Andy Gibb
My very first concert I attended was Andy Gibb at the Concord Pavilion (near San Francisco). I think it was 1978 and I went with my older sister and her friend. We couldn’t get seats close to the stage so we sat on the lawn of this outdoor theater. I think there was a comedian who opened the show and then Andy came out. It was so exciting! He was wearing really tight yellow pants. My sister’s friend took pictures which I still have today. When he waved at the audience, it felt like he was waving just at me. It was a special night. I never had Andy Gibb pinups hanging on the wall when I was a kid (I loved Leif Garrett and the Bay City Rollers) but I did like his music.
I was sad when I heard on a radio show and TV in the 80’s that Andy Gibb had died. Even though he wasn’t one of my many teenage loves, I did enjoy his music and remembered that first concert I attended. His death turned out to be a hoax. I’m not sure how that rumor started but knowing what I know now about his drug use, perhaps he was very sick and close to death at the time of those rumors. A year or so later on March 10, 1988, there were reports once again that he had died. Sadly, this time it was true.
Trivia
- Dated Victoria Principal, Marie Osmond, Susan George, and Olivia Newton John.
- Had three consecutive number one hits in the U.S. by the time he was 21.
- Was a licensed pilot.
- His tombstone reads “An Everlasting Love”.
- Was ranked #82 on VH1’s 100 Sexiest Artists.
- Declared bankruptcy in 1987.
- Was fired from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Pirates of Penzance, and Solid Gold.
- Reportedly only met his daughter Peta J. Reeder Gibb once in 1981.
Andrew Roy Gibb was born on March 5, 1958 into a musical family. His older brothers were Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb collectively known as The Bee Gees. Andy came to the U.S. in 1977 and had immediate success. He was the first male solo artist to chart three consecutive number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. His first hit was “I Just Want to Be Your Everything, the second “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water”, and the third “Shadow Dancing”. Just before Andy’s death, the Bee Gees were about to become a quartet with the addition of Andy. Sadly, this would never happen.
There were millions who loved and believed in Andy Gibb. It’s such a tragedy that the man himself, a man with a heart of gold, couldn’t see this about himself. RIP Andy Gibb.