words@brothersgibb.com message digest 06/30/2010 18:01 (#2010-1497)

6 messages included in this issue
1Barry and Robin's Fragile Relationship - an alternive theory.yasdaz17@fastmail.fm
2Barry and Robin's Fragile Relationship - an alternive theory.yasdaz17@fastmail.fm
3Barry's shorter hairyasdaz17@fastmail.fm
4Barry and Robin's Fragile Relationship - an alternive theory.CAPT1SEPT@aol.com
5Barry's shorter hairCAPT1SEPT@aol.com
6Barry's Wayrobin@familysetty.com
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:29:54 -0700 From: Yasmine Ghulamali <yasdaz17@fastmail.fm> Subject: Re: Barry and Robin's Fragile Relationship - an alternive theory. You know what is interesting about this aspect of the split? Essentially what Sal is describing below is what happened in the mid '80's with Robin's solo albums which were written by him and Mo and, with Walls, all three brothers. I am not sure what caused them to start recording again together as the Bee Gees but for that short period, Robin took a crack at a serious solo career without officially splitting from his brothers. compoccias@aol.com wrote: > It seems like Robin was looking to do what some singers would do later on, which was the dual career as a solo performer and a member of a group. If so, then he was sort of ahead of his time because you don't really start seeing that till much later. e > > But, I guess at the time it seemed like an unacceptable thing to do from Stigwood and Barry's viewpoint. But, let's call it for what it was. Stigwood and Barry had a long range plan that did not include R&M, but the Bee Gees were still a priority in ear > > Sal > > > >> If you read the music weekly articles of the time, you'll find that >> Stigwood was insistent about no brothers leaving the group while Robin >> said he'd like to work with Barry and Maurice some of the time. >> Maurice played on "Saved by the Bell" and "Mother and Jack" before >> Stigwood ordered him to stop appearing on Robin's solo recordings. >> > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Joseph Brennan > To: words List Member > Sent: Tue, Jun 29, 2010 9:39 am > Subject: [words] Barry and Robin's Fragile Relationship - an alternive theory. > > > >> ========================================================================== >> I'm sorry but I think Robin still get's too much blame for the >> break-up. >> Kel >> > > > I thought he did the right thing for himself. His band didn't fully > support him and their manager was focused on another band member as > leader. That's when it is time to leave. > > If you read the music weekly articles of the time, you'll find that > Stigwood was insistent about no brothers leaving the group while Robin > said he'd like to work with Barry and Maurice some of the time. > Maurice played on "Saved by the Bell" and "Mother and Jack" before > Stigwood ordered him to stop appearing on Robin's solo recordings. > > It was Barry who, we learned eventually, took Robin's actions as a > personal and almost unforgivable insult. I wonder if Stigwood felt > anything like that, considering his somewhat paternal feelings toward > the group. He's a mystery. The two of them are the ones who insisted > on a total split, not Robin or Maurice. > > Robin's biggest problem was not getting together with a more avant > garde manager. He was doing some really out-there stuff and with > someone to encourage that and then filter the best of it to release, > he would have had a shot at a strong cult following. > > His secondary problems were not getting an album out sooner after > "Saved by the Bell", partly because of the Stigwood lawsuit, and also, > it needs to be said, his manic behavior that is evident in the > interviews where he talks about writing dozens of songs, three plays, > and a book. I wonder what he was on. Still, better management might > have coped with those things. The orchestral "Moon Anthem", which > could be released since Robin does not sing or play on it, might or > might not have been a big seller, but it would at least have > furthered a nice feeling of "what on earth will he do next?". > > Joe Brennan > > > "Words & Music", Fans Of The Brothers Gibb ( Bee Gees ) > http://www.brothersgibb.com > To change any of your list options, > please go to website listed above. > > > > Back to top
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:46:51 -0700 From: Yasmine Ghulamali <yasdaz17@fastmail.fm> Subject: Re: Barry and Robin's Fragile Relationship - an alternive theory. I always had the impression that the '69 break up was more personal than about who was being promoted or favoured professionally. If it is still a topic that they avoid talking about (if you can believe what both have said recently) it has to be deeply painful in a personal way. I always remember Robin's face when Barry was talking about the split during 1998's Audience; it was one of the few times I have seen him express any emotion in public when he looked down, bit his lip and seemed very emotional. Of course if they have not worked it through, the power of those negative feelings from then still must reverberate down from the years to the present and would at least partly account for their personal and professional estrangement now. If Robin is still feeling guilty, for whatever reason, then maybe that is one of the reasons why he still persists in flogging the Bee Gees instead of using his energy to build a solo career. Compoccias@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 6/27/2010 7:10:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > julian@theglassfamily.co.uk writes: > > >> I can empathise with Barry feeing hurt and holding a grudge against Robin >> for the 69/70 split and that went down then. You can put a pin in a piece >> > of > >> paper but when you take the pin out the hole is still there. >> > > I'm sorry but I think Robin still get's too much blame for the break-up. A > closer look at that period demonstrates that Barry and Stigwood's actions > and words were at least as important in causing the break-up. Stigwood's > favoritism toward Barry and then later his heavy handed approach when Robin > began to get rebellious, Barry showing world class egotism when saying in > 1968 that he wasn't a big enough star and that he would eventually leave the > group and became a solo artist and try to break into films as an actor and > that the group wasn't meant to last long. Any wonder why Robin got the idea > of leaving the group? Against this