Introduction
Robin Gibb: A Tearful Farewell to a Music Legend
Robin Gibb passed away on May 20, 2012, at the age of 62, after a prolonged battle with cancer, pneumonia, and a severe bowel condition. Though his life was cut short, his contribution to music left an enduring legacy that few can match.
Alongside his older brother Barry and twin brother Maurice, Robin was a vital force behind the Bee Gees—one of the most successful and influential groups in pop music history. He wrote and performed some of their most iconic hits, including “Massachusetts,” “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” and “I Started a Joke”—a song that became his emotional signature.
In the Bee Gees’ early years, Robin’s voice took center stage. However, growing tensions between him and Barry led to a temporary split in the late 1960s. He would eventually return, and the three brothers went on to define an era with the disco boom of the 1970s. Still, those internal conflicts lingered, ultimately creating a lasting rift between Robin and Barry—one that, heartbreakingly, was never healed before Robin’s passing.
At Robin’s funeral, Barry gave a moving and deeply personal eulogy, expressing the sorrow of unfinished conversations and unresolved emotions between the two brothers. The service was held at St. Mary’s Church in Thame, Oxfordshire, the town where Robin had lived with his wife Dwina since 1984.
Robin’s son RJ confirmed that “I Started a Joke” would be played during the ceremony—a final farewell in the language Robin knew best: music. As guests quietly took their seats, two candles flickered at the altar, adding a somber glow to the already emotional atmosphere.
RJ and Spencer, Robin’s sons, acted as pallbearers, alongside Stevie Gibb (Barry’s son) and Steven Murphy (Dwina’s son). In a statement, the family shared that Robin had wished to say goodbye to his fans and the town he loved, and people from across the country gathered to honor him.
Barry’s tribute was the most poignant moment of the ceremony. He fondly remembered Robin’s sharp wit, saying, “There was no funnier man than Spike Milligan—apart from Robin. His intuitive sense of humor will stay with us forever. You could stand Robin next to Spike Milligan, and it would be a real competition.”
He also remembered Maurice, Robin’s twin brother who passed away in 2003: “They were both beautiful. And now they’re together. When you’re twins, you go through every emotion together. And now they’re finally together.”
Reflecting on the emotional toll of these losses, Barry said, “I think the greatest pain for Robin in the last ten years was losing his twin. It did all kinds of things to him. And now they’re together.”
But it was Barry’s raw honesty about their fractured relationship that truly broke hearts: “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 life—get rid of it.”
After delivering his heartfelt words, Barry solemnly placed a red rose on Robin’s grave—one final, quiet gesture of love and regret.
In interviews following Robin’s death, Barry admitted he fell into a deep depression. “Maurice’s death in 2003 and Robin’s last year were huge traumas for me and the entire family. Before that, we lost our kid brother Andy in 1988, and our father Hugh died shortly after.”
He continued, “Robin’s death hit me hardest. There were times when I felt like nothing was worth it anymore.”
Yet, it was music that eventually pulled Barry out of the darkness. “We all lose someone, and we have to deal with it and grow. My way of coping was to go back on stage.”
Barry returned to performing the following year, joined by his son Stephen and Maurice’s daughter Sami—keeping the spirit of the Bee Gees alive through the next generation.
Although the chance to mend his relationship with Robin was lost, Barry continues to honor his brothers through music and memory. Their story stands as a powerful reminder: some bonds are always worth saving—before time runs out.