View source for Andy Gibb

{{Short description|British singer (1958–1988)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Andy Gibb
| image         = Andy Gibb Solid Gold publicity photo.jpg
| caption       = Gibb {{circa|1983}}
| birth_name    = Andrew Roy Gibb
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|df=yes|1958|3|5}}
| birth_place   = [[Stretford]], [[Lancashire]], England
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1988|3|10|1958|3|5}}
| death_place   = [[Oxford]], England
| resting_place = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]], [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| occupation    = {{hlist|Singer|musician|actor|television presenter}}
| years_active  = 1967–1988<ref name="produced"/>
| spouse        = {{marriage|Kim Reeder|1976|1978|end=divorced}}<ref name="moved" />
| children      = 1
| mother        = Barbara Mary Gibb (nee Pass)
| father        = [[Hugh Gibb]]
| relatives     = {{ubl|[[Barry Gibb]] (brother)|[[Robin Gibb]] (brother)|[[Maurice Gibb]] (brother)|[[Steve Gibb]] (nephew)}}
| module        = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed         = yes
| origin        = [[Redcliffe, Queensland]], Australia
| genre         = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Rock music|rock]]}}
| instrument    = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| label         = {{flat list|
* [[RSO Records|RSO]]
* [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
}}
}}
}}
'''Andrew Roy Gibb''' (5 March 1958&nbsp;– 10 March 1988) was an English singer and musician. He was the youngest brother of [[Barry Gibb|Barry]], [[Robin Gibb|Robin]], and [[Maurice Gibb]], musicians who had formed the [[Bee Gees]] during the late 1950s. Andy Gibb came to prominence in the late 1970s through the early 1980s with eight singles reaching the Top 20 of the US Hot 100, three of which went to No. 1: "[[I Just Want to Be Your Everything]]" (1977), "[[(Love Is) Thicker Than Water]]" (1977), and "[[Shadow Dancing (song)|Shadow Dancing]]" (1978). In the early 1980s, he co-hosted the American music television series ''[[Solid Gold (TV series)|Solid Gold]]''. He also performed in productions of ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' and ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]''. Gibb later suffered from [[Substance use disorder|substance use problems]] and [[Depression (mood)|depression]]. He died on 10 March 1988 from complications due to drug abuse, aged 30.<ref>{{Citation|title=Andy Gibb, VH1, Behind The Music, full episode|url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/DhUM1QBFoETr/|language=en|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref>

==Life and career==
===1958–1975: Early life and first recordings===
Andy Gibb was born on 5 March 1958 at [[Stretford Memorial Hospital]], [[Stretford]], Lancashire.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R2tKDgAAQBAJ&q=Andy+Gibb+Stretford+Memorial+Hospital&pg=PT267|title=The Bee Gees: The Biography|first=David N. |last=Meyer|publisher=Da Capo Press|page=2013|isbn=978-0306820250|date=9 July 2013}}</ref> He was the youngest of the five children born to Barbara and [[Hugh Gibb]]. His mother was of Irish and English descent, and his father was of Scottish and English descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2011/who-do-you-think-you-are/robin-gibb-63/|title=Featured Articles – Robin Gibb |website=TheGenealogist.co.uk |date=22 December 1949 |access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref> He had four siblings: his sister, Lesley; and three brothers—[[Barry Gibb|Barry]] and fraternal twins [[Robin Gibb|Robin]] and [[Maurice Gibb|Maurice]].

At the age of six months, Gibb emigrated with his family to [[Queensland]], Australia.  The family shared three different homes at [[Redcliffe, Queensland]], north of Brisbane, before settling on [[Cribb Island, Queensland|Cribb Island]], a former suburb of [[Brisbane]] in January 1960. After moving several times between [[Brisbane]] and [[Sydney]], Gibb returned to the United Kingdom in January 1967 as his three older brothers began to gain international fame as the [[Bee Gees]].

