Face to Face

David Barnes looks at the parallel lives of Olivia Newton-John and the Bee Gees

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Olivia Newton-John and the Gibb brothers - Barry, Robin and Maurice - are among the most noteworthy and celebrated musicians of all time. They shared somewhat parallel backgrounds and during their lives and careers their paths regularly crossed. The Bee Gees, the most successful trio in the history of contemporary music, released 39 albums and 83 singles, selling more than 220 million records worldwide, winning five Grammy Awards and amassing nine US No 1s and five UK No 1s. Olivia Newton-John also achieved international fame with in excess of 100 million records sold, releasing 26 studio albums, six live albums, 14 compilations, six soundtrack albums and some 70 singles, earning four Grammy Awards and gaining five US No 1s, three solo UK No 1s and a further two with John Travolta and one with the Electric Light Orchestra.

The Gibb brothers were born on the Isle of Man: Barry on 1 September 1946, the twins Robin (the eldest by 35 minutes) and Maurice on 22 December 1949. From January 1955, the brothers lived in Chorlton, Manchester where they formed the Rattlesnakes, a skiffle/rock'n'roll group. Parents Hugh Gibb, the bandleader of the Hughie Gibb Orchestra, and Barbara managed their sons' early music career. In 1958, the family emigrated by ship to Queensland, Australia and later moved to Sydney.

Courtesy of racing driver Bill Goode and DJ Bill Gates, they performed and recorded as the BG's, soon to be stylised as the Bee Gees. Success didn't come easily. “I think we made about seven to 11 singles that all flopped in a row, so we really found out what failure was all about before we even started,” Barry recalled.