Bee Gees Pilgrimage

In 2023, I travelled the UK for the first time.

Back then, I was pretty much into Bee Gees. I’ve always loved them, but things got quite serious after I watched a documentary called "The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart". It tells the story of their illustrious yet turbulent career. I was so impressed by how they tackled all those negativities that were thrown at them and kept on going.

Although it was Australia where they became a household name, they were originally from the UK and there are some Bee Gees-related places around the country. So I added a little Bee Gees pilgrimage to my itinerary.

London - Bee Gees Blue Plaque

The first place to visit was an apartment they used to live while they were in London. Now it’s got a blue plaque to commemorate the brothers' residence. 

It wasn't as easy as I imagined because all apartments looked the same. To make things even harder there are lots of plaques on them that are indistinguishable from afar. I accidentally found the famous Jimi Hendrix one along the way. It was exciting but no, I was there for Bee Gees, not Hendrix.

It took a while to find this very well-maintained plaque.

It was actually a massive disappointment from the start. I saw a photo on a Google review that was posted 5 months ago and it still remains as tattered as this one.

Thame - Robin Gibb Exhibition & His Grave

Next stop was Thame, a town in Oxfordshire where Robin Gibb had lived until his death in 2012. At the time of visiting, a local museum was holding an exhibition: Robin Gibb - A Tribute.

This door opens automatically… How?

I went through the door, and three elderly staff were having tea. They looked puzzled for a moment (or so I imagined) by an entrance of this random Asian girl, but one lady kindly instructed me where to go.

His glasses and award medals were on display, as well as trophies and books. All items were provided by his wife.

I think we can all agree that Robin was a bit of a fashionista. There were only two people on earth who could wear this red and black jacket like good ’un. Robin Gibb and Michael Jackson.

Robin Gibb chronology, with a lovely photo of Robin and his son in a studio. A quote on the bottom says it all. “I don’t sing with my voice, I sing with my heart.”

I left the museum and headed to St Mary the Virgin Church to visit his grave. It’s within walking distance from the museum.

Beside the grave, there were flowers and trinkets from fans. The Prebendal, Robin’s house, is situated right across the road.

Song titles are carved on the back of the gravestone, and on the top, it says "Our songbird has flown".

There is also a memorial stone for Andy Gibb nearby (his grave is in Los Angeles). Some of the inscription looks faded in this photo, but it has been beautifully refurbished recently.

The Isle of Man - Bee Gees Statue

It was my final day in the UK and I, rather recklessly, flew to the Isle of Man. Not a wise move, as I was scheduled to be back that evening and take an early flight home the next day. As luck would have it, the return flight delayed, the train delayed, everything delayed and it was nearly midnight when I got back to the hotel. On top of that, I noticed that I had to email a form regarding Covid vaccination to the airline. It took hours to complete and I barely slept. Lesson learned: You should plan your holiday very carefully.

Anyway, why the Isle of Man? It was February and not the best season as most tourist attractions were closed. Well, the Isle of Man is the very place Barry, Robin and Maurice were born. They moved to Manchester in 1955 where they formed a band, then the family relocated in Australia three years later.

Ronaldsway Airport

In 2021, a statue of Bee Gees has been erected to honour the local hero. It’s their third one, after the two statues (their childhood and adulthood self) at a memorial walkway called Bee Gees Way in Australia.

It was created by a sculptor Andy Edwards who had made The Beatles statue in Liverpool. This lively swagger was taken from Stayin’ Alive video, suggesting their big comeback to the place they originally came from.

It would have been nice if there were some more materials visiters can learn their history like Bee Gees Way, but it was still impressive, even more so with the ocean on the back. It’s a lovely location.

One thing I regret is I couldn’t find their childhood home, which was also given a blue plaque. I got lost on the way and didn’t wanto to look too suspicious wandering around residential area, plus I had a rush of anxiety kicked in being on my own in an unfamiliar place, so I quit my attempt early doors.

All in all, it was fascinating. I’m glad that I could visit Robin Gibb exhibition at Thame Museum and the town he loved. Bee Gees statue was really cool. They were all worth visiting for sure, but seriously, the blue plaque in London needs a facelift.