In his childhood, his mother, Barbara, described Gibb as "A little devil, a little monster. I'd send him off to school, but he'd sneak off to the stable and sleep with his two horses all day. He'd wander back home around lunchtime smelling of horse manure, yet he'd swear he had been at school. Oh, he was a little monkey!"<ref name="childhood">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uzv_AgAAQBAJ&q=maurice+gibb+the+loner&pg=PT480 |title=The Bee Gees |first1=Melinda |last1=Bilyeu |first2=Hector |last2=Cook |first3=Andrew Môn |last3=Hughes |access-date=6 January 2015|isbn=9780857128942 |date=January 2011 |publisher=Omnibus Press }}</ref> Producer and film director [[Tom Kennedy (producer)|Tom Kennedy]] described Gibb's personality in his childhood:
{{cquote|Andy was always around—he was this cheeky little lad, Hugh and Barbara doted on him, so he would have a limo to go around London with his pals and twenty quid to go to the cinema. It was unheard of in those days! But he was just a cheeky little lad with a heart of gold. He used to try to get me to buy him beer when he was underage—he would only have been about 11 or 12.<ref name="childhood"/>}} Gibb dropped out of school at the age of 13, and with an [[acoustic guitar]] given to him by his older brother Barry, he began playing at tourist clubs around [[Ibiza]], Spain (when his parents moved there),<ref name="moved">{{cite web|author=Levin|first=Eric|date=23 March 1988|title=Death of Golden Child|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20098585,00.html|access-date=6 January 2015|website=People.com}}</ref> and later on the [[Isle of Man]], his brothers' birthplace, where his parents were living at the time.

In June 1974, Gibb formed his first group, Melody Fayre (named after a [[Melody Fair|Bee Gees song]]), which included Isle of Man musicians John Alderson on guitar, Stan Hughes on bass, and John Stringer on drums. The group was managed by Gibb's mother, Barbara, and had regular bookings on the island's hotel circuit. In August 1973, at the age of 15, Gibb made his first recordings at the Nova Sound Studios in [[London]]. The songs were "Windows of My World" and the [[country music]] number "My Father's a Rebel". The second song was written by [[Maurice Gibb]] (according to a November 1973 fan club newsletter) who also produced the session.<ref name="produced">{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/73.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1973 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |website=Columbia.edu|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref>

At the urging of his brother Barry, Gibb returned to [[Australia]] in 1974. Barry believed that since Australia had been a good training ground for the [[Bee Gees]], it would also help Gibb's career.<ref name="training">{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/74.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1974 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |accessdate=30 December 2014}}</ref> Lesley Gibb had remained in Australia, where she raised a family with her husband. Alderson and Stringer followed Gibb to Australia with the hope of forming a band there. With [[Col Joye]] producing, Gibb, Alderson, and Stringer recorded a number of Gibb's songs. The first was a demo called "To a Girl", with his brother Maurice playing organ, which he later performed on his television debut in Australia on ''[[The Ernie Sigley Show]]''. Sigley later informed the audience that it was from Gibb's forthcoming album, but it was never released.

In November of the same year, he recorded six demos—again produced by Joye—including "Words and Music", "Westfield Mansions", and "Flowing Rivers" (which was later released). What may have detracted from the "training ground" aspect of Australia for Gibb compared with his brothers was that he was relatively comfortable financially, mainly due to his brothers' support and largesse; hence, the group's sporadic work rate. Gibb would disappear for periods of time, leaving Alderson and Stringer out of work with no income. Despondent, Alderson and Stringer returned to [[England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/74.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1974 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph|website=Columbia.edu |access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref>

Gibb later joined the band Zenta, consisting of Gibb on vocals, Rick Alford on guitar, Paddy Lelliot on bass, Glen Greenhalgh on vocals, and Trevor Norton on drums. Zenta supported international artists [[The Sweet|Sweet]] and the [[Bay City Rollers]] on the [[Sydney]] leg of their Australian tours. "Can't Stop Dancing" (a [[Ray Stevens]] song which was later a US hit for duo [[Captain & Tennille|Captain and Tennille]] in May 1977) was pushed for release, but ultimately did not, although Gibb did perform it on television at least once on the revitalised ''[[Bandstand (Australia)|Bandstand]]'' show hosted by [[Daryl Somers]]. Zenta would appear later as a backing band for Gibb, but did not participate on Gibb's recording sessions around 1975, which featured Australian [[jazz fusion]] group [[Crossfire (band)|Crossfire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/75.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1975 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph|website=Columbia.edu |access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref>

