Happy 68th birthday, Robin and Maurice Gibb!
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December 22 is the winter solstice, but for Bee Gees fans, it’s the birthday of Robin and Maurice Gibb! They were born on the longest night of the year. In other words, they were born just before the days begin to get longer and longer. So a fan wrote to us that they were born when we "Saw A New Morning""!
To celebrate their 68th birthday, here is the "Statistics" from when they were 18 – from "Bee Gees Statistics," Fablulous, May 4, 1967.
Robin Gibb
Born:
22nd December 1949
Douglas, Isle of Man.
Fave breakfast:
Shredded Wheat and hot blackcurrant juice.
Fave drink:
Hot blackcurrant juice.
Fave casual dress:
Snazzy suits.
Fave formal dress:
Waisted suits with high-collared shirts.
Fave food:
Shredded Wheats with hot blackcurrant juice.
Hair: Brown.
Eyes: Brown.
Weight: 9 st. 7 lb.
Height: 5 ft. 9 in.
Collar: 14.
Chest: 33.
Shoe size: 8.
Fave sort of girl:
Any that appeal to him.
Fave flowers to send to a girl:
Doesn’t send flowers, prefers to give presents.
Fave perfume for a girl:
French.
Pets
Is getting a bulldog – will call him Bengo.
Fave modern composer:
Burt Bacharach.
Fave classic composer:
None.
Fave car:
Mercedes Benz.
Fave place fora night out:
Watching TV.
Fave relaxation:
Watching TV.
Fave TV show:
Anything non-political.
Fave group:
The Association.
Fave male singer:
Roy Orbison.
Fave female singer:
Nina Simone.
Fave country:
Great Britain.
If you had three wishes what would they be?
(a) Another three wishes.
(b) To speak a foreign language.
(c) That the Eastern world would appreciate the Western.
Are you religious?
Yes.
Do you like children?
I love kids.
How many would you like?
Two.
Do you speak any foreign languages?
No.
Were you ever a boy scout?
No.
Maurice Gibb:
Born:
22nd December 1949
Douglas, Isle of Man.
Fave breakfast:
Poached eggs and bacon.
Fave drink:
Coke.
Fave casual dress:
Shirt and tie. Likes neatness.
Fave formal dress:
Velvet dinner suit with a satin border on teh jacket.
Fave food:
Fillet steak and mashed potatoes.
Hair: Brown.
Eyes: Brown.
Weight: 9 st. 7 lb.
Height: 5 ft. 7 in.
Collar: 14.
Chest: 33.
Shoe size: 7 1/2.
Fave sort of girl:
Petite with a nice personality.
Fave flowers to send to a girl:
Red roses.
Fave perfume for a girl:
Subtle.
Pets
Dog called Russia.
Fave modern composer:
Simon and Garfunkel.
Fave classic composer:
Beethoven.
Fave car:
Bentley.
Fave place fora night out:
Talk Of The Town.
Fave relaxation:
Listening to classical music.
Fave TV show:
Till Death Us Do Part.
Fave group:
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich.
Fave male singer:
Tom Jones.
Fave female singer:
Cilla Black.
Fave country:
Switzerland – because it’s so beautiful.
If you had three wishes what would they be?
(a) A house in the country with a go kart track
(b) A one man helicopter.
(c) That I remain as happy as I am.
Are you religious?
Yes. I never fly without a cross.
Do you like children?
Yes.
How many would you like?
Three.
Do you speak any foreign languages?
American and Australian.
Were you ever a boy scout?
No. But I almost joined the Police Cadets
These are absolutely lightweight teen-magazine type questions. As up and coming young musicians, the Bee Gees did a lot of stuff like this back then. However, you do catch a glimpse of their personality through the hazy mist of teenybopperdom, and the famous Gibb sense of humour!
As far as food goes, I prefer Maurice’s choice. Steak, bacon, and mashed potato certainly sound more inviting than Shredded Wheat!
Robin really loved Roy Orbison as you can tell from his vocal style. That he also mentioned Nina Simone here does not surprise at all, either.
In his later years Robin loved classical music and even composed "Titanic Requiem." But, at 18, it was Maurice that seemed more into classical music.
Also, Robin was to become the most political of the three, but here he still sounds quite indifferent to anything political.
Maurice seemed to have the Robert Stigwood’s estate in mind when he spoke of his first wish. On the whole, he sounds more outgoing than his twin brother who spends a lot of time watching TV.
Over the years I had some talk with Robin about learning a foreign language. When he was older, he was more appreciative of other people trying to speak his own language (English) because he never learned any other. I liked that.
{Bee Gees Days}
