, as much as Hugh (their father) made in a week."

By 1964 eighteen year old Barry and thirteen year olds Maurice and Robin released their first single. It would be another two years before their records sold enough to make the charts with Spicks and Specks making number three in the Sydney chart.

It wasn't until they'd returned to England and been signed up by svengali Robert Stigwood, who'd been tipped off about them by a Polydor employee, that they broke through with "a lyric for the minor key song about being buried underground" - New York Mining Disaster 1941.

They sensed their moment - "they worked fast. They had an unfailing confidence" writes Stanley. Five singles later they realised they'd achieved what they'd set out to do. "For almost a year, they had hardly had time to catch their breath," and the wealth began to flow. "Maurice claimed that he owned six Rolls Royces, because he didn't know what else to spend his money on. "

Bob Stanley frequently writes about how the Bee Gees listened avidly to other recording stars, borrowing ideas to incorporate into theur own materual. But he also argues how the Gibbs led the way. I never imagined, for example, that there was a link between the Bee Gees and progesssive rock but the author says they inspired David Bowie's Space Oddity, the first single by Genesis and music by Yes, King Crimson and the Moody Blues.

As so often is the case, with fast growing extreme wealth, the pressure of working flat out trying for continued success and sudden fame, come problems - rows, splits and vices. As Barry Gibb is quoted in the book, "there's fame and there's ultra fame, and it can destroy. You lose your perspective, you're in the eye of the hurricane.....and we were kids, dont forget."

Just two years after their first hit single, Robin decided to quit the Bee Gees and author Bob Stanley writes, "you would think Robin's family might have offered some support, but instead he was castigated for stepping out of line." His place in a Bee Gees concert in London was taken by the brothers' sister Lesley.

Bob Stanley doesn't avoid describing the drink and drugs that consumed the Bee Gees following Robin's departure. There I was thinking they were the cleanest group in pop what with their photos and profile showing off a healthy looking, tanned, white toothed, hairy chested smiling threesome. But "all three brothers now had a dufferent drug of choice - pot for Barry, uppers and downers for Robin, alcohol for Maurice." He adds that as a result, "they would always be slightly out of sync wuth each other." The author's account of Robin's drugs and Maurice's drink problems make you wonder how they managed to live as long as they did and make so many comebacks as a group.

Each of the comebacks is documented in the book, the later ones in the 80's and 90's in less detail. I'd also have liked more detail about their collaboration with Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton and Celine Dion. The huge successes are covered but not in enough depth for my liking. Instead, the author spends time detailing tracks on albums which are probably unknown to the reader apart from the die hard Bee Gees fans.

However, the detail is excellent on the period for which the Bee Gees are most famous - the advent of disco and their famous falsetto voices.

Bob Stanley describes how it was in a monent of desperation that the Bee Gees greatest period in the mid to late 70's came about. Robert Stigwood was "seriously" considering "dropping the Bee Gees from Atlantic's roster" in the US when producer Arif Mardin stepped in and offered to work with them. It was during the recording of Nights on Broadway that Mardin, wanting more energy, asked Barry "can you scream in tune?" Barry replied, "if I take it up an octave and shout like an opera singer, I'll sound like a fool." He did it, and everyone liked it so much, it stayed and Barry's falsetto voice was born. He said it was something he should be proud of as there's a rich history in pop singers using the sryle. Not every song that followed had falsetto singing, even during that Saturday Night Fever period. For example Jive Talkin' didn't amd it was one of their most successful records.

Bob Stanley relates how the Bee Gees became victims of their massive disco music success. Though the LP Spirits Having Flown and the singles it spawned like Tragedy continued the rich vein of success, when the disco bubble burst, the author describes how the group struggled to remain in pop's top tier. He gives the reader the impression that the Gibb brothers felt unloved, unwanted and yesterday's stars as the 80's dawned.

It was the driving force of Barry Gibb, always the most important memver of the group, continued to write and produce songs which became huge hits for others, as well as sporadically for them.

The descent and tragic death of younger brother Andy, who always wanted to be in the Bee Gees and tried in vain to equal their success as a result, is covered in detail by
Bob Stanley. He writes "initially the brothers tried to carry on like nothing had changed, but they knew that everything had changed."

