In a world where artistic lifespans are often judged in terms of fads, most pop music acts last no longer than the trends that briefly catapulted them to fame. And those are just the ones that are lucky enough to end up in the “where are they now?” files.
It’s rare to find a band like the Bee Gees, who started their musical career when nine-year-old brother Barry was joined by his six-year-old twin siblings Robin and Maurice. The group scored their first No. 1 hit in their native Australia back in 1966 and broke out to a world audience the following year. In their 40 years, the most successful trio in the history of contemporary music, the Bee Gees have racked up some impressive numbers: 19 No. 1 singles, 25 albums, seven Grammys (out of 16 nominations) and 110 million album sales worldwide.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, “Saturday Night Fever” is still the best-selling soundtrack of all time. They’re the only artists to have written and produced six consecutive No. 1 hits, and the only songwriters in history to have five simultaneous Top 10 singles. In fact, the Bee Gees are the most successful trio in pop music history.
All this and more from the Bee Gees’ vast musical legacy is detailed at http://www.beegees.net, the group’s official Web site.
“The Bee Gees Timeline is clearly in a league of its own for the Internet, though a pioneering ‘first’ I believe in terms of scope and depth. After all, how many artists can claim an active and thriving career like the Bee Gees for almost half a century?” according to Michael Ameen, whose Los Angeles-based Web development and marketing firm, MACH 18, constructed http://www.beegees.net.
The interactive Timeline starts at the very beginning, with the birth of oldest brother Barry in the Isle of Man in 1946. By clicking on a camera icon, you can see pictures of Hugh and Barbara Gibb’s wedding – now click the newspaper icon three years down the timeline and an actual newspaper clipping shows the birth announcement of twins Robin and Maurice. Click the camera icons in the Fifties section, and you’ll see a photographic timeline of everything from Barry’s first guitar to the band’s first public appearance under the name “The Rattlesnakes.”
The Timeline continues all the way to present day, detailing every important aspect of the Bee Gees’ lengthy and ongoing career. Icons link to newspaper clippings, rare photos, award information, and streaming audio and exclusive streaming video clips from four decades of Bee Gees history.
Click here to go directly to the timeline (Hint: Click on the ’70s link for the fun stuff): www.beegees.net/timeline.
The Bee Gees will be releasing “Bee Gees: Their Greatest Hits: The Record” on Nov. 20 through Universal Records. The double CD will contain 40 tracks, including four newly recorded No. 1 hits.
