The three Gibb brothers were very close as children, and spent most of their time together. In 1958, the family moved to Australia and, once there, they began performing regularly and were soon performing on radio with two friends, Bill Goode and Bill Gates.

The group had a new name for themselves, The B.G.s – made up from the common initials of Barry Gibb, Bill Goode, Bill Gates. A few years later the name evolved into The Bee Gees which came to mean the Brothers Gibb. Recognition was slow in coming, and the Bee Gees decided to move to England to try their luck there.

With Robert Stigwood as their manager, the Bee Gees had their first international hit in 1967 with ‘New York Mining Disaster’.

With two new band members, Colin Peterson (drums) and Vince Melouney (guitar), the Bee Gees first album ‘Bee Gees 1st’ was a success. Within just over a year the Bee Gees had clocked up 24 number 1 hits in 15 difference countries.

By 1969 though, cracks were beginning to show, as the group was racked with arguments and tension. Colin Peterson left the band and brought a lawsuit to prevent the name Bee Gees being used in his absence.

Briefly they went their separate ways, but reunited in 1971 to record ‘Two Years On’. While this was well received, they had a series of flops between 1972 and 1975. However, they stayed together as a band and did not split again.

In 1975, with the help of producer Arif Mardin, the Bee Gees moved from a ballad band to an R&B influenced style and released ‘Main Course’. They then released ‘Jive Talkin’ which went to No.1. Their album ‘Children of the World’ went platinum, with three hit singles and, when touring with this album, all proceeds went to children’s charities.

The Bee Gees next project, recording the soundtrack to ‘Saturday Night Fever’, was another huge success and resulted in some of their best known songs, including ‘Stayin’ Alive’, ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ and ‘Night Fever’. The album was unsurprisingly No.1, but it set a record of being so for 24 consecutive weeks. By the end of the decade, the Bee Gees had five albums which had all gone platinum.

In 1988, tragedy struck the family as Andy Gibb, their youngest brother, died, closely followed by their father.

The Bee Gees continued to release well received singles and albums and, in 1997, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Music Awards, a Legend Award at the World Music Awards and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.