I was surprised there are no illustrations in Bee Gees Children of the World. I guess the reason is it's almost impossible to illustrate the group's history in eight or ten plates.

There are nany facts I've taken from reading this book, but it's the opening words whose thought will probably linger - "The Bee Gees didn't fit in. they never really nade sense." I think that's cruel . I think it may be difficult to label them but that's because they were so versatile and in many ways, pop pioneers. They certainly went out of fashion, just like Abba, The Carpenters and so on, but I continue to enjoy their vast range of classic recordings.

[Menno Pot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew a thing or two about pop music, but I didn't know a thing about the Bee Gees. How is this possible? Why did I know so little about one of pop's best selling acts of all time? In his definitive Bee Gees biography, Bob Stanley explains why. They never really were the Stayin' Alive Bee Gees we thought they were - they were always something altogether more complicated than that.

The story of the Bee Gees is an incredible story - and I'm almost embarrassed to admit that it was pretty much new to me: I knew some of the basic, dry facts, but I didn't know the *story*. Now I do. It's an amazing tale, superbly told, about a group you didn't know you loved (but you do, believe me).

I am discovering their enormous back catalogue: the Bee Gees albums (I never really regarded them as an 'album band', now I do), their solo work, their work for others. It's a goldmine. I am so happy to have read this book.

[Jonas Paro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berättelsen om bröderna Gibb och deras kärlek till varandra och musiken de skapade berättas föredömligt i denna helt utmärkta bok.

[3PCats · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heavy on analysis of their music, light on the personal lives of the Bee Gees. The author never even mentions what caused Andy Gibb’s death.

The death of Maurice is covered in one small paragraph and Robin’s is only afforded one sentence in the Epilogue. No photographs in the entire book either.

Very underwhelming biography of one of the most fascinating bands in music history.

[Kristen Jauregui · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am of the opinion that The Bee Gees are one of the finest pop groups of all time. A trio of songwriting maestros who have never truly been suitably appreciated in the music world. This unpopular opinion leaves me open to judgment and rolled eyes from my loved ones, but I will stand with their brilliance til the end.

Author Bob Stanley, was once apart of 90s indie band St Etienne, has emerged as one of the best music writers around. In his “Story of Pop”, he included a chapter on The Bee Gees that prompted several people to think…”wouldn't it be great if he wrote a book solely on the Gibb brothers?”

To my absolute delight; that became the case. In Stanley’s own words, this is an "attempt to give …[the Gibbs brother’s] their rightful place at the very top of pop's table."

Stanley takes us to when the brothers were kids. They had been living a nomadic existence due to the whims of their parents, Hugh and Barbara. The early years were spent on the Isle of Man, before a difficult spell in Manchester, and eventually happier times in Australia.

Money was always scarce, until their father realized that he had a magnitude of talent living under his own roof. It wasn't long until he became arranging paid gigs for his boys.

Even at an early age, they were prolific songwriters and soon they were climbing the pop charts Down Under. It was their move back to the UK and an alliance with the legendary producer, Robert Stigwood, that propelled them to global stardom.

Stanley’s account of the Gibbs brothers really gives the reader a feel for their personalities. Of course, like any siblings, they argued and disagreed quite a bit, but the arguments were usually resolved over a cup of tea.

Barry, the eldest, was the de-facto leader and a musical mastermind. He became close friends with Michael Jackson, in their later years and was godfather to his son. Robin was a gifted songwriter in his own right, and often clashed with Barry. He was a bit of a maverick compared to his brothers, an eccentric personality and a history nerd. Maurice was a multi-instrumentalist, known as the comedian in the group, much more light-hearted than the other two. He struggled with alcohol addiction for a long time before eventually becoming sober in the 90s.

And then there was Andy.

Andy, the youngest Gibb brother, who had his own successful pop career, until he tragically died at the age of 30.

Stanley provides us readers with a wealth of information about the recording of the Bee Gees' music. I particularly enjoyed the parts that featured the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack and when the band were at the peak of their success.

