![]() The change of scenery from overcast England to sunny Miami was a welcome respite. Seeing the Bee Gees faltering similarly, he sent them to the same studio. Interestingly, Clapton had faced the same drinking issues that had nearly derailed his career until Stigwood sent him to Miami to record, which resulted in the release of a highly successful comeback album 461 Ocean Boulevard: the address of the recording studio. All three Gibbs share their frustrations at knowing they were talented but unable to get a second chance. The band released two dismal albums during this time. They were playing to half-empty stadiums that eventually shrank to even smaller clubs. The money dried up, and each of the brothers began drinking heavily. ![]() In 1971, the trio regrouped but were dismayed to find that people weren’t interested in their style of music. But Robert declined, quit, and instead started RSO Records so that he could continue managing the Bee Gees, even if they were doing solo work at the time. The documentary reveals that when The Beatles manager Brian Epstein died, Robert Stigwood was asked to step in to manage the supergroup. A shocking moment from the movie is a clip of a live show in Auckland, New Zealand, which shows a large audience booing loudly as Robin tries to sing, with some audience members even charging the stage. In 1969, due to continued internal arguments, Robin quit the band and ventured out to tour solo, but venues often incorrectly booked him as the Bee Gees. Andy Gibb - the fourth musical brother - was far younger than the other three, though he did start his own band and began playing small venues. And Maurice was the peacemaker, who often carried messages between his two arguing brothers. Barry was the most confident and wrote many of their largest hits, which caused conflict between him and Robin both brothers wanted to sing lead. Robin was painfully shy, but also the goofball of the trio. The film takes us through their next three albums but detours to provide some insight into each brother. The three brothers worked on lyrics which became their first modest hit “New York Mining Disaster 1941.” In a dark staircase, Barry began strumming chords and describing the loneliness of being in the dark, waiting. Stigwood signed the boys to Polydor Records and sent them to a studio to record when the building suffered a blackout. In the documentary, Clapton now laughingly admits to being jealous that Robert Stigwood began to show more interest in the Bee Gees. Stigwood, who also managed Eric Clapton’s band Cream, took interest because he was from Australia as well. Their father approached Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles, but he declined and sent them to Robert Stigwood. In 1967, the Bee Gees released Spicks and Specks to slight success. Their father initially performed as their drummer, but he quickly became the band’s manager as they began to book more shows. The trio eventually started a teenage act and performed along the coast of England in various small venues before the family relocated to Australia. Robin and Maurice were twins, though they humorously considered themselves triplets. “Someone’s always left in the end,” Barry Gibb laments early on in the film, referring to his status as the only surviving Gibb brother.Īll born on the Isle of Man, the Gibb family moved to Manchester, England in 1955. ![]() Along the way, guests such as Justin Timberlake, Noel Gallagher, Nick Jonas, and Chris Martin provide contemporary commentary. ![]() Now, in How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - just released on HBO Max - we still get to hear the band’s most popular works, but we also spend more time peeking into what it meant to be a Bee Gee. In a short forty-five minutes, you weren’t treated to much insight into Barry, Maurice, or Robin, or the personal journey the three very close brothers undertook. In 2011, the documentary The Story of the Bee Gees skimmed through the journey of the Bee Gees, mainly focusing on their music, albums, and tours.
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