Special Issue (#2003-3486) - Topics this issue: 1) Grief, 2) Final Thoughts ( for Sunday anyway ), 3) Look whaT Barrys says:, 4) Brothers 'perplexed' over Bee Gee's death (BBC), 5) Thank you all and a request, 6) Lesley's birthday, 7) Hospital investigation, 8) Memories of Maurice, 9) Mo in mexican journal, 10) Bee Gee brothers' anger over Maurice's death, 11) Memories of Maurice, 12) Daily Record, 13) Daily REcord 2, 14) hello magazine, 15) mirror, 16) sun1, 17) sun2, 18) Barry's and Robin's statement, 19) SEE Barry And Robins BBC Interview, 20) Ebay, ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 08:05:03 -0000 From: "Linda" Subject: Re: Grief The interview has been on TV here in the UK. ----- Original Message ----- From: To: "words List Member" Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 6:56 AM Subject: Grief >> this with a grain of salt since I have no way of knowing if this is true > or not but I read that Barry and Robin did an interview today/tonight > for BBC and said they blame the hospital for Mo's death and that they > took out 80% of his stomach and they are going to have a full > investigation done. I am not for rumors but since that bothered me I > figured I would post it and see if anyone else heard about this...The > past few days have been the sadest I think I have ever been. > > Patrick > "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. > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 08:03:00 -0000 From: "Linda" Subject: Re: Final Thoughts ( for Sunday anyway ) I read somewhere that the family have asked for donations to go to the AGMF ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janel Clayton" To: "words List Member" Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 6:28 AM Subject: Final Thoughts ( for Sunday anyway ) > The powers that be at CNN replayed the "Larry King Live" episode with the > Bee Gees at midnight. Isn't ironic one of the last concert shots was of > Barry and Robin by themselves singing "New York Mining Disaster 1941". > > I like the idea of making a donation to some charity. How about these ideas > ... > > I know Barry and Linda were ( at least last year they were ) the > international chairpersons for the Love and Hope Ball sponsored by the > Diabetes Research Institute, based in Miami. Other suggestions, how about > the hospital that treated Maurice ... or to the city of Miami ( or Miami > Beach, whichever is more appropriate ) so they can increase recreational > opportunities for disadvantaged children in that area. One of Maurice's > last acts of kindness was putting on a paintball tourney for kids in the > South Florida area. > > I think the brothers also believe strongly ( could be wrong, I haven't had > much sleep lately ) in the National Center for Missing and Exploited > Children ( which makes sense since the family behind that whole tragedy is > also from the Miami area ). Then there's also UNICEF. That's where the > proceeds from "Too Much Heaven" went. > > Just some points to ponder. > > Maurice, tonight I glanced up at the heavens and wondered how you were doing > on this first night away from the millions who love you. I listened to > clips of some of my favorite songs ... lines like "You'll never know what > you have done for me ..." from "Spirits Having Flown" ... to the chorus of > "Wish You Were Here" to the part of "Reaching Out" ... that goes "living my > life without you." We miss you but know you are at peace and are in a much > better place. > > To the entire Gibb family and my Bee Gee friends worldwide, may each passing > day ease the pain we all feel at this sudden and unexpected loss. We will > all somehow get through this. > > Janel > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > "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. > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 08:10:05 -0000 From: "Linda" Subject: Re: Look whaT Barrys says: Didn't Barry say it was his mission to confound the critics ? How can they not go on and keep the memory of Mo alive as they've endeavoured to do with Andy. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Per Bausager" To: "words List Member" Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 7:37 AM Subject: SV: Look whaT Barrys says: > I think this is the Bee Gees courage in a nutshell. Never give up. As Mo > said recently: "We are persisatent little buggers". And just the way Barry > says it. There is some anger in it. Like he is saying: Nothing or nobody > should tell them when to quit. > > Per > > -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- > Fra: ListMember@brothersgibb.com [mailto:ListMember@brothersgibb.com]På > vegne af Full Spectrum Records > Sendt: 13. januar 2003 08:31 > Til: words List Member > Emne: Re: Look whaT Barrys says: > > > I knew it. So many were sure this was the end of the Bee Gees, but that > would be SO out of character for them. It may even motivate them to finish > "writing the book" on their own terms, not have an ending like this written > for them. Next 30 years, HERE WE COME. > > Brian > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Per Bausager" > To: "words List Member" > Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 11:05 PM > Subject: Look whaT Barrys says: > > > > > > "Maurice will be a void, always in our lives and he will always be > featured > > as the third member of the Bee Gees, no matter what we do. > > > > "But one thing I will tell you is that the Bee Gees will go on. The Bee > Gees > > will not stop here. The Bee Gees will not disintegrate because we've lost > > Mo." > > > > Per > > "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. > > > > > > "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. > "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. > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 