"[[Words and Music (song)|Words and Music]]" was released on the ATA label, only in Australia and New Zealand, owned by [[Col Joye]], who also produced the [[Bee Gees]]' first singles in Australia. It was Gibb's first single and was backed by another composition "Westfield Mansions".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/k6077 |title=Andy Gibb – Words and Music |website=45cat.com |access-date=6 January 2015}}</ref> The single would eventually reach No. 78 in [[Australia]] and No. 29 in [[New Zealand]]. Gibb performed this song on ''[[Countdown (Australian TV program)|Countdown]]'' on 7 September 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s-YyL-LhLE |title=Andy Gibb - Words & Music (1975) |via=YouTube |accessdate=14 June 2013}}</ref> While in Australia, Gibb recorded demos of his compositions as well as his own renditions of old numbers.<ref name="training"/> When Gibb had got the call from his brother Barry in June 1976 that he and [[Col Joye]]'s company ATA had proceeded with the new single ("[[Words and Music (song)|Words and Music]]"), Gibb prepared to go to Florida later that year and had his last recording session before moving to the US, including "In the End", "Flowing Rivers", "Come Home for the Winter" and "Let It Be Me" which were later re-recorded in [[Criteria Studios]].<ref name="style">{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/76.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1976 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |accessdate=30 December 2014}}</ref>

===1976–1980: International success===
Gibb at that time lived in [[Seven Hills, New South Wales|Seven Hills]], an outer [[Sydney]] suburb where he married his girlfriend Kim Reeder at the Wayside Chapel on 11 July 1976. "Kim breeds Staffordshire bull terriers and my sister does too", he once said. "We met at a dog show when my sister Lesley introduced us".<ref name="moved" /> In 1977, they moved to [[West Hollywood, California|West Hollywood]].<ref name="moved" /> Reeder recalled, "He became ensconced in the drug scene. Cocaine became his first love. He became depressed and paranoid."<ref name="moved" /> The couple separated and Reeder moved back to Australia, where she gave birth to their daughter, Peta, on 25 January 1978. Gibb and Reeder divorced later that year.<ref name="moved" />

[[Robert Stigwood]], who at the time was the Bee Gees' manager, signed Gibb to his label, [[RSO Records]] in early 1976, after he heard some of his [[demo tapes]]. Gibb soon moved to [[Miami Beach]], to begin working on songs with his brother Barry and co-producers [[Albhy Galuten]] and Karl Richardson. In late 1976 in [[Miami]], Gibb, with his brother Barry producing and recording in [[Criteria Studios]], set about making his first album ''[[Flowing Rivers]]''. [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]] guitarist [[Joe Walsh]] played on two songs on the album while recording ''[[Hotel California (Eagles album)|Hotel California]]''. On Gibb's compositions, the tracks were a mix of [[country music]] and [[ballad]]s.<ref name="style"/> After the release of ''Flowing Rivers'', Gibb revealed:

{{cquote|I don't think you can pin any one thing on the way my voice and songwriting have developed. A lot of people say my album, ''Flowing Rivers'', sounds like the [[Bee Gees]], but if I sang or wrote any differently than I do now, it wouldn't be me at all. I was worried about my own material really, really badly. I didn't think I was a good songwriter at all. I was a bit doubtful about my own performance.<ref name="withdrawn">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KugbDQHX0R8C&dq=andy+gibb+and+victoria+principal+relationship&pg=PT985 |title=The Bee Gees – Tales of the Brothers Gibb |last=Hughes |first=Andrew |year=2009 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=9780857120045 |accessdate=20 January 2015}}</ref>}}

The first release from the album, and Gibb's first single released outside Australia, was "[[I Just Want to Be Your Everything]]" which was written by Barry, who also provided backup vocals. It reached No. 1 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] for three weeks, starting on the week ending 30 July 1977, and again for the week ending 17 September 1977. "I Just Want to be Your Everything" was Gibb's longest-running chart single on ''Billboard, Record World,'' and ''Cashbox'' and was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male]] at the [[20th Grammy Awards]]. The song was later ranked No. 26 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s 55th anniversary ''All Time Top 100''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/2155531/the-hot-100-all-time-top-songs?list_page=7 |title= Hot 100 55th Anniversary: The All-Time Top 100 Songs |magazine= Billboard |date= 2 August 2012 |access-date= 9 August 2013 |first= Fred |last= Bronson}}</ref> Gibb later recalled Barry's writing style:<ref name="all">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KugbDQHX0R8C&q=bee+geesto+whom+it+may+concern&pg=PT1030 |title=The Bee Gees - Tales of the Brothers Gibb |last=Hughes |first=Andrew |year=2009 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=9780857120045 |access-date=2 February 2015}}</ref>

<blockquote>So, once we discussed it all and got the deal together, me and Barry locked ourselves in a bedroom and Barry just started writing. When Barry writes, it is very hard to collaborate with him, because he is so quick. And before I knew it he was starting to do the chorus of 'I Just Want to Be Your Everything', and I thought, 'Wow what a hook!'. He's an expert at his craft. Within about 20 minutes, he'd written a number one record; and then we went right into another one, '(Love Is) Thicker than Water'.<ref name="all"/></blockquote>