background, it is hard for me to > empathize with Barry's hurt feelings. Especially 40 years later! > > > >> Perhaps there is another scenario. What if Barry (and perhaps Maurice too) >> wanted to embrace Andy in the group. His voice fitted and it would have >> given the group alternative marketing strategies too. With Andy's >> > lifestyle > >> and health issues no doubt more evident to Barry it was an opportunity to >> restore some equilibrium to his life. Perhaps Robin was against this >> > because > >> he might have felt side-lined again because Andy had a decent falsetto and >> this might be perpetuated at Robin's expense. >> Given that Andy continued on a downwards slope would not Barry, in >> retrospect, be very resentful of Robin's stance. I think for their >> > mum's > >> sake this would not be made public and therefore explain the silence on >> > the > >> matter. >> > > >> Julian >> > > Firstly, I'm not too sure Maurice wanted Andy in the group (his obvious > affection for Andy notwithstanding). I remember Barry saying he was > "outvoted" when the matter of Andy joining the group came up, so it would seem it > wasn't just Robin blocking it. Moreover, it would be a big assumption to make > that joining the group would have solved Andy's problems. It might have > helped, but I'm not too sure. > > And if I were Robin, this would be my response to Barry: Andy needs to work > out his own problems. We can help, but having him become a Bee Gee is not > going to be the cure all you seem to think it will be. Let's face it, mum, > dad, and you have always spoiled him. This is another example of coddling > him. Let's help him make his comeback, but let it be his comeback as a solo > artist. This would also strengthen his confidence and self-esteem if he did > it without us. > > As far as the vocal dynamic within the group if Andy joined? Well, once > again if I'm Robin my position would be that I'm doing the same amount of > leads, which is usually less than Barry anyway. Since Barry and Andy sounded > alike the logical choice would be for Andy to sing leads on some songs > earmarked for Barry to sing. So, Barry, not Robin, would have to sing less. Then > wait for Barry's reaction. That would be an interesting scenario! > > Good topics to discuss Julian. Thanks for initiating. > > Sal > > > > > > > > "Words & Music", Fans Of The Brothers Gibb ( Bee Gees ) > http://www.brothersgibb.com > > To change any of your list options, > please go to website listed above. > Back to top
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:07:38 -0700 From: Yasmine Ghulamali <yasdaz17@fastmail.fm> Subject: Re: Barry's shorter hair Gee, if that's the case then she must have threatened divorce during the 1991 High Civ promotions and tour when Barry's hair was the longest I have ever seen it, lol!! I have to admit that while I think both B&R's long hair during that period (and R's blond hair colour) looked ridiculous to me off stage, on stage the look was very dramatic and nice. Julian Glass (Home) wrote: > Reminds me of when Tom Kennedy told me that Linda was constantly badgering > him for a shorter style and this back in 1987. Lo and behold between her and > his image people after the ESP album shoot and before the TV promos she got > her way. A case of "You Win Linda, but not again". > > > > Julian > > > > > "Words & Music", Fans Of The Brothers Gibb ( Bee Gees ) > http://www.brothersgibb.com > > To change any of your list options, > please go to website listed above. > Back to top
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:22:05 EDT From: CAPT1SEPT@aol.com Subject: Re: Barry and Robin's Fragile Relationship - an alternive theory. I believe that they officially took a break (but not a split) after recording their songs for the "Stayin' Alive" soundtrack I don't think the break was because they were tired of each other, so much as it was that upon completion of their contract with RSO, they hadn't signed with another record company. After the lawsuits, they had been given back all of the copyrights on their songs dating back to 1967, although Robert Stigwood and RSO would retain a small interest in those songs and any new songs they happened to write before January 31, 1989. I sometimes wondered if Stigwood was also given a small interest in any album the Bee Gees as a group released after the "Stayin' Alive" soundtrack? That might explain the solo albums and writing and producing for others and why they didn't record as a group. If Stigwood's small interest only covered the songs they wrote and possibly recorded as a group, they may have felt that whatever he was getting in the way of compensation off of their publishing was enough and they didn't want to make his bank account any wealthier than what they had already done. Peace, Frank You know what is interesting about this aspect of the split? Essentially what Sal is describing below is what happened in the mid '80's with Robin's solo albums which were written by him and Mo and, with Walls, all three brothers. I am not sure what caused them to start recording again together as the Bee Gees but for that short period, Robin took a crack at a serious solo career without officially splitting from his brothers. Back to top
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:24:44 EDT From: CAPT1SEPT@aol.com Subject: Re: Barry's shorter hair She wouldn't have done that! Peace, Frank Gee, if that's the case then she must have threatened divorce during the 1991 High Civ promotions and tour when Barry's hair was the longest I have ever seen it, lol!! I have to admit that while I think both B&R's long hair during that period (and R's blond hair colour) looked ridiculous to me off stage, on stage the look was very dramatic and nice. Back to top
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:21:31 +0100 From: "Robin Setty" <robin@familysetty.com> Subject: Barry's Way "We all know its Barry way or its no way...." Sorry. But DO we, really? I've read so much in the last few days about = how each brother thought and what their intentions were etc.... =20 Well. Even if we were all skilled psychiatrists, we're still outsiders. = The one thing that we probably do know is that all three brothers are / = were very complex characters and that's why it's probably a bit naive = for us to second guess what's gone through their heads at various times. Kilburn Towers Back to top
End words@brothersgibb.com message digest 06/30/2010 18:01 (#2010-1497)