Bee Gees get their Cee Bee Ees
Thursday, 27th May 2004
THE two surviving Bee Gees made a “bitter sweet” journey to Buckingham Palace today.
The famous trio – Maurice, Barry and Robin Gibb – known for their falsetto voices, were all awarded CBEs, but Maurice died suddenly last year. Barry and Robin were devastated and faced a difficult time in the following months.
In an emotional ceremony, Barry and Robin picked up their honours from Prince Charles, alongside nephew Adam, who received his late father’s award.
The brothers were born on the Isle of Man and moved to Manchester in the 1950s, before emigrating to Australia in 1958.
Barry, 58, said: “It would have been wonderful for all three of us to be here.”
“Knowing Mo, this would have been right up his alley. He would have still had his hat on.” Maurice was known for wearing a black trilby at all times.
Tears
Barry insisted: “We are not the Bee Gees now, in respect for Mo.” Film student, Adam, 28, looked close to tears after collecting his father’s award.
He said Prince Charles spoke to him about the passing of his father.
“My mother was supposed to do it but she wouldn’t have been able to.” Maurice’s widow Yvonne was in the audience.
The brothers said that their 84-year-old mother Barbara was especially pleased with their honours. Robin, 54, said the Prince of Wales discussed their songs with them during the ceremony.
The Bee Gees became the fifth biggest selling pop group of all time, shifting more than 110 million copies of their vast array of albums over 40 years.