Eight of the ten tracks on the album were Gibb compositions, mostly written during his time in Australia. These included a re-recording of his previous single, "Words and Music". In September 1977 ''Flowing Rivers'', with another No. 1 single "[[(Love Is) Thicker Than Water]]" (also co-written by Gibb and his brother Barry) to support it, quickly became a multi-million selling album. That single broke in early 1978 during the time that the Bee Gees' contributions to the ''[[Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack)|Saturday Night Fever]]'' soundtrack were dominating the world charts. In the United States it replaced "[[Stayin' Alive]]" at the top of the Hot 100 on the day before Gibb's 20th birthday, only to be surpassed by "[[Night Fever]]" at No. 1 two weeks later. Both of the singles from ''Flowing Rivers'' were certified [[Music recording sales certification|Gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)]] for sales exceeding 500,000 units.

Gibb then began work with the Gibb-Galuten-Richardson production team on his second album, ''[[Shadow Dancing (album)|Shadow Dancing]]'', which was released in April 1978 and was his highest-charting album in America (No. 7) and Canada (No. 1). The [[Shadow Dancing (song)|title track]], written by all four Gibb brothers, was released as a single in the United States in April 1978. In mid-June it began a seven-week run at No. 1, achieving platinum status and the honour of being ''Billboard''<nowiki/>'s No. 1 song of 1978. In the United States, Gibb became the first male solo artist to have three consecutive No. 1 singles on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], with all of the weeks at the top of the chart happening in less than year, from 30 July 1977 through 29 July 1978. Two further Top 10 singles, "[[An Everlasting Love]]" (No. 5) and "[[(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away]]" (No. 9), were released from the album, which became another multi-million seller.

In 1979, Gibb performed along with the [[Bee Gees]], [[ABBA]] and [[Olivia Newton-John]] (duet with "[[Rest Your Love on Me]]") at the [[Music for UNICEF Concert]] at the [[United Nations General Assembly]], which was broadcast worldwide. He returned to the studio to begin recording sessions for his final full studio album ''[[After Dark (Andy Gibb album)|After Dark]]''. In March 1980, the last of Gibb's Top 10 singles charted just ahead of the album's release. "[[Desire (Andy Gibb song)|Desire]]" (No. 4) was recorded for the Bee Gees' 1979 album ''[[Spirits Having Flown]]'' and featured their original track, complete with Gibb's original "guest vocal" track. A second single, "[[I Can't Help It (Andy Gibb and Olivia Newton-John song)|I Can't Help It]]", a duet with family friend and fellow British and Australian expat Olivia Newton-John, reached the Top 20 (No. 12). In 1984, Gibb performed this song on the sitcom ''[[Punky Brewster]]'' in the episode "Play It Again, Punky" where Gibb guest starred as Punky's piano teacher.<ref name="YouTube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAi-GLqqbS0 |title=Andy Gibb - I Can't Help It (Punky Brewster 1984) |via=[[YouTube]] |date=23 May 2013 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref>

Despite being certified Gold, the album's disappointing performance, coupled with Gibb's mounting drug problems, would lead to [[RSO Records]] dropping Gibb from its roster. Later in the year, ''[[Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits]]'' was released as a finale to his contract with RSO Records, with two new songs: "[[Time Is Time]]" (No. 15 in January 1981) and "Me (Without You)" (Gibb's last Top 40 chart entry) shipped as singles, before RSO founder [[Robert Stigwood]] let him go due to his cocaine addiction and behavioural problems. "After Dark" and "[[Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow]]" were non-single songs added to the album, the latter of which was a duet with [[P. P. Arnold]], who had previously worked with Barry Gibb, including singing uncredited backups on "Bury Me Down by the River" from ''[[Cucumber Castle]]''. Around the same time, Gibb was invited to sing the first verse on [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s "[[Play the Game (song)|Play the Game]]", and lead singer [[Freddie Mercury]] apparently was amazed with Gibb's abilities. According to some sources, the tape was found in 1990 in a search of Queen archives for bonus tracks for a CD but was not used. Since it has not been heard by any Queen collectors, its existence is somewhat doubtful, although record producer [[Reinhold Mack|Mack]] has also confirmed that the version does exist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenvault.com/queenplus.html |title=Queen + Song Versions |website=Queenvault.com |access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/80.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1980 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph|website=Columbia.edu |access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref>

