On May 20, 2012, the world lost a music legend — Robin Gibb, a key force behind the legendary Bee Gees. Despite battling relentless illnesses like cancer, pneumonia, and a severe bowel condition, Robin passed away at just 62 years old due to kidney failure. Although his life was cut tragically short, his legacy, particularly through iconic hits like ‘Massachusetts,’ ‘How Can You Mend A Broken Heart,’ and the hauntingly famous ‘I Started A Joke,’ remains indelible.
Robin’s role in the Bee Gees was pivotal alongside his older brother Barry Gibb and twin brother Maurice Gibb. However, beneath the glitter of star-studded success lurked a tempestuous personal battle. Early tensions between Robin and Barry led to Robin briefly quitting the group in the late 1960s — a conflict that simmered throughout their lives, long after their disco-era domination in the 1970s.
These deep-rooted conflicts tragically persisted even during Robin’s fight with cancer, stretching regrettably to the very day of his death. Barry Gibb’s eulogy at Robin’s funeral was a cavernous outpouring of sorrow and remorse. At the funeral service held at St. Mary’s Church in Thame, Oxon, where Robin resided with his wife Dwina since 1984, Barry openly confessed:
“Even right up to the end we found conflict with each other, which now means nothing. It just means nothing. If there’s conflict in your lives – get rid of it.“
Barry cherished memories of Robin’s sharp, intuitive wit, comparing him to comedic legend Spike Milligan: “There was no funnier man than Spike Milligan – apart from Robin. His wit will live with us forever.” He also mourned the absence of Maurice, Robin’s twin, who died in 2003, saying:
“They were both beautiful. And now they’re together. When you’re twins, you go through every emotion. And they’re finally together.“
The poignant moment when Barry placed a single red rose on Robin’s grave stood as a symbol of the fractured bond he so wished he could have repaired. The loss cut particularly deep for Barry, having endured the deaths of brothers Maurice (2003), Andy (1988), and his father Hugh within a relatively short span.
Barry revealed in later interviews the profound trauma this string of losses inflicted on him and his family, confessing moments when he felt life had lost its meaning. Yet, finding solace in music, Barry returned to touring, accompanied by his son Stephen and Maurice’s daughter Sami, holding tight to the familial ties that remained.
This heartrending saga serves as a somber reminder that while fame shines bright, the shadow of unresolved family pain can linger painfully long. Barry’s regret and raw honesty in his eulogy spotlight the cruel toll of unhealed rifts — urging all to cherish and mend what matters before it’s too late.