00:12:20 -0800 From: "Christine Secrist" Subject: Re: Brothers 'perplexed' over Bee Gee's death (BBC) I hope they find the answers they are looking for. Barry said they would go on, but there would be a void. I was watching some videos of them that I have on my computer, it had a healing effect on me. I believe that no one really ever dies, because I am a Christian. I did cry during my video of How Deep Is Your Love, they dedicated that song to Andy during the One for All tour, and I dedicate to Maurice now. Watching Maurice clown around on the Midnight Special videos I have almost made me smile,but it was bittersweet. He lives on in our memory. Thank you for your gift, Maurice. Christine E. ----Original Message Follows---- From: "A. Basoa" Reply-To: words@brothersgibb.com Tohttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2652147.stm The brothers of the Bee Gee Maurice Gibb are seeking answers about his treatment in hospital in Miami. Gibb died on Sunday at the age of 53 when his condition deteriorated following a heart attack. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Barry and Robin Gibb said they were perplexed as to how their brother had been admitted with a stomach blockage - and then apparently died from another illness. The brothers said they were "devastated" and "completely pole-axed" by their loss and paid tribute to the "most sweetest, generous" man. Barry Gibb confirmed he had not been present at the Mount Sinai Medical Centre for many of the key moments of his brother's treatment and said he had been told much of what he knew second-hand. But he said: "We will pursue every factor, every element, every second of the timeline, of the final hours of Maurice's life. "We will pursue that relentlessly. That will be our quest from now on." 'Gifted extrovert' Brother Robin paid tribute to his brother as "a very gifted man". "He was the most sweetest, generous of people you could ever meet." Barry added: "He was an extrovert and he would always be the person, he would never walk into a room, Maurice. "Maurice would prance into a room, you know, and his presence was immediate." _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 03:50:15 -0500 From: "Linda Johnston" Subject: Thank you all and a request Like everyone else on here, I'm still shocked and devastated by the recent news of Mo's death. So many of you have eloquently written the words that I wish I could write, which describing my feelings for Mo and the contribution he and his brothers have made in my life. To those people, I say thank you. It's wonderful that we are able to meet together here and share our personal sorrow and grief with others who understand. Thank you Chris for providing us this forum to come together in good times and bad. It's been a hectic week here, but every chance I get, I've rushed to my computer for current updates and to read all the post on here. It's comforting to know that I am not the only one who has shed my share of tears today over a man I've never met, but one who has impacted my life very much through his music and performances. I'm lost for words, but my heart is filled with pain and sorrow. I've not been able to keep up with all the tributes on tv or radio today. Unfortunately, I've been preoccupied with the death of my Aunt and this evening taking my husband to the ER with chest pains. When it rains, it pours...but this too shall pass and life will go on. If anyone made recordings of the Fox news tributes (or any other tributes)....and if you are willing to share them.... I would certainly appreciate it if you would contact me so I can arrange for payment of copying and shipping. It would mean a great deal to me to be able to watch and cherish these tributes at a later date when things settle down in my personal life. Until then, I'll just rush to the computer when I can to keep in touch with the group here. I must add a positive note here, the trip to the hospital tonight did have it's uplifting moments...all the staff in the ER were discussing The Bee Gees, their songs and how sad it was that Maurice died at such a young age. They even pronounced his name properly. It was touching to hear them talk so fondly of the brothers. Thanks for listening and even more importantly, for sharing your own sorrow and grief about the loss of our "Man In The Middle". Linda J ----- Original Message ----- From: "Per Bausager" To: "words List Member" Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 2:37 AM Subject: SV: Look whaT Barrys says: > I think this is the Bee Gees courage in a nutshell. Never give up. As Mo > said recently: "We are persisatent little buggers". And just the way Barry > says it. There is some anger in it. Like he is saying: Nothing or nobody > should tell them when to quit. > > Per > > -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- > Fra: ListMember@brothersgibb.com [mailto:ListMember@brothersgibb.com]På > vegne af Full Spectrum Records > Sendt: 13. januar 2003 08:31 > Til: words List Member > Emne: Re: Look whaT Barrys says: > > > I knew it. So many were sure this was the end of the Bee Gees, but that > would be SO out of character for them. It may even motivate them to finish > "writing the book" on their own terms, not have an ending like this written > for them. Next 30 years, HERE WE COME. > > Brian > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Per Bausager" > To: "words List Member" > Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 11:05 PM > Subject: Look whaT Barrys says: > > > > > > "Maurice will be a void, always in our lives and he will always be > featured > > as the third member of the Bee Gees, no matter what we do. > > > > "But one thing I will tell you is that