===1981–1986: Decline and live performances===
[[File:Andy Gibb 1981.jpg|thumb|upright|Gibb performing at [[Ford's Theatre]] Gala, 1981]]
While taping ''The John Davidson Show'' in January 1981, Gibb met actress [[Victoria Principal]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hall|first=Carla|date=23 March 1981|title=Stars and Austerity at Ford's Theatre Gala|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/03/23/stars-and-austerity-at-fords-theatre-gala/c1863ba4-0891-4a8a-9615-a7d9820652d7/}}</ref> During their high-profile relationship, Gibb began working on several projects outside the recording studio. He co-hosted the television music show ''[[Solid Gold (TV series)|Solid Gold]]'' from 1981 to 1982 with [[Marilyn McCoo]].<ref name="moved" /> He also performed in [[Gilbert & Sullivan]]'s ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' in [[Los Angeles]] and [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gritten|first=David|date=29 June 1981|title=Pam Dawber Casts Off from Mork to Crew with Andy Gibb and 'the Pirates of Penzance'|url=https://people.com/archive/pam-dawber-casts-off-from-mork-to-crew-with-andy-gibb-and-the-pirates-of-penzance-vol-15-no-25/|access-date=20 July 2021|website=People.com|language=en}}</ref> Gibb was ultimately fired from both ''Joseph'' and ''Solid Gold'' because of absenteeism caused by [[cocaine]] binges.<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 January 1983|title=Andy Gibb Is Asked To Leave Hit Musical|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/01/14/theater/andy-gibb-is-asked-to-leave-hit-musical.html|access-date=20 July 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="moved" /> Said [[Zev Buffman]], a Broadway producer and financier for ''Joseph'', "When Andy was at the theater, he was a joy. But he wasn't there enough", adding that of the five people to play Joseph up to that point, Gibb was the best actor.<ref name="awol">{{citation|author =Diliberto, Gioia|title=Awol from Broadway Once Too Often, Andy Gibb Is Ordered to Turn in His Dreamcoat|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|volume=19|issue=4|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20084163,00.html|date=31 January 1983|access-date=27 January 2010}}</ref>

He also said after Gibb's death, "We'd lose him over long weekends. He'd come back on Tuesday, and he'd look beat. He was like a little puppy—so ashamed when he did something wrong. He was all heart, but he didn't have enough muscle to carry through."<ref name="moved" /> An unnamed co-star in ''Joseph'' was quoted as saying, "I hear he spent most of his time in his hotel room in front of the TV. I guess he was frightened and insecure. That's what happens when you're the baby brother of the Bee Gees."<ref name="awol"/> Commenting after Gibb's death, ''Solid Gold'' producer Brad Lachman stated, "...[Andy] was a very charming, vulnerable and charismatic performer. He clearly meant well. He wasn't being difficult. He was going through problems he couldn't deal with. He wanted everyone to love him. He had so much going for him, and he just couldn't believe it."<ref name="moved" />

In August 1981, Gibb and Principal released a duet of [[The Everly Brothers]]' "[[All I Have to Do Is Dream]]".<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=8 August 1981|title=Top Single Picks|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dyQEAAAAMBAJ&q=andy+gibb&pg=PT13|magazine=Billboard|pages=67}}</ref> This would be Gibb's last official single, and his last US chart entry, peaking at No. 51. Principal recalled after that, "Well, it became very apparent to me that his behavior was becoming erratic and that he was very, very thin. And Andy was a very kind person and a very gentle person, and some of his behavior seemed the antithesis of who I knew him to be. And over a period of ... deduction, I finally realized that it had to be drugs".<ref name="vermilion">{{Cite web|url=https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/2020/03/10/remembering-andy-gibb/|title=Remembering Andy Gibb|website=Vermilioncountyfirst.com}}</ref> Their romance ended shortly thereafter when she gave him an ultimatum to choose between her or drugs. After this, Gibb began dating actress [[Kari Michaelsen]] of the [[NBC]] television sitcom ''[[Gimme a Break!]]''; Gibb met Michaelsen when he had guest starred on the series for one episode.<ref>{{cite web | last=Souter | first=Ericka | title=Looking for Answers | website=People.com | date=10 December 2001 | url=https://people.com/archive/looking-for-answers-vol-56-no-24/ | access-date=25 February 2019}}</ref>

In 1984 and 1985, Gibb finished two successful contracts at the [[Riviera (hotel and casino)|Riviera]] hotel in [[Las Vegas]]. His family convinced him to seek treatment for his drug addiction, which included a stay at the [[Betty Ford Center]] in 1985.<ref>{{Cite news|date=6 April 1985|title=Gibb Is a Patient at Betty Ford Center|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-06-ca-18489-story.html}}</ref> It was during this time that Gibb began touring small venues with a stage show featuring his hits as well as covers.  He also appeared in guest-starring roles on television [[sitcom]] ''[[Punky Brewster]]'' and ''[[Gimme a Break!]]''  Following an extensive tour of [[East Asia]], he regularly performed shows in Las Vegas and [[Lake Tahoe]]. In 1984, he was the headline performer at the [[Viña del Mar Festival]] in [[Chile]], performing two nights in a row. He also held a two-week engagement at [[San Francisco]]'s historic [[Fairmont San Francisco|Fairmont Hotel]] in March 1986.

