British musician and songwriter Maurice Gibb gained global recognition as a member of the popular band Bee Gees. Maurice’s older brother Barry and twin brother Robin were the main lead singers. But Maurice also sang on many of the group’s albums, with at least one or two songs where he was the lead singer.
Early Life
Maurice Ernest Gibb was born on December 22nd, 1949 in Douglas, Isle of Man. Growing up, he shared his upbringing with his twin sibling Robin, as well as his two other brothers, Andy and Barry, and a sister by the name of Lesley. While still in their youth, the Gibb family banded together and began making music in Manchester.
After moving to Redcliffe, Australia, Robin and his family relocated once again. During this period, the Gibbs brothers formed their first musical group with Barry, Maurice, and Robin as a trio. However, their true success came when they returned to Manchester.
Maurice Gibb’s Career
The Rattlesnakes, a group formed by the Gibbs brothers in 1955, consisted of Barry on vocals and guitar, as well as Robin and Maurice on vocals. Along with them were drummer Paul Frost and tea-chest bass player Kenny Horrocks. They began their performances at small venues in Manchester.
Following their relocation to Australia, the three mentioned Gibbs siblings united as a trio. During their time in Queensland, they adopted the name “Bee Gees” for the first time. Shortly after, the group made their debut on television and landed a contract with Festival Records.
In the late 1960s, the Bee Gees achieved significant success with their hit song “New York Mining Disaster 1941.” During this time, they welcomed drummer Colin Petersen and guitarist Vince Melouney into the band. Following a successful tour in Europe and the US, they released the popular single “Massachusetts,” which topped the charts in the UK.
During the 1960s, Maurice Gibb released his initial solo song called “All by Myself.” Subsequently, he received his first individual writing acknowledgment on the Bee Gees record “Where Are You.”
In 1969, Robin’s departure from the group resulted in Maurice and Barry releasing singles like “Tomorrow Tomorrow” and the album “Cucumber Castle” without him.
However, in the 1970s, the Bee Gees reunited and achieved great success with a string of hit songs over the next ten years. These included popular singles like “How Deep Is Your Love,” “More Than A Woman,” “Stayin’ Alive,” and “You Should Be Dancing.”
In the following years, Maurice made strides in his individual career and unveiled an instrumental record titled “Strings and Things.” The Bee Gees persisted in releasing new songs and embarking on tours even up to the 2000s.
Personal Life
In the 1960s, Maurice Gibb and Scottish singer Lulu became known for their high-profile romance. However, their relationship was tumultuous and Maurice abruptly ended things when he saw Lulu with a member of the Monkees. Despite Lulu’s tearful apologies, Maurice refused to reconcile and broke off their relationship.
After some time, Gibb came to feel remorse for this choice and the couple tied the knot in 1969. However, their relationship ended after four years due to struggles with alcoholism, conflicting career obligations, and excessive partying.
Maurice Gibb tied the knot with Yvonne Spencelely Gibb in 1975. During their time together, they had two children. Unfortunately, their relationship came to an end in 2003 when Gibb passed away.
However, in the early 90s, the family faced difficulties when Maurice threatened his wife and children with a gun after a month of heavy drinking. The family left Maurice and he had to undergo rehabilitation to reconcile with them.
Cause of Death
Maurice Gibb’s neighbors in Manchester, John Lennon and Ringo Starr of the Beatles, initially exposed him to a wild and lively way of life. Despite his career, Maurice persisted in excessive drinking which frequently impacted his musical shows.
Following the passing of his youngest brother Andy, Gibb’s alcohol consumption intensified as he blamed himself for not being able to help his sibling.
At the age of 53, Maurice Gibb passed away unexpectedly due to a twisted intestine that led to a sudden heart attack on January 12th, 2003.
Net Worth
At the time of his passing in 2003, Maurice Gibb, an English musician, singer, and songwriter, had a fortune of $100 million. The Bee Gees, a highly accomplished pop group, have sold over 200 million records and are considered one of the most successful in history.