Karl Richardson, their sound engineer, briefly recounts the first time he heard the track that would go on to become the juggernaut that was “Staying Alive”. He distinctly remembered when Barry told him, "Boy, Karl, have I got a song for you," and then he proceeded to sit down and play "Stayin' Alive" on an acoustic guitar. He said that it felt like it was like a chant, and it was unbelievable. He continued on to say that he replied to Barry - saying, "Barry, don't forget that rhythm. That's a number-one record."

Stanley writes about how the 80s was the beginning of a difficult period for The Bee Gees, and examines this period with great perception.

As victims of the disco backlash, the group felt unwanted and unloved. They felt that nobody needed to hear from them directly, so they poured their hearts into writing for other artists.

Their triumphant return to the mainstream music came with 1987's “You Win Again”.

The book closes on a sad note, with the deaths of Maurice and Robin. Barry is the only one still alive and The Bee Gees, as a name and musical act, have retired.

Overall, the story was phenomenal. My biggest complaint is that there were no firsthand accounts from the group members themselves. Of course, this could obviously be due to the fact that only one of them remains alive, but it would have been wonderful to include parts where Barry looked back in retrospect, on that time in their lives/careers. Nevertheless, Children of the World is a terrific read (or listen). Bob Stanley provides an illuminating journey through one of pop music's finest discographies, and really does show the true genius of The Bee Gees.

#TheStoryoftheBeeGees #NetGalley

[Martin Maenza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a Bee Gees fan for most of my life. I even had the pleasure to experience them in concert on September 14, 1979, for the Buffalo, New York, stop on the Spirits Having Flown tour. I know so much of their music and their story, but I wanted to see if this book could offer any more stories I did not know.

Starting out in their teens (Barry 15, twins Robin and Maurice 13), they were very much one of the O.G. boy bands. But their popularity was always more subdued, less flash despite deep musical substance. Stanley's goal with his book is to correct some of that - to give the brothers their due.

I learned a lot, especially about their younger lives before they made their mark in music. Finding out that they were wild as kids (setting things afire, swiping things for fun) really helped to humanize them. They were just like the rest of us in our adolescence. I also enjoyed finding out more about Robert Stigwood's early influences as well as their break-up period as the 60's came to a close, even when they were all still at such a young age.

As a lover of the music, I like how the narrative very much moves through the brothers' careers song by song, album by album. At the same time, Stanley also provides context for other music on the charts at similar times, allowing the reader to fit everything into a wider musical context. He makes sure to cover every aspect of their careers, even if he does look down upon their work on the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie which is one of my many guilty pleasures.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I knew the Bee Gees till I read this book. So much music I was unaware of is listed and described here. A bibliography, discography and index too. Only thing missing were photographs which I would have appreciated.

[Reeca Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bee Gees’s extraordinary career was one of highs and lows. From a vicious but temporary split in 1969 to several unreleased albums, disastrous TV and film appearances, and a demoralizing cabaret season, the group weren’t always reveling in the glow of million-selling albums, private jets, and UNICEF concerts. Yet, even in the Gibbs’ darkest times, their music was rarely out of the charts, as sung by the likes of Al Green, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and Destiny’s Child.

Now I did fluctuate between 3 and 4 stars. Basically because I wanted more about their lives and less about the creativity of the music…I know, I know! They are a musical group but it just felt like it was missing something. I did settle on 4 stars because I did learn a great deal! Through many trials and tribulations…this group is a one that will not be forgotten!

I did love the list of songs at the front of each segment. Brought back so many memories. This list encompasses the top 10 songs for the time frame of the segment in their life story.

The narrator, Paul Fox, really did a good job. I enjoyed his cadence!

I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.

[Richard A · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first group/band that I followed was the Bee Gees (my all-time favorite group) and as a big fan of theirs I gave this book a 5-Star rating (if I wasn’t such a fan I might have given the book only a 4-Star rating). There were so many interesting facts about the brothers and commentary about their music and lyrics. Many of the lyrics didn’t make sense, however, the words enhanced the music (as explained by the author, Bob Stanley). After the commentary I would go to YouTube and listen to the song to hear either the lyrics or melody. For example, the repetition of the same note on the song Spicks and Specks (check it out – as well as Barry Gibbs song Israel on the album Trafalgar). The book details their early life, being very poor, and moving every 9 months or so as their father was a band leader and was constantly moving to look for work. Due to this they had no friends and depended on each other and became very close. The book details their musical beginnings in Australia, the move to Great Britian in the 60’s, and then to the United States in the 70’s through today. I also pulled out 10 albums (excluding CD’s) from my remaining library of albums. I listened to this book and Paul Fox's narration of the book is also 5 stars.