===1987–1988: Attempted comeback and final days===
In early 1987, Gibb went through another drug rehabilitation program and thought he had finally beaten his habits. He now aimed to get a recording contract for release of a new album in 1988. He returned to the studio in June 1987 recording four songs; one of them, "Man on Fire", was released posthumously in 1991 on a [[Polydor Records]] anthology. Another track, "[[Arrow Through the Heart]]", was the final song Gibb would record and was featured on an episode of [[VH1]]'s series, ''[[Behind the Music]]'' and released on the Bee Gees' ''[[Mythology (Bee Gees album)|Mythology]]'' 4-disc box set in November 2010. The songs were co-written by Gibb with Barry and Maurice. Their demo recordings with engineer Scott Glasel were heard by Clive Banks from the English branch of [[Island Records]]. Gibb never formally signed a contract, but the record label planned to release a single in Europe that spring, followed by another single that summer with the album to follow.<ref>''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine, May 1988. "Andy Gibb: 1958–1988".</ref> In this same year, Gibb filed a personal bankruptcy petition.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1988/03/11/andy-gibb-pop-singer-in-1970s-and-brother-of-bee-gees-dies-at-30/bb58020d-ba35-4ca8-9bd7-11658909ff24/|title=ANDY GIBB, POP SINGER IN 1970S AND BROTHER OF BEE GEES, DIES AT 30|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 11, 1988}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/11/obituaries/andy-gibb-30-singer-in-70-s-dies-in-britain.html|title=Andy Gibb, 30, Singer in 70's, Dies in Britain|newspaper=New York Times|date=March 11, 1988}}</ref> In  March 1988, Barry arranged for [[Island Records]] to sign Gibb, but when he arrived in England in January 1988, he panicked. Gibb missed meetings with the record company and blamed himself for his trouble writing songs; the deal was never signed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/88.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1988 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph|website=Columbia.edu |access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref>

==Death==
By late January to early February in 1988, Gibb had seemingly beaten his drug addiction, regained his health, and was ready to begin recording a new album; however, he still suffered depression over his break-up with Victoria Principal.<ref name="idea/ref">[[New Idea]], 25 November 1989. Robin Gibb: "Andy was scared of us", page 22.</ref> According to Robin Gibb, his brother "just went downhill so fast... he was in a terrible state of depression".<ref name= "idea/ref" /> During this period, Gibb slipped back into alcoholic habits, and was receiving phone calls from brothers Maurice and Barry in a last-ditch effort to get Gibb to stop.<ref>"Behind The Music: Andy Gibb", VH1, Viacom International, 1997.</ref> On 5 March 1988, Gibb celebrated his 30th birthday in London while working on the new album. Two days later, he entered [[John Radcliffe Hospital]] in [[Oxford]] complaining of chest pains.

At around 8:30 am on 10 March 1988, Gibb's doctor informed him more tests were needed to determine the cause of his chest pains. Shortly afterward, Gibb slumped into unconsciousness and died five days after his 30th birthday as a result of [[myocarditis]], an inflammation of the heart muscle most likely caused by a virus. Years of cocaine use also weakened his heart. This diagnosis was supported by [[William Shell]], a [[cardiologist]] who previously treated Gibb.<ref name="previously">{{cite web |last=Levin |first=Eric |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20098585,00.html |title=Death of Golden Child – Untimely Deaths, Overdoses, Andy Gibb |website=People.com |date=28 March 1988 |access-date=6 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="moved"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-12-mn-868-story.html |title=Gibb's Death Tied to Natural Causes |date=12 March 1988 |newspaper=LA Times |publisher=[[UPI]] |access-date=19 April 2012}}</ref>

Upon the announcement of Gibb's death, his ex-wife, Kim Reeder, was not surprised. "I always knew that one day I'd get a call with news like this. It was only a matter of time."<ref name="previously"/> Gibb's family said the cause of death was not an [[overdose]], as some media reports suggested, but natural causes after years of substance abuse.<ref name="idea/ref" />