the Bee Gees will go on. The Bee > Gees > > will not stop here. The Bee Gees will not disintegrate because we've lost > > Mo." > > > > Per > > "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. > > > > > > "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. > "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. > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 08:45:44 -0000 From: "Maggie Bleksley" Subject: Lesley's birthday > > Something else I realized in the middle of my grief. Today is ( I think ) > their sister Lesley's birthday. We have to think of her too .... she will > probably never have a truly happy birthday again. And when you think of all > things Maurice will miss ... I am already thinking of Samantha's wedding if > she ever ties the knot. Wow ... what a bittersweet day that is going to be. > > Janel > > > > _________________________________________________________________ OMG - yes, it was indeed Lesley's birthday - how terrible for her, as you say, she'll always be reminded on future birthdays. And yes, we must remember her, too. Like Barry and Robin, she has seen the passing of two younger brothers and, even if she wasn't quite as close, I'm sure her grief is as great as theirs. It just struck me what a very strange and unfortunate coincidence that is. Their father died on Andy's birthday, but Andy had already passed away by then. Maggie ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 09:29:12 -0000 From: "Maggie Bleksley" Subject: Hospital investigation > > Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 01:56:49 -0500 (EST) > From: darc1@webtv.net > Subject: Grief > I just read in another ng, tak > this with a grain of salt since I have no way of knowing if this is true > or not but I read that Barry and Robin did an interview today/tonight > for BBC and said they blame the hospital for Mo's death and that they > took out 80% of his stomach and they are going to have a full > investigation done. I am not for rumors but since that bothered me I > figured I would post it and see if anyone else heard about this...The > past few days have been the sadest I think I have ever been. > > Patrick > > ------------------------------ > Yes, Barry and Robin want to have an investigation done. I haven't had time to read about it in full yet, but it was on the radio this morning. I heard a recording of a brief interview with Robin, in which he said that they wanted to find out what caused Maurice to have a heart attack, when he went into hospital to have a blockage removed from his intestine. They seem to be blaming the hospital for this happening. I'll keep you informed if I find out more before anyone else posts. Maggie ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 10:34:26 +0100 From: Juan Perea y Monsuwe Subject: Memories of Maurice I was too devastated to post before, I still have to run the news by myself every hour, reminding me Maurice is dead, cause somehow it doesn't stay in my system. From Thursday on, I monitored all the news updates on the BBC site and other media carefully, yet always being convinced he would survive, analyzing the medical data that was shared (I am no medical layman myself). But then I walked into my brother on Sunday and the first thing he said was: "Have you heard, Maurice Gibb died". And everybody went on with things as if nothing had happened That's why this list is so great, because for you all, like for me, the love for the Bee Gees, and Maurice, means a great deal, each and every day. I feel a terrible loss. The idea that there will never be Three Brothers on record and stage anymore is somewhat secondary though. My heart goes out to Barry, Robin and Barbara, and Yvonne, the people who were closest to him and spend their lives with Maurice, purely enjoying his presence and warmth. Their loss is what makes me most sad. I just feel immense grief cause such a kind, energetic and talented soul isn't here anymore. He lived a full and rich life, with all the ups and downs, but he must have realised he had everything and more he could ever have wished for, and I guess he was grateful for that. But I just never could cope with death, especially the one of a sudden random kind. On November 23, my very favourite Dutch writer and tv personality died suddenly cause of a cardia arrest, age 54, being as full of life, music and ideas like Maurice. I just shortly came to terms with that. And I don't know why, but the very detailed account of his agent of the day before his death and the way she found him, gave me peace. And now I read the very distressing reports from Barry and Robin, confirming my initial beliefs, why Maurice would die from such a condition. The idea that they rightfully believe, some poor medical judgment MAY have caused our beloved Maurice to die, would be unbearable for me. But I praise them for keeping the Bee Gees alive. On a last note, it also helped me a lot to see, the Dutch TV journals included major segments on Mo, and also the biggest Dutch internet forum contained a lot of reactions, mostly from non fans, showing their respect to Maurice, one of the icons of musical history, who died too soon. He got all the credits and respect he deserved, much more than I expected. And that felt great! -- Juan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 01:40:39 -0800 (PST) From: Lourdes Amaya Subject: Mo in mexican journal http://www.reforma.com/espectaculos/articulo/260286/default.htm __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 09:42:39 -0000 From: "Maggie Bleksley" Subject: Bee Gee brothers' anger over Maurice's death I got this story from the news on my homepage: Bee Gee brothers' anger over Maurice's death Bee Gee Maurice Gibb's brothers say they are "devastated" by his death and have questioned