Below is a round-up of the interviews Robin Gibb gave before the start of his concert tour and that were published/broadcast in the last couple of days and weeks. We've also added some bits and bobs to the members section of the site. Enjoy!
Members of the public will get a chance to be part of the planned Bomber Command memorial by leaving messages in a time capsule that will be preserved in the foundations of the memorial. This new initiative is hoped to help raise the remaining funds needed to build the planned memorial in Green Park.
Robin Gibb has been campaigning for the memorial for years and said: "I've put my heart and soul into being a champion of this cause.I had a vision of this monument becoming a reality and now I want to see it unveiled. These guys are heroes - they saved the world and they deserve the best. The whole world, including Germany, is free today because of Bomber Command's sacrifice."
Click here for the full text of the Time Capsule press release or here to visit the dedicated website.
In the early hours of Wednesday, 18th August 2010 Robin Gibb underwent emergency gastro-intestinal surgery. The operation was a success and Robin is making a good recovery and has returned home this afternoon. For the time being Robin's Consultant has recommended complete rest in order to speed his recovery and we ask that Robin and his family's privacy be respected during this period.
Any fans and friends wishing to leave a get well message to Robin can do so here.
Robin Gibb's forthcoming live dates in Europe are under revision following emergency surgery last Wednesday. At this point the show in Coburg (D) has been cancelled and tickets will be refunded. Information regarding the fate of the concerts in Leipzig, Dresden (D) and Amsterdam (Nl) will be posted here once available. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) today announced the extension of Robin Gibb as President of the organisation. French artist and painter Hervé Di Rosa was elected as Vice- President. Approved by the unanimous vote of the General Assembly in Bilbao, the choice reflects the determination of CISAC to support the cause of creators in all artistic repertoires, to defend their rights, and to promote collective management worldwide.
Robin Gibb told the Assembly: "It is a great honour to serve as your President for three additional years. The presidency of CISAC is a role that means a great deal to me because, as a songwriter, I am a passionate believer in the collective management of rights by authors’ societies. While the entire entertainment sector is at a crossroads, I want to leverage this new mandate to help develop a management rights system that is sustainable in the digital age, a system that meets public demand for easy access to all our works while preserving the rights and interests of everyone, including fair payment for creators to use their works."
Click here for a copy of CISAC's press release Click here to read Robin Gibb's speech
Robin Gibb is in Los Angeles where he is meeting up with his brother Barry for some national press and TV, and business meetings, today May 25 and tomorrow May 26. Check back here later for more details about any possible media appearances, interviews etc. If you're in the US, do keep an eye on the newswires too. Robin and Barry have also been invited to the world premiere of the new movie "Get Him To The Greek" (starring Russel Brand) at the Greek Theatre this evening, which they may attend schedule-permitting.
Robin Gibb is attending two major music industry events this week. Tomorrow, May 18, he will be in Monaco to present an award to Andrea Bocelli at the World Music Awards. The World Music Awards which are held annually at the Sporting Club in Monte Carlo honour the world’s top selling acts as validated by IFPI. This event is broadcast by TV stations world-wide including Channel 4 (UK) and MyNetworkTV (US). On Thursday, May 20, Robin will present an award at The Ivors at the Grosvenor House in London. The Ivors are acknowledged as the most widely coveted awards for British songwriters and composers in the world. Next week, Robin plans to spend some time Stateside.
There have been many stories in the British media today, reporting of the good news of Westminster Council's approval of the planned memorial's site in London's Green Park. They include reports in the Evening Standard, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Times, and on Sky and BBC news. This morning Robin appeared live on BBC Breakfast TV which you can watch below. Now that the planning permission for the memorial has been approved, all that remains is to raise the remaining funds to have it built. Click here for more information on how you can help.
Westminster City Council's planning applications sub-committee have tonight given the go-ahead for a permanent memorial commemorating thousands of bomber aircrew who lost their lives during the Second World War to be built in central London. Robin Gibb, who has been leading the campaign for the past two years, had joined the veterans at tonight's meeting and said this was a historic moment: "I am overwhelmed, and can only imagine how it must feel for those of the veterans that are left." There were several press crews at the meeting including correspondents from The Times, Telegraph, BBC, and Sky News a.o. who took statements. Tomorrow morning, Friday 14th, Robin will appear on BBC Breakfast to give more details about the memorial site and plans. Click here for the full press release of the Bomber Command Association.
Robin Gibb has worked tirelessly over the last two years to help raise awareness and funds for a memorial for Bomber Command.
This evening, after Westminster Council's planning committee meeting, Robin and the veterans will find out if the memorial can be built at its proposed location in central London.