[Christine Busuttil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This musical biography distinguishes itself by being part novel, encyclopaedia and thank you letter.
Novel because it tells a story which has so many twists and turns, it provides detailed descriptions creating pictures, offering insightful opinions but not judgements which often attempt to subordinate the subject to the authority of the author’s pen.
Encyclopaedia, because its chronology blends anecdote, fact and observation cleverly sidestepping a feeling of being mechanical.
A thank you letter because it is written with wonderment, appreciation and affection.
You do not have to like the Bee Gees to enjoy this book but you might just find how much you do. That makes you think.

[Geoff Sheehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book, lots of interesting bits and pieces from all the many stages to their careers, and lives.

[Wendy Henning · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Really fun and detailed analysis of their music and their place in pop history.

[Brad · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very detailed. I'm a causal fan, so I skimmed most of the book.

[Christeen]

Still thinking over how I feel about this book. While it focuses on the music, their personal lives only get referenced through a line or two every few pages, and I lost track of relationships and what was going on because they were referenced so rarely.

Also, the book incorrectly mentions that Ann Moses worked for 16 Magazine. She was the editor for Tiger Beat, and she had a relationship with Maurice Gibb.

[Charles James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating overview of the long career of the Bee Gees . Led me to listening to many albums i had been unaware of and discovering many hidden nuggets .Written with the usual enthusiasm you expect from Bob Stanley who has a full appreciation of his subject .
Well worth a read for any one interested in one of the most durable bands in popular music .

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago I became a casual fan of the Bee Gees, specifically their 1969 album Odessa, a double album that is eccentric, over the top, fascinating and, as I concluded after a while, pure genius. Over the years I've bought quite a number of their albums second hand and have become a big appreciator of the Bee Gees unique musical world. Their albums are still cheap to buy, despite second-hand vinyl prices rising in general due to the demand generated by a new generation of collectors and vinyl lovers, because, well, the Bee Gees are still pretty uncool. They may be uncool, but the reality is that they were song-writing geniuses. Children of the World delves deeply into both the Bee Gees personal lives and their music, with the emphasis on their music. Somehow Bob Stanley has managed to give the reader a well rounded sense of the Bee Gees as people, whilst mostly being concerned about their music. Stanley notes that the three Gibb brothers, Maurice, Robin and Barry, were basically outsiders, despite their stellar commercial successes. They lived in their own hermetically sealed world, for example, he points out, that even their version of disco was very different to that of other acts disco; in one of Stanley's many great lines, he compares Bee Gees disco to a wafting summer night's breeze, as opposed other acts disco, which he describes as like stepping into the oversaturated perfume section of a department store. In telling the Bee Gees musical story, from the Isle of Mann, through to their decades of both slumps and global dominance, Stanley writes supremely well about music. To convey both the technical aspects of music and its intangible magic, is a very difficult thing to do without resorting to cliches, but Stanley manages it. Essentially Children of the World is perhaps the best music book I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