whether doctors had been right to operate on him. The 53 year-old suffered a heart attack just prior to an operation to remove an intestinal blockage after he collapsed at his home in Florida last week. He died in the Mount Sinai Medical Centre in Miami yesterday. In an emotional interview less than 24 hours after their brother's death, Barry and Robin Gibb have said: "The fact that they had to operate on Maurice during the shock of cardiac arrest is questionable. "We will pursue every factor, every element, every second of the timeline, of the final hours of Maurice's life. We will pursue that relentlessly. That will be our quest from now on." There was no-one available for comment at the hospital. Maurice's twin Robin and elder brother Barry said he was taken into hospital with the stomach complaint last Wednesday evening. At 4am on Thursday he suffered a heart attack, after which surgeons decided they should act immediately and operate. The brothers said they understood Maurice's intestines were twisted, possibly as the result of a birth defect. He had to have 80% of his stomach removed in the operation. They also questioned why doctors had not been able to diagnose what was wrong with Maurice when he first arrived at hospital. Maggie ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 10:50:26 +0100 From: "Per Bausager" Subject: SV: Memories of Maurice Jaun wrote: " And now I read the very distressing reports from Barry and Robin, confirming my initial beliefs, why Maurice would die from such a condition. The idea that they rightfully believe, some poor medical judgment MAY have caused our beloved Maurice to die, would be unbearable for me. But I praise them for keeping the Bee Gees alive." I try to imagine what a feeling it will be both for us and for Barry and Robin, when they appear for the 1st time as the Bee Gees without Mo. But the love and sympathy they will get will be enormous. Per ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 11:12:41 +0100 From: marion budde Subject: Daily Record PALS PAY TRIBUTE TO TRIO'S `BEST TALENT' FRIENDS and admirers last night paid tribute to Maurice Gibb. Musical superstar Elton John said: "It was so sad. "He was a really sweet and talented performer, a nice guy. "What a sad way for his family to start the New Year." The president of the Bee Gees' international fan club, Terri Bridge, said: "Maurice's contribution was incalculable. "Maurice tended to work more quietly behind the scenes. He was the instrumentalist. "Maurice was one of the most courageous men I have ever met. He was courageous and he was strong. I cannot begin to tell you the strength of character that man had. "He worked very hard to achieve what he achieved with his sobriety and we are all so proud of him." Friend David Most, who has worked with the Bee Gees for 16 years, said The Bee Gees were "absolutely brilliant writers". He added: "We've lost a treasured member of the writing family of the world." DJ and pop guru Paul Gambaccini said: "This very sad loss of one third of the number five recording act of all time, well that's pretty major. Maurice was the talented multi-instrumentalist. "I mean here's a guy who played keyboards, guitar, bass and percussion, so he was more on the musical side of the writing. Music writer Rick Sky said: "Maurice was a very lovely man. "He was charming and very funny and he will be really badly missed by everyone in the music business. "He was the most musically gifted of the Bee Gees. "They all wrote their music together but he was the most talented." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 11:13:57 +0100 From: marion budde Subject: Daily REcord 2 --=====================_4742720==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed BEE GEE TRAGEDY Gibb family heartache as Maurice loses fight for his life BEE Gees star Maurice Gibb squeezed his daughter's hand before dying yesterday morning. The singer, who had a heart attack during surgery for an intestinal blockage, briefly regained consciousness and opened his eyes. Wife Yvonne and kids Adam, 26, and Samantha, 21, hoped it meant he would recover. But soon after, he lapsed into a coma and died. Maurice, 53, whose lifelong battle with the booze destroyed his marriage to Scots singer Lulu in 1973, after just four years, was rushed to hospital in Miami last week after collapsing at home. Yvonne, who he met six months after he split with Lulu, and the children were at his bedside. The family released a statement which said: "It is with great sadness and sorrow that we regretfully announce the passing of Maurice Gibb this morning. "His love and enthusiasm and energy for life remain an inspiration to all of us. We will all deeply miss him." Maurice, his twin Robin and older brother Barry first sang together in Manchester, where they were brought up before moving to Australia in the 1950s. They enjoyed hits in the 60s, then in the 70s when they wrote and performed the music for the hit film Saturday Night Fever. Their hits included Night Fever, Stayin' Alive and How Deep is Your Love? Maurice met Glasgow-born Lulu in the BBC canteen when they were both on Top of the Pops. Their engagement was announced live on Lulu's TV show and 5000 hysterical fans mobbed them on their wedding day. But they were divorced in 1973. Chris Hutchins, a former press agent for the Bee Gees, said Maurice's drinking drove the marriage on to the rocks. He said: "His marriage to Lulu was torn apart by the fact that he did indulge in all of these things to try to take the pain away, and stop what was going on in his mind. "He was a tormented soul. He was not the star and he knew it, he felt it." Pete Bassett, spokesman for twin Robin, said: "Maurice's death is a huge shock to us all and completely unexpected. "On