[[File:Grab Andy.JPG|thumb|Gibb's headstone]]
Gibb's body was flown to the United States, where he was interred at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]] in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. The headstone reads "Andy Gibb / March 5, 1958 – March 10, 1988 / An Everlasting Love", after one of his hit singles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/imagepages/AndyGibbGravePhoto.shtml |title=Andy Gibb's Grave at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills (photo)|website=Seeing-stars.com |access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref>

==Legacy==
The Andy Gibb Memorial Foundation contributes to charities that Gibb supported, such as the [[American Heart Association]], the [[American Cancer Society]], and the Diabetes Research Institute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://users.iafrica.com/a/an/angeldog/andy.html |title=Andy |website=Users.iafrica.com |access-date=6 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311155009/http://users.iafrica.com/a/an/angeldog/andy.html |archive-date=11 March 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The song "Wish You Were Here", which was a track on the Bee Gees 1989 album ''[[One (Bee Gees album)|One]]'', was dedicated by his brothers to Gibb.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/88.html |title=Gibb Songs : 1988|last=Brennan |first=Joseph |website=Columbia.edu |access-date=7 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-mw0000653984|title=One - Bee Gees &#124; Album |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=21 March 2024}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
Gibb was nominated for two [[Grammy Award]]s at the [[20th Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/andy-gibb|title=Andy Gibb|website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards|date=23 November 2020}}</ref> He was also nominated for two [[American Music Awards]].

=== Grammy Awards ===
{{awards table}}
|-
| 1978
| Andy Gibb
| [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1978
| "[[I Just Want to Be Your Everything]]"
| [[Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male]]
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

