At 74 years old, Barry Gibb shared an intimate musical moment with his son Stephen Gibb, 46, when they recorded a live jamming session in March 2020 that was streamed for devoted Bee Gees fans worldwide. The stripped-back, acoustic performance featured heartfelt renditions of three of the band’s most iconic songs: “Stayin’ Alive,” “Words,” and “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart.” Captured at Barry’s home in Miami—a city that became his permanent residence back in 1974—the duo’s effortless chemistry was clear as they harmonized together in this rare glimpse into their family’s musical legacy.
Stephen, an accomplished musician in his own right, has been touring as a vital member of his father’s band since 2013. As the eldest son of Linda and Barry Gibb, Stephen honed his craft through rigorous experience, having graduated from music school and performed with several notable bands across the United States including Black Label Society, Crowbar, Kingdom of Sorrow, and The Underbellys. His journey led him to become the lead guitarist for Barry Gibb, even joining on the Bee Gees’ first solo tour titled Mythology in 2013.
“I always admired how my dad poured his heart into every song we performed,” Stephen Gibb shared. “Playing alongside him not only deepened my respect for his talent but also connected me to our family’s incredible musical heritage.”
During the Mythology Tour, Stephen’s musical partnership with Barry flourished, often joined by Samantha Gibb, the daughter of the late Maurice Gibb. Together, they offered extraordinary performances that thrilled audiences, including a memorable rendition of “Stayin’ Alive” where Stephen and Barry shared the stage with Samantha. The trio also delivered touching moments, such as Samantha’s beautiful duet with her uncle on “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart,” and Stephen’s spirited performance of “You Win Again” with Barry watching on.
In 2017, Stephen and Samantha united to form The Gibb Collective, a band that brought together the gifted offspring of the Gibb brothers Barry, Maurice, Robin, and Andy. Their debut album, Please Don’t Turn Out The Lights, released on May 19, 2017, presented ten revitalized covers of Bee Gees classics, offering a fresh, contemporary take on timeless songs that have defined generations.
Yet behind the musical success, Stephen’s life has included tumultuous struggles. In 2020, he courageously opened up about his battle with drug addiction and how he remarkably turned his life around. The 46-year-old shared the darkest moments when addiction led to homelessness, forcing him to scavenge for food. On the recovery podcast Addiction Talks, Stephen revealed raw memories from his youth and the depths addiction pulled him into.
“The first time I drank, I was probably 14 and I downed an entire bottle of Jack Daniels—and I blacked out,” Stephen confessed. “After losing my gig with my band, I was homeless. I remember eating out of dumpsters at the record plant, praying no one would see me.”
He recalled the hopelessness of those days: living in his van, couch surfing wherever he could find shelter, and confronting the harsh truth of how far he had fallen. His awakening came at a crucial crossroads, realizing that if he continued down that path, his fate would likely be death, prison, or a mental institution.
“It was the old saying that stuck with me—‘from Park Avenue to the park bench,’” Stephen shared. “That reality hit me hard and pushed me to reclaim my life and sobriety.”
After getting sober, Stephen returned to his music with renewed vigor, writing and performing alongside his father. However, the shadows of addiction have long haunted the Gibb family. Notably, the youngest brother, Andy Gibb, died in 1988 at just 30 years old due to heart complications linked to cocaine addiction. Maurice Gibb, Stephen’s uncle and Samantha’s father, was a recovering alcoholic who passed away from a cardiac arrest in 2003 at age 53. Robin Gibb had his own battles and died in 2012 after a prolonged fight with cancer.
The losses have deeply affected Barry Gibb, who, following the release of the documentary How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, confessed that he is unable to watch the film because it forces him to confront the profound grief of losing his brothers.
“I can’t handle watching the loss of my family. I just can’t handle it,” Barry admitted during an interview on *CBS Sunday Morning* in January 2021.
He added, reflecting on how pervasive the pain remains:
“Who would? I think it’s perfectly normal to not want to see how each brother was lost. I’m past it—I don’t want to address it.”
Barry further revealed how he coped with the heartbreaking absence after Robin’s death:
“That first year after Robin passed was the hardest time for me. People said, ‘He had a breakdown,’ but I didn’t have a breakdown. I just didn’t know where to go or what to do, and how to be perceived—not only by others but by myself.”
The year 2024 marked a poignant milestone for Barry Gibb as he received the Kennedy Center Honors for his lifetime artistic achievements. The event celebrated his enduring legacy with appearances—from afar—by music legends such as Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand, and Paul McCartney, all sharing pre-recorded tributes. Country band Little Big Town also paid homage by performing the Bee Gees’ classic “Lonely Days.”
In his acceptance speech, Barry paid homage to his late brothers with heartfelt words:
“Thank you all, this is the most incredible honour of my life. Without my brothers, I wouldn’t be standing here. I salute Maurice, Robin, and Andy. We were a family of music and a family of love.”
This ceremony not only celebrated a remarkable career but also underscored the enduring bonds of family that have shaped Barry Gibb’s journey through triumph and tragedy alike.