Friday, Robin felt that there was an improvement and that Maurice had started to regain consciousness and he was reported to be responding to his family, but obviously that was only a temporary thing. "It's just too shocking at this stage to think about. "Everyone was just believing that Maurice was coming round and we woke up to this awful news. "The past few days since Robin heard the initial news of Maurice have been just so emotional for him and our thoughts go out to him as Maurice's twin and obviously to his family." Friend David Most said: "It's a shock, because we thought he was getting better. He held his daughter's hand, and squeezed it, his organs were all functioning. "We thought, `It's the turning point,' and then suddenly he went into a coma. It's terrible, absolutely terrible." As the sons of a bandleader and a singer, the brothers Gibb were always destined to make their living from music. After moving to Brisbane, Australia, in 1958 the brothers began appearing in talent shows and by the time they signed with a record company in 1962 they had become the Bee Gees. Even in their early days, their songs, written by the brothers, contained their trademark high harmonies. Their soundtrack album for Saturday Night Fever, which sold 30 million copies, made them famous around the world and rich beyond their dreams. But in the 1980s, the hits slowed up with the exception of a No1 hit single You Win Again. For most of the decade, the group wrote hits for other artists including Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross. In the 1970s, the youngest of the Gibb brothers, Andy, had emerged as a musician in his own right, but in 1988, he committed suicide after a battle with drugs. Maurice, a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for years, was devastated and went back to drinking for a while. --=====================_4742720==_.ALT-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 11:14:12 +0100 From: marion budde Subject: hello magazine 13 JANUARY 2003 Leading figures in the music business have been paying tribute to one of its best-loved figures after Bee Gees star Maurice Gibb died at the weekend. His brothers Robin and Barry are meanwhile demanding answers as to why their brother lost his life after what was supposed to be a routine procedure at the Mount Sinai Medical Centre in Florida. Maurice was admitted to have an intestinal blockage removed, but suffered a heart attack during the operation. He briefly regained consciousness on Saturday, to open his eyes and squeeze his daughter's hand, but the 53-year-old was unable to pull through. He was surrounded by his wife Yvonne and their two children, along with brothers Robin and Barry, when he passed away on Sunday morning. "We will pursue every factor, every element, every second of the timeline, of the final hours of Maurice's life," said Barry. "We will pursue that relentlessly. That will be our quest from now on." Hi passing marks the end of an era for the legendary trio, who are the fifth biggest selling artists of all time. "It is with great sadness that we regretfully announce the passing of Maurice Gibb this morning," said a statement released by his family. "His love and enthusiasm and energy for life remain an inspiration to all of us." Tributes have been pouring in from showbiz heavyweights. Louis Walsh, who manages Maurice's former wife Lulu, said: "There was so much more to the Bee Gees than just Saturday Night Fever. People don't realise they wrote songs for the likes of Diana Ross and Barbra Streisand. To me Maurice Gibb was a more important songwriter than Burt Bacharach or Hal David, As songwriters, they are up there with the Beatles." 13 JANUARY 2003 Leading figures in the music business have been paying tribute to one of its best-loved figures after Bee Gees star Maurice Gibb died at the weekend. His brothers Robin and Barry are meanwhile demanding answers as to why their brother lost his life after what was supposed to be a routine procedure at the Mount Sinai Medical Centre in Florida. Maurice was admitted to have an intestinal blockage removed, but suffered a heart attack during the operation. He briefly regained consciousness on Saturday, to open his eyes and squeeze his daughter's hand, but the 53-year-old was unable to pull through. He was surrounded by his wife Yvonne and their two children, along with brothers Robin and Barry, when he passed away on Sunday morning. "We will pursue every factor, every element, every second of the timeline, of the final hours of Maurice's life," said Barry. "We will pursue that relentlessly. That will be our quest from now on." Hi passing marks the end of an era for the legendary trio, who are the fifth biggest selling artists of all time. "It is with great sadness that we regretfully announce the passing of Maurice Gibb this morning," said a statement released by his family. "His love and enthusiasm and energy for life remain an inspiration to all of us." Tributes have been pouring in from showbiz heavyweights. Louis Walsh, who manages Maurice's former wife Lulu, said: "There was so much more to the Bee Gees than just Saturday Night Fever. People don't realise they wrote songs for the likes of Diana Ross and Barbra Streisand. To me Maurice Gibb was a more important songwriter than Burt Bacharach or Hal David, As songwriters, they are up there with the Beatles." