Barry Gibb, the lead singer of the Bee Gees, performed at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday night. It was the last stop of his Mythology Tour, a short series of concerts where he sang songs he once made with his brothers, Robin and Maurice, who are no longer alive. Even though he’s a huge music legend, Barry didn’t act like it was a big deal. He joked about it being his sixth and final show in the U.S., saying after this, he’d just go home and watch TV.
The concert lasted two and a half hours and was full of famous Bee Gees songs like “To Love Somebody,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” and the super popular “Stayin’ Alive.” These songs show how much Barry and his brothers changed pop music. But even with all that history, Barry stayed relaxed and happy on stage.
Losing his brothers—Maurice in 2003, Robin in 2012, and another brother, Andy, in 1988—has been tough for Barry. He once told a magazine that being alone after so many years with them made him wonder what life was all about. During the show, he shared memories of them with pictures and videos. Robin even “sang” on a big screen for the song “I Started a Joke.” Barry’s niece, Samantha, sang with him on “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” and his son Stephen played guitar in the band. Barry even said his daughter Ali was there helping with the words on a screen so he wouldn’t forget them!
Instead of feeling sad, these family moments seemed to lift Barry up. The whole night felt like a fun music party with friends. Songs like “Jive Talkin’” and “Night Fever” sounded fresh and bouncy, and Barry’s high voice floated over the music like it was no effort at all. Even “Stayin’ Alive,” played with four guitarists, didn’t feel heavy or old—it was exciting and light.
Lots of new songs today sound a little like the Bee Gees’ music from the 1970s, like “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk or “Happy” by Pharrell. But Barry didn’t seem worried about proving anything to new fans. He sang some less famous songs, like “Spicks and Specks,” just because he liked them, not because they were big hits.
The show wasn’t perfect. One song, “Guilty,” which he originally sang with Barbra Streisand, didn’t sound as soft and nice as it could have. And seeing Robin on the screen felt a little strange. But Barry kept things moving. When he sang “I’m on Fire” by Bruce Springsteen, he did it so quietly and gently that it was beautiful and a little spooky—like he didn’t want to push too hard.
In the end, Barry Gibb made being a legend look easy. The night was full of amazing music, a little bit of sadness, and a lot of joy. And then, just like that, it was over.
