Introduction:
In a world where legendary voices often fade into the archives of memory, few opportunities feel as precious as the ones that bring them momentarily back to life. Such is the quiet significance behind this evening’s rare appearance by Dwina Gibb, widow of Bee Gees icon Robin Gibb, at the Players Theatre in Thame, Oxfordshire. Married to Robin for nearly three decades until his passing in 2012 at the age of 62, Dwina steps into the public eye not just as a guardian of his legacy, but as an accomplished storyteller, historian, poet, and producer—with a treasure trove of unheard memories to share.
For years, Dwina has been working meticulously on a deeply personal project: a book built from hours of private interviews she recorded with Robin as he contemplated his own autobiography. The tapes—small, fragile, and overflowing with humor, candor, and reflection—were too painful to listen to for almost a decade. Only recently has she begun transcribing them in earnest. The process, she admits, has been both bittersweet and healing. Through laughter and recollection, Robin’s voice once again fills the room, revealing a man whose wit and warmth many never fully had the chance to witness.
In conversation with BBC Radio 2’s Paul Gambaccini, a lifelong chronicler of popular music, Dwina is expected to revisit her extraordinary life with Robin—one shaped by art, family, creativity, and the sometimes surreal world of global fame. She recalls first falling in love with the Bee Gees’ music not as a fan swept up in the disco wave, but as a young ballroom dancer practicing her Viennese waltz in a mirrored studio. The soundtrack that displaced her routine on that day? Saturday Night Fever. Though mildly annoyed at first, she admits she quickly fell under the spell of the music that would soon define a generation.
“Staying Alive,” she explains, remains one of her favorites—not only for its cultural impact but for its unexpected role in saving lives. Few know that the rhythm of the song matches the recommended pace for CPR chest compressions, a fact that has helped revive real people in emergency situations.
As she shares anecdotes—from Robin’s late-night bicycle rides in Miami that once prompted a rookie policeman to question him, to childhood stories of the Gibb brothers innocently “borrowing” a funeral wreath for Mother’s Day—Dwina paints a portrait of the Bee Gees not as unreachable stars, but as spirited, mischievous, relentlessly creative souls.
Tonight’s sold-out event promises insights, music, and even a few surprises, offering fans a rare window into the private world behind the harmonies. And for those unable to attend in person, a livestream will be available through the Thame Museum website.
In Dwina’s words, some people leave early because they’ve already completed what they came here to do. Robin Gibb’s legacy—spanning generations, genres, and hearts—remains a testament to that truth. Through her book, her memories, and moments like tonight, his voice continues to stay remarkably, beautifully alive.