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 11:14:33 +0100 From: marion budde Subject: mirror --=====================_4778600==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed THE BEE GEES' ROCK 'N' ROLLER TRAGIC Maurice Gibb will go down in music history as the true wildman of the Bee Gees. His twin Robin and older brother Barry both dabbled with drink and drugs, but Maurice did them big-time. The singer, who died yesterday at the age of 53, went on a 25-year booze bender after being given his first scotch by John Lennon as a teenager. In one of his last interviews, father-of-two Maurice recalled the heady days of the group's early fame. He said: "John Lennon was the person who got me to drink my first scotch and Coke. I was 17 and if he'd told me to take cyanide I'd have done it. "I was going to Tramp every night and then driving home totally blitzed. It was good fun." Maurice, who was known as the "funny one" of the Gibb brothers, added: "No one had minders then - we used to get drunk with Prince Charles at Tramp. "When I was married to Lulu the doorbell would go at three in the morning and it would be Rod Stewart or David Bowie. "We'd go down in our dressing gowns and get the bar open." Maurice was taken to hospital in Miami last week with stomach pains and suffered a heart attack during surgery. He died early yesterday with his family at his bedside. When surgeons operated last week "they found gangrene all over his intestines. He should have had about 25ft of healthy intestine, but he only had two feet left". LAUGHTER: Maurice was the "funny one" Maurice admitted he was a fearsome drinker. "I became a Jekyll and Hyde figure," he said. "I was never physically abusive, but I was very vicious with my tongue." In 1988, his brother Andy, who had a solo pop career, died from heart failure, brought on by drink and drugs. Maurice said: "I just drank and drank to numb my mind." The drinking saw off his six-year marriage to singer Lulu, who left him in 1975. SIX months later he met his second wife Yvonne when she walked into his dressing room at the Batley Variety Club. "I just saw her eyes and said to myself: This is the woman am going to marry," he said. They married eight months later, but Maurice was still boozing. It was another 20 years before he admitted he had a problem and joined Alcoholics' Anonymous. He said: "I owe everything to these people. I go to a meeting every day, Christmas, New Year, wherever I am in the world." Maurice, who also smoked 40 cigarettes a day, said last year: "I'm very lucky. If you think of all our mountains and valleys, all the marriage break-ups, all the drink and drugs and all the not talking to each other, that's not bad going." The three brothers were born in the Isle of Man, then the Gibb family moved to Chorlton-cum-Hardy, a poor suburb of Manchester, in the 1950s. Their father Hugh was a drummer with a dance band and their mother was a backing singer. By the time they were six, the twins, and Barry, nine, had taught themselves to sing three-part harmonies. Maurice recalled: "My dad heard us in our bedroom doing the Everly Brothers and he thought the radio must be on." In 1955, Robin, Maurice and Barry made their debut at a cinema, singing and miming the hits of the day. In 1958, the family emigrated to Australia and the brothers became child stars. They returned to England and signed a record deal. Their first English release, New York Mining Disaster 1941, made the top 20 on both sides of the Atlantic in 1967. Its evocative, intriguing lyrics and striking harmony, earned them comparisons to The Beatles. In the same year they had their first No.1 with Massachusetts. Since then, they have sold more than 100 million records and scored hits in four decades as the most successful trio in pop history. Maurice, famous for his trademark fedora, played bass and keyboard for the group, whose name is short for the Brothers Gibb. The band's low points included the breakdown of all of their first marriages, periods when nobody spoke to each other, a lot of drink and drugs and brother Andy's death at the age of 30. But in 1979, the brothers emerged from the doldrums to write the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. It sold 60 million copies and was followed by a sequel, Stayin' Alive, in 1983. Maurice and his brothers always felt critics and the music business under-rated their efforts. He said once: "People accuse us of being nothing more than a disco band now. But they don't know what they're talking about. "If you listen to our records, you'll find that there's dance music, but there are also ballads like More Than A Woman. And there are some very beautiful, undanceable songs, too." In the late 1990s, they won an American Lifetime Achievement Award, a Brit Award and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Last year, the brothers were each awarded CBEs in the New Year Honours List. TWIN brother Robin arrived at the Florida hospital just an hour before Maurice died. Robin, who lives in Oxfordshire, flew out to Miami to join Maurice's wife and grown-up children, Adam and Samantha, at the bedside. In a statement yesterday, the family said: "His love, enthusiasm and energy for life remain an inspiration to all of us. We will all deeply miss him." Fans gathered outside the hospital with flowers and messages. Friend David Most, who has worked with the brothers for 16 years, said: "It's a shock, because we thought he was getting better. "He did twiddle his toes, he held his daughter's hand, and squeezed it. His organs were all functioning. "We thought 'It's the turning point', and then suddenly he went into a coma. It's terrible." DJ and pal Paul Gambaccini said: "It's a major loss to music. He was one third of a unique vocal blend. "He was the high part of the three-part harmony. I'm afraid that this beautiful Bee Gee sound without him can never be produced again." Pete Bassett, spokesman for Robin, said: "It's a huge shock to us all and completely unexpected. Everyone is just devastated. "Everyone was just believing that Maurice was coming round and we woke up to this awful news. "The past few days since