The explosive and complex romance between Maurice Gibb, the trusted keyboardist and bass player of the Bee Gees, and the Scottish singing sensation Lulu still lingers in the hearts of fans decades later. Their relationship was a whirlwind—meeting when Lulu was only 19 and Maurice 20, they married just months after their first encounter, right before Lulu skyrocketed to international fame with her Eurovision victory.
As both stars’ careers soared, cracks soon appeared in their young marriage. Like many couples in the glare of show business, their union began to crumble, primarily because of Maurice’s spiraling drinking problem. Reflecting years later during an emotional segment on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, Lulu shared raw honesty about their youth:
“We thought we were king and queen of the world and were fabulous.”
“The drinking was a part of it but we shouldn’t have got married in the first place… we should have just had a romance.”
Their love was youthful and naive, destined to fade; they separated and eventually divorced by 1974. Yet despite the heartbreak, Maurice and Lulu never severed their ties. Their profound connection endured, demonstrated spectacularly nearly three decades later when they came together once again for a stunning musical performance.
The pain of their breakup still weighed heavily. Lulu confessed on the same show,
“I decided it had to end. He didn’t want it to end and it hurt him. I totally loved and adored him but… in love with him? I was probably in love with love.”
Although they moved on with their lives, Maurice’s respect and affection for Lulu never diminished. Few would have expected a reunion on stage after so long, but in 2002, Maurice returned to the spotlight on An Audience With Lulu, reigniting their bond in front of mesmerized fans.
Surrounded by stellar guests like Elton John and Enrique Iglesias, it was Maurice’s appearance that truly stole the show. Now living a sober life after years battling alcoholism that nearly destroyed two marriages, Maurice rekindled a connection with Lulu. She invited him to sing together, and though he suggested the iconic Bee Gees’ hit “Islands In The Stream,” Lulu chose a song steeped in meaning for both: “First Of May.”
This deeply symbolic track marked the very first television duet they performed as newlyweds. Their reunion was not just a nostalgic trip—it was a poignant reminder of enduring love and artistry. For an audience captivated by their story, Maurice Gibb and Lulu demonstrated powerfully that some bonds, forged by love and music, truly never fade.