Royals

‘I hope they’re proud’: Bee Gees star Barry Gibb honoured with knighthood

Jun 27, 2018

Bee Gees founder Barry Gibb was knighted by Prince Charles. Source: Twitter/The Royal Family.

Bee Gees founder Barry Gibb beamed with pride as he was knighted at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, for services to music and charity.

The 71 -year-old hitmaker received the honour from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace after being named on the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

Barry is the only surviving member of the Night Fever trio, after Maurice passed away aged 53 as a result of complications following an operation to correct an intestinal blockage in 2003. And his twin Robin, who had a lengthy battle with cancer, died in 2012 at the age of 62.

The How Deep is Your Love singer said he wished his twin brothers could have been there to share the special day with him.

In a moving tribute, he told the BBC: “If it was not for my brothers, I would not be here. If I had spent my whole life writing songs on my own, it would have meant something else altogether.

“I hope and pray that they are aware of what has happened and that they are proud. I believe in that.”

Congratulations Sir Barry Gibb!

The co-founder of the Bee Gees today received a Knighthood for his services to music and charity. pic.twitter.com/aY50JCMdVj

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 26, 2018

The singer, songwriter and record producer attended the ceremony with his wife, Linda, and children, Michael, Alexandra and Ashley.

However he admitted he was still getting used to having such an important title, adding: “It is a high award that your culture can give you and that is something I am enormously proud of.”

The brothers, who were born in the UK, but moved to Redcliffe, Queensland, with their parents in the mid 1950s, shortly before they formed pop band The Bee Gees in 1958.

As The Bee Gees, the trio went on to enjoy huge success in the charts, thanks to the likes of Staying Alive and Night Fever, and were dubbed ‘Britain’s First Family of Harmony’.

The brothers bagged a landslide of accolades throughout their lengthy careers and have been honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, along with ‘Bee Gees Way’ in Redcliffe which pays tribute to the much-loved band.

Prior to Barry’s knighthood, all three brothers – including Maurice, posthumously – were appointed Commanders in the Order of the British Empire in December 2001.