Robin heard the initial news of Maurice have been just so emotional for him. "Barry is absolutely devastated, he's beside himself...inconsolable." A spokesman for Maurice's ex-wife Lulu said last night: "She's in a state of shock." --=====================_4778600==_.ALT-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 11:14:45 +0100 From: marion budde Subject: sun1 Genius behind five decades of Bee Gees magic By MEL HUNTER MAURICE GIBB=92S musical genius and unmistakable high-pitched voice were the= =20 bedrock of the Bee Gees=92 success. His bass guitar and keyboard skills, together with his technical wizardry=20 and unique style of singing, put the brothers right at the top of pop=92s= big=20 sellers alon---de The Beatles and Elvis. It was largely thanks to Maurice=92s musical skills that the band enjoyed=20 worldwide record sales exceeding 110 million. The Bee Gees wrote and produced six No1 singles in the United States for=20 themselves and other artists. In Britain they topped the charts in four decades. Maurice loved the limelight and craved attention =97 and a huge=20 disappointment in his life was that he never got the recognition his=20 brothers attracted but he thought he deserved. It drove him to drink =97 a dependency that wrecked his life and may=20 ultimately have contributed to his death. Maurice he revelled in the showbiz life. Twin Robin and elder brother Barry= =20 married girl-next-door types. He married Lulu. They stayed out of the spotlight. He splashed out on a flash Aston Martin. They dabbled recreationally in cannabis and amphetamines. He became an alcoholic prone to huge benders. Chris Hutchins, the Bee Gees=92 former press agent, said last night:= =93Maurice=20 would go home at night and drink and drink and drink.=94 Robin and Maurice were born on the Isle of Man on December 22, 1949, three= =20 years after brother Barry. They moved to Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester with dad Hugh, a drummer in a= =20 dance band, and mum Barbara, a backing singer. By the time the twins were six they had taught themselves to sing in=20 harmony with makeshift microphones made of hairbrushes and tin cans. The boys were no angels. =93I was Mr Goody Two Shoes,=94 Maurice said. =93Barry and Robin were rebels. If it was standing, it had to be burned= down.=20 If it was outside a house, it had to be nicked. They were a couple of=20 terrors.=94 In 1958, the family =97 with older sister Lesley and younger brother, Andy = =97=20 emigrated to Brisbane, Australia. The three middle brothers kept passengers entertained by singing on the=20 decks in their pyjamas. The Brothers Gibb became a fixture on the club circuit and released their=20 first record when Maurice was ten. The twins left school and got their first Australian No1, Spicks And=20 Specks, in 1966 when on the boat back to England. In the UK they signed a record deal with Robert Stigwood. The first single, released in 1967, was New York Mining Disaster 1941. It=20 made the Top 20 on both sides of the Atlantic. Third single, Massachusetts, propelled the teenage Bee Gees to No1. Their star continued to rise throughout the Sixties. Maurice said: =93We=20 never thought about the money. We just blew it. I had six Rolls-Royces and= =20 eight Aston Martins by the time I was 21.=94 Their second album was Idea, including hits I Started A Joke, and Gotta Get= =20 A Message To You. But the brothers argued over the follow-up album, Odessa, released in 1969,= =20 and did not record together again for 18 months. In the meantime, Barry had divorced his first wife and married Linda Gray,= =20 an Edinburgh beauty queen. They are still together. Eighteen-year-old Robin married his first wife, Molly Hullis, a secretary=20 from Brian Epstein=92s office. Not to be left out, Maurice married Lulu in 1969 after they met in a BBC=20 canteen. Chris Hutchins remembers: =93His marriage to Lulu was totally wrecked by=20 drink. It was the most fiery union I have encountered.=94 Lulu herself said: =93We operated in a state of constant tension. We were=20 both too young.=94 The marriage hit the rocks after four years. Shortly afterwards the Bee Gees=92 career began to flounder. After reforming in 1970 they had their first US No1, Lonely Days. Another=20 hit, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, covered by soul legend Al Green, came= =20 in 1971. But the musical world was changing and they lost ground to emerging sounds= =20 such as glam rock. Then guitar hero Eric Clapton suggested a studio he had just used and their= =20 sound changed when producer Arif Mardin, who worked with Aretha Franklin,=20 Dusty Springfield and other top soul acts, joined them. Slowly they began having hits again. Jive Talkin=92 became their second US= No1. In 1975, Maurice met Yvonne Spencely, manager of the steakhouse in Batley,= =20 West Yorks. They married eight months later and had children Adam, now 26, and=20 Samantha, 21. At the same time the white-toothed, bouffant-haired Bee Gees=92 began to=20 catch a new wave of music, becoming stars of the disco generation. High point of their rebirth was the 1977 Saturday Night Fever soundtrack,=20 which sold more than 30million. The Bee Gees staged a second comeback in 1987. But a year later they were=20 hit by the death of brother Andy at 30. Maurice began drinking even more heavily to numb the pain of the tragedy,=20 although he eventually kicked the habit. In 1997 the brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The same year they stormed off Clive Anderson=92s All Talk TV show after he= =20 labelled them =93Tossers=94 after an early band name that they had used. Despite the jibe, the truth is that the Bee Gees will be remembered as=20 musical legends =97 and much of that will be thanks to Maurice.