One of the things that Stanley does best is make you want to hear the music he's talking about, so be prepared to be listening to the Bee Gees a great deal whilst reading. It is double the pleasure basically. Stanley also begins each chapter with a rundown of either the US top ten chart, or the UK top ten chart, which gives the reader great context regarding the musical world the Bee Gee's were existing within. The thing that Stanley conveys really well is just how unique the Bee Gee's were, there is nothing else like them in the history of popular music really. It is best to read this book, as it is difficult to explain this adequately within a few words, however, to give it a go, the Bee Gees were kind of kooky, eccentric and unhindered by the kind of restraint that rendered many other commercial acts of their era banal. Actually to understand the Bee Gees unique appeal it is best to start listening to them properly, not just their many hits; albums like Idea (1968), Odessa (1969), Cucumber Castle (1970), To Whom it May Concern (1972), Trafalgar (1971) and Main Course (1975) would be good starts. The story of the Bee Gees is one of true graft, they worked really hard, sheer musical talent and also personal and family troubles and tragedies (no pun intended). Andy Gibb's story is also included, which is both inspiring and very sad. Like Brain Wilson, Barry Gibb has ended up being the last brother left in the family, with the premature deaths of Maurice and Robin. Stanley has been criticised for paying scant attention to their deaths in the book, but he deals with their deaths with taste, and besides, it's mostly all about their lives and their music. Another criticism is that there are no photos included, however this is barely noticed, as Stanley's writing is so good images are rendered unnecessary, besides, that's what the internet is for. Essentially Children of the World is a must for Bee Gees fans, and if you are a casual admirer of their music, reading the book will turn you into a big fan, which is one of the best things that could happen to you frankly, just make sure you don't care about being cool.

[Paul Sutter]

The Bee Gees were one of my favorite bands back in the 1960’s. One of the first records I bought was New York Mining Disaster 1941. I can still recite the lyrics to that song. The group has had a most interesting life in music, many incarnations.
First they were pop stars, and then when disco swept the world, their songs on Saturday Night Fever became anthems for a new generation. Bob Stanley, who is noted for his most comprehensive and complete music books, does it again, with the ultimate tribute to the band and their music. They were certainly a band that kept making music for decades, and had a most interesting following and legacy through the music. Barry, Maurice, and Robin, were the brothers Gibb, who were music sensations, creating sounds that have withstood the test of time.
Life was not easy for them or for their family, as when they were growing up, they were plagued by poverty, their father fighting to get food on the table. It was not the easiest childhood but they persevered, and they even formed a group in the late fifties, calling themselves the Rattlesnakes. It was when they moved to Australia that the land down under become more like the land of promise eventually for the brothers Gibb. Who would have thought that the three would go on to transform themselves into the Bee Gees, releasing their first song Spicks and Speck in 1964 to varied responses.
It was when they headed back to England in 1966, and met up with music impresario Robert Stigwood, that the magic did happen. New York Mining Disaster 1941 based on a mining cave-in, gave them the publicity and fan base that would usher them to new heights musically. They followed up that hit song with other tunes such as To Love Somebody, Holiday, First of May, I’ve Gotta Get Message To You, Words, Massachusetts, and many others. The band often got their inspiration from other groups and singers, watching them carefully to find out their appeal and what type of music worked for them.
This makes the book even more fascinating, as we get to relive in our minds the songs that were released by others, as the Bee Gees were making their move toward to the top of the charts. In fact at the start of every chapter, we are shown Top Ten List from either America or the UK at the time that the Bee Gees were making their way up the charts.
It was not all happily ever after, as it was not long after the band was gaining International success and adulation, that Robin decided to leave the group. Others replaced him but he was contacted a couple of years later by Robin, who asked him to come try it again. He did and in the early 1970’s more hits flowed like How Do You Mend A Broken Heart?
Things sort of mellowed out musically, and while releasing records, they were not met with the same enthusiasm by the fans. Fast forward to disco days and Saturday Night Fever, and such hits as Jive Talkin’, Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever, and others. It gave them a career rebirth so to speak.
The Bee Gees as Stanley shows, were constantly trying to reinvent themselves musically, but tragedy happened when brother Andy, who was enjoying his own solo career success died due to excessive drug use. Maurice died in 2003 and Robin in 2012. This book is a great tribute to their life and legacy and musical contributions to the world. It is a must read for fans of the Brothers Gibb.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Story of The Bee Gees: Children of the World is a gripping, interesting, and informative history of the hairy chested, iconic, musical brothers who took the world by storm! Barry, Robin, and Maurice helped us with 'Stayin' Alive', took us to 'Massachusetts", told us 'We should all be dancing', and asked us 'How deep is your love'. Well how deep is it? Mine runs deep! It would be a "Tragedy" if the world never heard Robin sing "I started a joke."🎤🎵🎶