=== American Music Awards ===
{{awards table}}
|-
| 1978
|"I Just Want To Be Your Everything"
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Song|Favorite Pop/Rock Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1979
| Andy Gibb
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist|Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist]]
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details
! colspan="6"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]]
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br/><ref name="uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16312/andy-gibb/|title=UK Charts > Andy Gibb|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br><ref name="kent">{{cite book|title=Australian Charts Book 1970—1992|first =David|last =Kent|isbn=0-646-11917-6|year=1993|publisher=Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W.}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br><ref name="can">{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/list.aspx?OCRText=Andy+Gibb&|title=CAN Charts > Andy Gibb|date=17 July 2013 |publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=29 April 2020 |last1=Canada |first1=Library Archives }}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]<br><ref name="nz">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Andy+Gibb|title=NZ Charts > Andy Gibb|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/andy-gibb/chart-history|title=US Charts > Andy Gibb|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br>R&B]]<br><ref name="billboard"/>
|-
| 1977
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[Flowing Rivers]]'''''
* First studio album
* Release date: September 1977
* Label: [[RSO Records]]
| &mdash;
| 25
| 9
| &mdash;
| 19
| &mdash;
| style="text-align:left;"|
* [[Music Canada|MC]]: Gold<ref name="mc">{{cite certification|region=Canada|artist=Andy Gibb|access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref>
* [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]: Platinum<ref name="riaa">{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=Andy Gibb|access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 1978
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[Shadow Dancing (album)|Shadow Dancing]]'''''
* Second studio album
* Release date: June 1978
* Label: RSO Records
| 15
| 28
| 1
| 15
| 7
| 18
| style="text-align:left;"|
* [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]: Silver<ref name="bpi">{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|artist=Andy Gibb|access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref>
* MC: Platinum<ref name="mc"/>
* RIAA: Platinum<ref name="riaa"/>
|-
| 1980
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[After Dark (Andy Gibb album)|After Dark]]'''''
* Third studio album
* Release date: February 1980
* Label: RSO Records
| &mdash;
| 65
| 24
| &mdash;
| 21
| 67
| style="text-align:left;"|
* RIAA: Gold<ref name="riaa"/>
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===Compilations===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details
! colspan="1"| Peaks
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="billboard"/>
|-
| 1980
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits]]'''''
* Release date: 1980
* Label: RSO Records
| 46
|-
| 1991
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''Andy Gibb'''''
* Release date: 1991
* Label: [[Polydor Records]] (reissued in 2012 by [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]/[[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]])
| —
|-
| 2001
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection'''''
* Release date: 14 August 2001
* Label: [[Universal Music Enterprises]]
| —
|-
| 2010
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[Mythology (Bee Gees album)|Mythology]] [[Mythology (Bee Gees album)#Disc 4 – Andy|(Disc 4 – Andy)]]'''''
* Release date: November 2010
* Label: Reprise/Warner Bros.
| —
|-
| 2018
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''The Very Best of Andy Gibb'''''
* Release date: April 2018
* Label: [[Capitol Records]]
| —
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="8"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]]
! rowspan="2"| [[A-side and B-side|B-side]]
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="uk"/>
! width="35"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br><ref name="kent"/>
! style="width:30px;"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br><ref name="can"/>
! width="35"| [[Irish Singles Chart|IRE]]<br /><ref name="ire">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement|title=IRE Charts Search > Andy Gibb|publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association]]|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]<br><ref name="nz"/>
! width="35"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="billboard"/>
! width="35"| [[Adult contemporary (chart)|US A/C]]<br><ref name="billboard"/>
! width="35"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]<br><ref name="billboard"/>
|-
| 1975
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Words and Music (song)|Words and Music]]"
| &mdash;
| 78
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
|
| "Westfield Mansions"
| style="text-align:center;"| Non-album song <!-- Do not change! The recording on this single is not the same recording featured on the Flowing Rivers album -->
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1977
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[I Just Want to Be Your Everything]]"
| 26
| 1
| 1
| &mdash;
| 2
| 1
| 8
| 19
| align=left| 
* MC: Gold<ref name="mc"/>
* RIAA: Gold<ref name="riaa"/>
| "In the End"
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| ''Flowing Rivers''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[(Love Is) Thicker Than Water]]"
| &mdash;
| 13
| 2
| &mdash;
| 25
| 1
| 18
| &mdash;
| align=left| 
* MC: Gold<ref name="mc"/>
* RIAA: Gold<ref name="riaa"/>
| "Words and Music"
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1978
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Shadow Dancing (song)|Shadow Dancing]]"
| 42
| 11
| 1
| &mdash;
| 5
| 1
| 8
| 11
| align=left| 
* MC: Platinum<ref name="mc"/>
* RIAA: Platinum<ref name="riaa"/>
| "Let It Be Me"
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| ''Shadow Dancing''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[An Everlasting Love]]"
| 10
| 57
| 3
| 4
| 28
| 5
| 8
| &mdash;
| align=left| 
* RIAA: Gold<ref name="riaa"/>
| "Flowing Rivers"
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away]]"
| 32
| 61
| 8
| 21
| 27
| 9
| 2
| &mdash;
| align=left| 
* RIAA: Gold<ref name="riaa"/>
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| "One More Look at the Night"
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Why (Andy Gibb song)|Why]]"
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
|
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1980
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Desire (Andy Gibb song)|Desire]]"
| &mdash;
| 90
| 10
| &mdash;
| 38
| 4
| 9
| 49
|
| "Waiting for You"
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| ''After Dark''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[I Can't Help It (Andy Gibb song)|I Can't Help It]]" <small>(with [[Olivia Newton-John]])</small>
| &mdash;
| 62
| 32
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| 12
| 8
| &mdash;
|
| "Someone I Ain't"
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Rest Your Love on Me]]" <small>(with Olivia Newton-John)</small>
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
|
| "Boats Against the Current"
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Time Is Time]]"
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| 15
| 29
| &mdash;
|
| "I Go for You"
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| ''Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1981
| style="text-align:left;"| "Me (Without You)"
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| 40
| 45
| &mdash;
|
| "Melody"
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[All I Have to Do Is Dream]]" <small>(with Victoria Principal)</small>
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| 39
| &mdash;
| &mdash;
| 51
| 25
| &mdash;
|
| "Good Feeling"
| style="text-align:center;"| Non-album song
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

==Filmography==
===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Gimme a Break!]]''
| Himself
|-
| 1984
| ''Something's Afoot''
| Geoffrey
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Punky Brewster]]''
| Tony Glenn
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Andy Gibb}}
*{{IMDb name|316449}}
* {{discogs artist|Andy Gibb}}
*{{IBDB name|79234}}

{{Andy Gibb}}
{{Bee Gees}}
{{Billboard Year-End number one singles 1960–1979}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibb, Andy}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:1988 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century English singers]]
[[Category:Actors from Stretford]]
[[Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]]
[[Category:Deaths from myocarditis]]
[[Category:English expatriates in Australia]]
[[Category:English expatriates in Spain]]
[[Category:English expatriate male actors in the United States]]
[[Category:English male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:English male musicians]]
[[Category:English male singers]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:English people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:English pop singers]]
[[Category:Gibb family (show business)|Andy]]
[[Category:Male actors from Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:RSO Records artists]]
[[Category:Singers from Manchester]]