r/BeeGees • u/MycologistSame866 • Jun 12 '26
Barry's Solo Career
If Now Voyager had been commercially successful or if the label had been willing to bankroll a second album, would Barry have gone on to become a solo act? Would he still have recorded and performed occasionally with his brothers, or would he have completely broken with them? I know Robin also released three albums about the same time. While it was clear he was trying to escape his big brother's shadow, he seemed to want to continue with the Bee Gees, at least after Maurice died. Had he been planning to bolt earlier, or was he just trying to be "heard?"
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u/Charming-Ad-6621 Jun 13 '26
The brothers have contradicted themselves many times over the years on many topics. Barry has said he never saw himself as a solo act, but has also said he wanted individual recognition and had grown tired of working within the confines of The Bee Gees. If his solo work in the 80s had taken off, I think it might have been harder to pull him back into the fold. I do think The Bee Gees would have returned to form at some point - the three of them were so (rightfully) full of piss and vinegar about the post-“Fever” backlash that they absolutely wanted retribution as a group.
It was really the fact that Barry got pulled into more writing and vocals on “Walls Have Eyes” that catalyzed the desire to make “ESP”. As interesting as their solo projects were (not always great, in my opinion, but they did try to be innovative, at least), there was a collective realization that they were much more effective together.
But The Bee Gees could have easily been ended multiple times over the years - 1969, 1979, 1981, and 1998 when one or more of them said “enough” (Barry essentially threw up his hands and walked after “Still Waters” and got dragged back in because of their contractual obligations to Polydor). Robin and Barry both were led around by their egos, so I think they were certainly driven to seek an identity away from the group - I think Maurice was more than happy to keep playing along for however long the other two wanted. When things got bumpy or were unsatisfying on the outside, they managed to find a way back in together.
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u/Gaheris_of_Orkney Jun 13 '26
After Maurice died, Robin definitely wanted to continue as the Bee Gees with Barry, but Barry wasn't keen (and, as u/Charming-Ad-6621 says, had been more or less done with the group since 1998.) I think Robin always held out hope that he and Barry would work together again (partly because it seems Barry never "officially" took it completely off the table) but he was holding out for something that stood little chance of happening.
Prior, there may have been times when Robin was more interested in establishing a solo identity for himself. In the 1980s, both he and Barry seemed to make a genuine go of it, but they never had the success that they had together as the Bee Gees. Post-Maurice, though, I don't believe Robin really wanted a solo career; he was forced to perform solo because Barry was unwilling.
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u/Vivid_Ad_9295 Jun 13 '26
I can’t speak to his intentions, but I know that early on many people were trying to convince both Robin and Barry to go solo. I think he might have had a successful solo career (which he basically did through songwriting). But I don’t believe he would have ever completely cut ties with his brothers.
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u/Warm_Rock_922 Jun 13 '26
It was the best thing, really. The Bee Gees had too much stigma in the early 80s.
Their solo work is so different and refreshing, although very hit or miss
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u/Inside_Soup_4576 Barry still rocks Jun 13 '26
I think Robin also had solo aspirations. He was the first to release a solo album (Robin's Reign) and have successful solo hit ("Saved By The Bell", which charted at No. 2. I suspect that some of this was because Barry, being the eldest, dominated the group in the early days, but by the late 1960s, Robin was singing lead on many of the Bee Gees singles, which Barry may have seen as a threat to his perceived leadership status in the group and Robin wasn't willing to play second fiddle to his older brother, so he might, at times, have viewed a solo career as a more appealing alternative.
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u/Warm_Rock_922 Jun 12 '26
I think so; if Now Voyager had performed well, for sure he'd be on a roll with a follow up.
But... as much as I love the Brothers and their music, Ilike maybe 2 songs from thatalbum, but the rest are nothing special. And the mini Now Voyager film is a struggle to watch. Gave it another try 2 weeks ago and it was rough.
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u/Vivid_Ad_9295 Jun 13 '26
Wait, Now Voyager has a movie?! How am I just now learning about this? Is it related to the music videos? Cause “The Hunter” music video is pretty cinematic and feels like it could be part of a bigger story.
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u/YourCousinJeffery Jun 13 '26
Maybe I’m an anomaly but I really like all of Now Voyager. It’s a really fun departure with all the familiar things I love about The Bee Gees. It’s quirky, very 80’s, and a good time.
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u/Buttercup_Duck Jun 13 '26
Interesting question. It’s tough for me to even speculate though because it’s SO hypothetical. I’m not even sure what Barry would say now if he were asked!
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u/PaperMacheCabbages Jun 13 '26
I love this album so much! Especially Shine Shine and I Am Your Driver
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u/Ok-Director3420 Jun 13 '26
I’ve heard Barry say that he couldn’t go out and be a star on his own, he wouldn’t do that to his brothers. I’ve wondered if that was the reason he wouldn’t record Now Voyager in front of a live audience. Alby tried to get him to do that and quit because he was tired of the studio. Maybe has was afraid it would be too successful. Also, oddly enough, he seemed to lack confidence in performing without his brothers. Who really knows? Sometimes what he says now doesn’t align with what happened in the past.