=20 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 11:15:16 +0100 From: marion budde Subject: sun2 --=====================_4821893==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Tragedy of Bee Gees star By EMILY SMITH Deputy Bizarre Editor FRIENDS of tragic Bee Gee Maurice Gibb told yesterday how he fell into a=20 fatal coma after appearing to recover from an emergency operation. The 53-year-old pop legend, once married to singer Lulu, had suffered a=20 heart attack in Miami during surgery for a blocked intestine. Hopes that he would pull through were raised when he moved his toes and=20 held his daughter=92s hand after the op. But the British star who =97 with his brothers =97 formed one of history=92s= top=20 five most successful bands, died yesterday. Distraught friend David Most, who worked with the Bee Gees for 16 years,=20 said: =93Maurice did twiddle his toes, he held his daughter=92s hand, and=20 squeezed it, his organs were all functioning. =93We thought, =91It=92s the turning point=92, and then suddenly he went= into a=20 coma. It=92s terrible, absolutely terrible.=94 Maurice had been in a critical condition since the operation last Thursday. Wife Yvonne, 51, and children Samantha, 21, and 26-year-old Adam had been=20 with him at the Mount Sinai Medical Centre. Twin Robin heard the news of his illness in England and jetted out to his=20 brother=92s bedside. Robin=92s spokesman Pete Bassett said: =93On Friday Robin believed that= there=20 was an improvement and that Maurice had started to regain consciousness. =93He was reported to be responding to his family, but obviously that was=20 only a temporary thing. =93It=92s just too shocking at this stage to think about. Everyone was just= =20 believing that Maurice was coming round and we woke up to this awful news.= =94 Mr Bassett added: =93The whole family is devastated. They=92re all gathered= at=20 Robin=92s US home and are deeply upset. It=92s only just dawning on them= what=20 has happened.=94 Elder brother Barry, 56 =97 the third Bee Gee =97 had also visited stricken= =20 Maurice in hospital. A statement from the family said: =93It is with great sadness and sorrow we= =20 regretfully announce the passing of Maurice Gibb. =93His love and enthusiasm and energy for life remain an inspiration to all= =20 of us. We will all deeply miss him.=94 Tributes last night poured in to the late star, whose hits included disco=20 classics Stayin=92 Alive, Night Fever, Tragedy and Jive Talkin=92. Lulu, who wed Maurice in 1969 but divorced four years later, vowed to=20 attend his funeral. The 54-year-old star said in Los Angeles: =93I=92m deeply shocked and upset.= =20 I=92ve spoken to Yvonne and passed on my condolences.=94 Music industry commentator and DJ Paul Gambaccini said: =93This is a very= sad=20 loss. What made the Bee Gees really important was that tight harmony =97 so= =20 close it could only have been made by brothers. =93Maurice was the talented multi-instrumentalist. He played keyboards,=20 guitar, bass and percussion, so he was more on the musical side of the= writing. =93Without him, I=92m afraid the beautiful Bee Gee sound can never be= produced=20 again.=94 The brothers had 19 top ten hits from 1967, including five Number Ones. But they were stunned in 1988 when their younger brother Andy, who had a=20 successful solo career, died from heart disease aged 30. Maurice blamed the shock for worsening his booze problem. It is thought=20 he=92ll have a family funeral in Miami, then a memorial service in Britain. --=====================_4821893==_.ALT-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 11:16:13 +0100 From: Juan Perea y Monsuwe Subject: Barry's and Robin's statement Dealing with my mourning, I found it very consolating to watch Barry and Robin, so shortly after their brother's death, on the BBC website clip at http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/38686000/rm/_38686127_beegee06edit_parki_vi.ram Just seeing them, did more to me than all the orbituaries in paper and on TV assembled together. You can see how devastated Robin is, it was very moving for me. Barry pays a professional great tribute, describing in a few fond brush strokes how Maurice was and sticking up for Mo, in his disbelief and anger concerning the treatment in the hospital, wanting to find out what exactly happened each and every minute. Because it now is clear Maurice was brought in wednesday afternoon with pains, had to stay overnight and suffered cardiac arrest 4 AM Thursday morning if I read things right, dying of a different illnness than he was hospitalised for. Absolutely grand, the last strong comments of Barry, with Robin very much agreeing: The Bee Gees will go on, with Mo forever being the third Bee Gee. -- Juan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 10:18:25 -0000 From: "Lee Meadows" Subject: SEE Barry And Robins BBC Interview This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0035_01C2BAED.1BDED8C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Folks You can see the BBC interview that Barry And Robin Gave this morning = here: www.bbc.co.uk/breakfast It is very heart wrenching............... Lee ------=_NextPart_000_0035_01C2BAED.1BDED8C0-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 10:26:55 -0000 From: "Lee Meadows" Subject: Ebay This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_005E_01C2BAEE.4BE86760 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Isnt it starnge how for the last 24 hours All and sundry have been = listing bee gees items on ebay as..Bee gees /Maurice Gibb. Lee ------=_NextPart_000_005E_01C2BAEE.4BE86760-- ------------------------------ End words@brothersgibb.com Digest [01/13/2003 05:34] ----------------------------------------------------