Have you ever seen a man with hair like a lion and a voice that can reach the clouds? That is Barry Gibb!
Today, the world knows him as a music king, but would you believe he once had to dodge flying coins while singing on the back of a truck?
It’s true! In a recent interview, Barry shared a story that proves he has come a long way! Long before the sparkly suits and the big stadiums, Barry and his brothers (the Bee Gees) had a very strange job. They were hired to sing at a racetrack in Australia.
Barry Gibb talking about how The Bee Gees got their start
There was no fancy stage. Instead, they had to stand on the back of a moving truck! As the truck drove around the dirt track, the crowd would throw money at it. Barry remembers singing his heart out while ducking and diving to avoid getting hit by flying coins! After the song, the brothers had to scramble into the dirt to pick up the pennies.
Luckily, this race and truck performance also became the reason why they’re called the “Bee Gees.”
Where Did The Bee Gees Get Their Name?
You might think “Bee Gees” just stands for “Brothers Gibb,” right? Wrong!
In another interview, Barry explained the name actually came from a lucky coincidence. When they were starting out at that same racetrack, they met two men who helped them: a promoter named Bill Goode and a radio DJ named Bill Gates.
Because the group was made up of Barry Gibb, Bill Goode, and Bill Gates, they decided to call themselves the “B.G.s.” Later, it was spelled out as “Bee Gees.”
It wasn’t until years later that the world decided it stood for “Brothers Gibb.” It’s amazing to think that one of the biggest band names in history started because of a few friends at a car show!
Even today, after defining the genre of disco, Barry remains grounded and doesn’t hesitate to share where he came from! Follow him, the last man standing, to keep up with his most recent interviews.