LocBee Gee Barry Gibb unveils Cypriot sculpture in Australia

Greek-Cypriot sculptor Philip Piperides has created three bronze statues of the famous

Bee Gees band.

Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, the eldest and last surviving Gibb brother, returned to

Australia on Feb.14 to attend the unveiling of a life-size statue created in honor of the

legendary disco band. A few minutes before Gibb unveiled the monument, he shook

Piperidis’ hand and told him: “You did a good job.”

He also told the reporters: “I liked that he made us with bare feet. So we were in our

lives. ” Barry Gibb has unveiled a statue of the Bee Gees in the Australian town where he

spent part of his childhood.

Thousands watched the Isle of Man-born singer unveil the statue in Redcliffe,

Queensland, where the Bee Gees signed their first recording deal in 1959. Barry Gibb, the

last surviving member of the band said it was an “emotional experience”.

The Bee Gees sold more than 200 million albums worldwide in a career spanning five

decades. Robin Gibb died last year following a lengthy battle with cancer, whilst his twin

brother Maurice died in Miami in 2003. Their younger brother Andy, who was also a popular

singer died in 1988, but was not in the band. Barry, who was with his mother Barbara and

sister Lesley Evans, said: “I think they are with me. I can just sort of tell they are there. All

three of them. “It has been an emotional day – I will have a bit of a cry later on but it’s a

wonderful thing.”

Moreton Bay council Mayor Allan Sutherland said: “Redcliffe is where they were

discovered and this is our way of saying thank you on behalf of the millions around the

world who have enjoyed their music.

“It was on a kitchen table in Redcliffe that the Bee Gees signed their first recording deal

after being discovered at the local speedway.”

The bronze statue shows the Bee Gees as children between the ages of nine and

12. Bee Gee Barry Gibb returns to Australia to unveil a statue in their honour. “The

statue doesn’t depict them at the height of their fame but as lads walking along the

beach at Redcliffe—foot loose and fancy free with Barry playing his guitar,” continued Mr

Sutherland. “There were many, many people here today who would have remembered

them playing and sat on the beach.”

The brothers, who emigrated from Manchester to Australia in the late 1950s, scored

nine US number one singles and five chart-top- pers in the UK.

The statue was part of the region’s tribute to the Bee Gees.

It will mark the start of the Bee Gees Way – a 70m walk that tells the group’s story in

words and pictures, curated by Barry Gibb.

The last Bee Gee is currently touring Australia

Born in Nicosia, Piperidis moved to Australia in 1967. However he pursued his studies in

sculpture in Greece, taught by Vangelis Moustakas and Dimitris Gavalas before continuing

his studies in Europe. He returned to Australia and created masterpieces throughout the

country.

 foto:abc.net.au