Barry Gibb joins Sony Music, readies solo album
Barry Gibb, remaining member of the Bee Gees, has signed to Columbia/ Sony Music Entertainment, with a solo album due out in the Australian spring.
Titled In The Now, it is the elder Gibb’s first solo album since The Kid’s No Good in 1970s when the Bee Gees took a break to make solo records.
It is also the first album of new material since the Bee Gees’ final studio album in 2001.
With the passing of twin brothers Maurice and Robin, Gibb kept the album in the family by writing all 12 songs with his two eldest sons Stephen and Ashley. The record was made in his long time base of Miami (he also has a 90-acre estate in Buckinghamshire in the English countryside and bought Johnny Cash’s home in Nashville to turn into a songwriiters’ retreat but it burned down) with the band who toured with him on his 2015 solo tour.
He said, “This is a dream come true for me. It’s a new chapter in my life. I always hoped one day that The Bee Gees would be with Columbia or indeed Sony so, it’s a great joy for me to start again this way with such great people.” (The album is released in the UK on RCA).
Between Robin, Maurice and younger brother Andy who died shortly after his solo career took off, the Gibb brothers achieved 19 number one records on the Billboard charts including, a phenomenal 6 in a row equalling The Beatles’ record. They rank third among groups for most chart toppers in America.
“I will never forget my brothers, they will always be a part of everything I do. Our dream came true.”
Barry Gibb also served as producer for other artists, including Barbra Streisand’s Guilty album to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers country record Islands In The Stream, Diana Ross’ Eaten Alive album featuring Chain Reaction as well as Dionne Warwick’s Heartbreaker album.
Facing a long time medical issue with arthritis, Barry Gibb returned to live performing in 2013-2014 with The Mythology Tour, celebrating the Bee Gees anthology release of the same name as a tribute to his three brothers. He was joined on stage by his son Steve and Maurice’s daughter Samantha. The tour took in Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, and The U.S.
He later appeared on a Paul McCartney tribute album performing When I’m 64, appeared at the Grammys 2015 as a presenter, and on March 26, 2015, was a headlining act at the Hard Rock Rising Miami Beach Global Music Festival alongside Andrea Bocelli, Gloria Estefan, Flo Rida, Jon Secada and Wyclef Jean.
Last weekend he was to have played the Glastonbury festival as the Living Legend. But illness in his family forced him to pull out. Instead, he joined Coldplay for renditions of the Bee Gees’ To Love Somebody and Staying Alive to a huge response.