It's all about the songs/lyrics/music! Keep that in mind while reading this book. This book is about their songs, their albums, their songwriting, their success, and the bumps in the road that they encountered. It also touches on their individual and group issues, dynamics, and drama. If you are looking for an in-depth look at their lives, this will not be the book for you.🎤

The Story of The Bee Gees: Children of the World takes readers from the groups early days, their singing, their harmonizing, their influences, and their drive. They moved frequently while growing up, but music remained a steady in their life. Bob Stanley is a Bee Gees fan who takes readers through their song catalogue, sometimes looking at the lyrics, while also looking at other groups and songs which were popular at the same time. The author did a tremendous amount of research and provides readers with a lot of information about the songs, albums, and those who helped them. 🎤

They didn't always get along, they didn't always speak, they disagreed, they took turns quitting the group, things got messy, but their songs remained top notch. Family, fame, public perception, pressure, and egos came into play. But that didn't stop them from selling over 120 million records over time and being one of the most beloved and listened to groups of all time. They earned their place in history, setting records, and standing tall with some of the bestselling artists of all time. 🎤🎵🎶❤️

They have a plethora of original songs and have also written songs for other artists including Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross, Frankie Vali, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, Celine Dione, and Dionne Warwick to name a few. 🎤

Fans of the Bee Gees and their iconic singing, wonderful lyrics, and sound may find this to be interesting reading as I did. As I mentioned above, this book is about their work as a trio, their albums, and their songs. Keep that in mind while picking this book up.🎤

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. This book also had me listening to their songs and dancing like John Travolta in my living room! 🎵🎶❤️

Informative, impressively researched, interesting, and engaging. 🎵🎶❤️

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This was an enjoyable read that provided a lot of great background information on the band. It was quite surprising to read how much had gone before the big hits in the 1970s and how the band was an endeavor that they dedicated their lives to achieve. I listened to the audio version and admittedly found the narrator to have annoying ticks and questionable accents.

The book is fairly chronological, starting from the many moves of the family (staying ahead of debts) and eventual relocation from Australia to England. There, the boys (who had quit high school to support the family as musicians) had some lucky breaks at the time that the Beatles were emerging. After several minor 'folk' type of hits, the band scored it big from two changes: Barry sung in a high voice and the band embraced the more energetic disco music at the time.

As informative as the book was, there were some holes in there. Perhaps a bit more about the disco backlash that would cast a pall over their 1980s careers and a bit more about the later years, especially the impacts as each of the brothers passed away, leaving Barry still alive. As well, while I appreciate that the author can help outline the feel and musical uniqueness of the Bee Gees songs, it did get wearing to have a description of what felt like every song released. It was appreciated that the author also discussed brother Andy and how their success affected him.

In all, I enjoyed this biography and there was a lot to learn here. But I would not recommend the audio version. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Michael Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You would think that the story of the Bee Gees, a band that went through several stylistic changes and went up and down a few times in popularity, would be interesting, and indeed it might be, but this author has not really written the story of the group—he's written the story of their music. As such, it's well researched and dives deep (though he could be better at describing the sound of their music) and enjoyable to read. But this book passes itself off as being about the group and there it falls down.

It doesn't seem like Stanley had any access to any of the Gibb brothers or even people in their circle. He was able to put together a fairly complete picture of the boys in their very early years. It was interesting to have pointed out that when they had their first hits, two of the three were still in their late teens. But once the band hits the big time, the personal information becomes scattershot. Stanley was obviously limited by what he could get from old press clippings and interviews, and this hobbles the book's ability to truly tell their story. I'm not sorry I read it but, given that another such effort by a different author may never be done, I'm also sorry it's not more complete.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like too many others before it in that it focuses almost exclusively on the "business" aspect of its subject and offers very little of the personal. It dissects every song the Gibbs ever wrote in painful detail but offers almost nothing new about these three, very talented men. The book itself Loaded with dates and timelines, bouncing back and forth between decades. Hardly any of what I expected, which was more insight to the Gibb brothers themselves as people. This was so loaded with details of the music industry itself that I could not follow it at all. There is way too much song and music analysis, as well as chart tracking in this book. Only the most serious musicologist would be interested in Stanley's analysis of obscure songs on obscure albums. Unfortunately, most readers' eyes will glaze over. For years I have looked for a good book at the Bee Gees in written form, sadly this is not it. The overall problem is not knowledge, Mr. Stanley seems to know every bit of minutiae of Bee Gees lore, but he seems hung up on making sure not that we know the band, but that we love the music. Stanley is respected rock journalist, but this book disappointed me.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this biography about the Bee Gees. I was raised as a Bee Gees fan and realized that I don't know a ton about their history other than what my dad has told me, so now was the time to learn. Overall, I found the tone of the Bee Gees story to be very sad. It makes me sad to know how hard they tried throughout their entire career as a band to make it and how the only times they were successful where when they fit the greater vibe of the music industry. While that makes a lot of sense in practice, it saddens me to know what potential they had that the world very likely missed out on. Such a bummer. That being said, I'm grateful for the music we have and the fact that they were able to collaborate with other artists. Overall, this was a straightforward telling of their story, and I appreciated the author's humor throughout. I wasn't sure why he ribbed on Robin's weirdness so heavily, but it did add humor.

