Bee Gees: Children of the World

(Hardback)

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'The Definitive Biography' - PETE PAPHIDES


The world is full of Bee Gees fans. Yet, for a band of such renown, little is known about Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb.



Weren't two of them twins Didn't one of them marry Lulu Where does Andy fit into the Gibb family tree And why did they storm out of that Clive Anderson interview



People tend to have their favourite era of the Bee Gees' career, but many listeners are also conscious that there is more to uncover about the band. This book will provide the perfect route in, pulling together every fascinating strand to tell the story of a group with the imagination of the Beatles, the pop craft of ABBA, the drama of Fleetwood Mac and the emotional heft of the Beach Boys.



Uniquely, the Bee Gees' tale spans the entire modern pop era - they are the only group to have scored British top-ten singles in the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s - and includes world-conquering disco successes like 'Stayin' Alive' and 'More Than a Woman', both from the soundtrack of hit filmSaturday Night Fever.



But the Bee Gees' extraordinary career was one of highs and lows. From a vicious but temporary split in 1969 to several unreleased albums, disastrous TV and film appearances, and a demoralising cabaret season, the group weren't always revelling in the glow of million-selling albums, private jets and UNICEF concerts. Yet, even in the Gibbs' darkest times, their music was rarely out of the charts, as sung by the likes of Al Green, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and Destiny's Child.



Capturing the human story at the heart of the Bee Gees, this book will be a lyrical and stylish read, delighting hardcore fans with its details while engaging casual pop readers who simply want to know more about this important and enigmatic group.

Reviews

'Finally, the definitive biography of the Bee Gees. Bob Stanley tells one of the most extraordinary stories in the history of pop, epic and mythical, with tales of heart-stopping joy and sadness. Children Of The World does full justice to the Gibb brothers' extraordinary musical legacy. I pretty much inhaled it in one sitting.' -- Pete Paphides
'The Bee Gees are my all-time favourite band. Perhaps I love them that fraction more than any other artist because I don't think their genius - or their flat-out weirdness - has ever been fully appreciated. But they are here: meticulously researched, endlessly entertaining, written with both love and a cool critical eye. Bee Gees: Children of the World wins again and again.' -- Alexis Petridis
'Told with the delicious lyricism and candour we've come to expect from Stanley, the band's extraordinary story is recounted In meticulous detail 5/5.' -- Classic Pop
'A brilliant book.' -- Mark Ellen
'Stanley is a wonderful guide...showing us gems of their vast catalogue with enthusiasm, insight and wit. 4/5' -- The Telegraph

Author Bio

Bob Stanley is a musician, journalist, author, film producer and pop historian.


He is a member of the group Saint Etienne, which he co-founded in 1990, and has also enjoyed success as a music journalist, writing for theNME,Melody Maker,Mojo,The GuardianandThe Times. He is a regular contributor to TV music documentaries, most notably for the BBC and Sky Arts, and has a parallel career as a DJ, producer of record labels and compilation archivist.



In 2013, Stanley's second publication,Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop, was a best-selling title on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2021, his biography of the Fall (with Tessa Norton) was published to widespread critical acclaim. Bob has joined Nine Eight for a three-book deal.