[RUTH · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 4.5 stars. If you are a Bee Gees fan, this is a must read for you! It details the story of their lives, and their successes, along with their disappearance in the early 1980's to their reappearance in the late 1980's. This book was thoroughly researched, and Stanley is very familiar and respectful of the Bee Gees. My only complaint was in the first half of the book, there was too much detail about the 5 to 10 other bands in the top 10. Those parts could have been streamlined. I loved the detailed discography at the end that lists all their albums, songs, records. When you read this, you do want to do it with your phone in your hand so you can google and listen to all of the songs mentioned that you have never heard of.

[Steven D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone cold fascinating

Stanley has a deep understanding of what makes Bee Gees records so great, but is not blind to what makes some of them terrible. I can't imagine a more intensive look at their often brilliant but frequently bizarre lyrics, and the music! I've long regarded their first three UK LPs as masterpieces, but this book has me revisiting weirdies like Trafalgar and Odessa and even their post-disco records. He brings out their peculiar brilliance so well. They were not like other bands, that's for sure. Mr. Stanley is the best music writer in the business, period, and even - especially - if you hate the Bee Gees this book will school you. A+.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have always loved the music of the Bee Gees and was looking forward to learning more about them. Instead, basically all I got was a litany of who worked on every record they were ever involved with, even those that were never released. The author used a phrase in the book "dry industry talk", and that's exactly what this book consisted of. Any information about the actual lives of the brothers and their families was sparce to say the least. It almost felt like the author wrote the book based on what he found in an encyclopedia rather than what he knew from his actual relationship with the Bee Gees. A huge disappointment. 2 stars.

[Lynn Gatehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of the Bee Gees and all music lovers will enjoy Bob Stanley's biography, which is an encyclopedia of all things Bee Gees. In addition to telling the stories of Barry, Maurice, and Robin, Stanley includes the other artists of each year/era whose music also landed on the Top 10 lists of albums and singles in the US and UK, artists who covered their songs, and artists with whom they collaborated. There is a complete"Discography" that lists the Bee Gees albums and singles, their solo albums and singles, and the albums and singles of their younger brother, Andy. This is a story of struggle, success, tragedy, perseverance, and incredible music that has withstood the test of time.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely in love with the Bee Gees when I was young. They came on my radar during the disco era but I looked up all their older music and followed them for years. I loved their musicality, their storytelling, and their charisma. I was so excited when I saw that this was available.
This is a great accounting of their history, with a lot of details about their personal lives and careers. I knew a lot of the general stories, but this book goes deeper, and I learned about what was behind so much of their lives. I highly recommend this for anyone who lived through this period. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this amazing audiobook.

[Mike Maroon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this bio of the brothers Gibb and found it to be insightful and engrossing. I’m willing to die on the hill that The Bee Gees were one of the best and most influential bands of all time. Their songwriting skills were superior as evidenced by the sheer numbers of hits, not to mention the many hits they wrote for other big name artists. “Islands in the Stream” or “Woman in Love” anyone? 40 years after the backlash against them for Disco; Barry,Robin, and Maurice have taken their rightful place as music legends. This book is a deep dive into their process and an interesting one it is.