You can watch the interview Robin gave to GMTV ahead of events today below.
Dutch news show "Eenvandaag" have made the complete interview available Robin gave to them for their May 1st programme. Click here to watch it. Additionally, 1V's blog site features a report (in Dutch) of Robin's visit to Rotterdam's City Hall April 30th.
Robin Gibb is in The Netherlands today, where he will be joining a group of RAF and Bomber Command veterans currently touring the country in remembrance of "Operation Manna". Robin's blitz visit is part of his campaign to have a permanent memorial built in London for Bomber Command. The Bomber Command WWII volunteers came from all corners of the Common Wealth and allied countries, including Holland. Robin will attend a private reception at Rotterdam's City Hall this morning, and will be interviewed for Dutch news show "EenVandaag" (1V). The TV interview will broadcast this Saturday May 1st, and can be viewed on-line (check the appearances section for details). On the same day "De Telegraaf" will print an interview with Robin that he gave to the newspaper earlier this week. During the Bomber Command Netherlands tour, footage will also be filmed to publicise fund-raising for the campaign to UK media, and this weekend British newspapers "The Times" and "The Telegraph" will cover the Veterans' visit. It emerged today that both Gordon Brown and David Cameron have spoken out in support of the planned memorial for Bomber Command. Read the article in the Evening Standard.
Robin Gibb was scheduled to deliver a key note speech in Dublin, Ireland this afternoon, in his capacity of CISAC president at the annual conference of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI). Due to the flights ban imposed in most of Europe Robin wasn't able to be at the conference in person, but he addressed the attendees over the phone. Click here for IBI's press release, or read the full text of Robin's speech here.
This Friday April 23rd, Danish national TV station DR1 will broadcast an hour long TV special with live footage and interview fragments filmed at Robin Gibb's live shows at Ledreborg Castle last August 15th and 16th.The programme airs at 8pm local time. Robin performed live with the Danish National Orchestra conducted by David Firman. Click here for a couple of preview clips.
To coincide with Robin’s recent visits to the States, the Bomber Command Memorial campaign is reaching out to North Americans to help support the fund. A commemorative and fundraising website has just been launched and thanks to Robin’s tireless efforts the memorial’s completion is getting nearer. Having raised £1.7 million already, the campaign is on its way to raising the £3 million pounds needed to turn the plans for a sculpture near Buckingham Palace into a reality.
It was a childhood dream of Robin’s to one day create a memorial fit for the air crews of Bomber Command to be remembered. Not to glorify the horrors of war, but to remember, in order that no generation should ever have to endure again what took place in World War II. And, to act as an inspiration to all age groups. In recent weeks, Robin has taken the cause to the U.S. to raise further awareness for the commemoration and the much- needed funds to create the memorial, and the new website They Gave Everything reminds us that airmen from the US as well as from many other nations flew as part of the R.A.F Bomber Command.
Robin explains: “The Memorial will finally honour the bravery of those who died defending Britain and ultimately the rest of the world from Nazi tyranny. On my visits to the U.S. people there were surprised that a commemoration had never been approved; a memorial that families of the fallen could recognise as a fitting tribute, and that the rest of the nation and those from across the globe could visit, and remember the sacrifice others made for our freedom to exist today. Although we have faced many, many obstacles, I am glad that I have been able to play a part in helping convince those in power and with influence to view the Bomber Command Memorial as important and fitting after all these years.” Robin continues: “We are on our way to reaching our final goal of raising just over £3 million and I hope that the new website will encourage even more generous donations than have taken place so far, both from the U.K. and across the world.”
Bomber Command’s vital task of defending freedom fell to 125,000 volunteers with an average age of 22, from all corners of the Commonwealth and allied countries. They were crucial in turning the tide but victory came at a price. Of the thousands who took to the skies, more than 55,000 gave their lives. One in five of those who died were from the US or Canada. Half of these brave airmen, have no known grave. As Bomber Command, many nations fought together to free Europe and ultimately the world from the Nazi threat. In doing so they endured losses greater than those of any other service, and yet, they are currently the only WWII servicemen to have not been publicly honoured in Britain. The planned Memorial will change this forever.
This Summer, August 31st, Robin Gibb will give his first solo concert in The Netherlands. The event will take place at the Heineken Hall in Amsterdam and ticket sales for the general public start this Friday April 16, 10am local time. Click here for ticket details. Bee Gees fans get first grabs at tickets as a special presales link will be activated for 24hours starting tomorrow, Wednesday April 14 at 5pm local time. Click here for the presales link and details. This will be the first opportunity for fans in the Benelux to see Robin live so make sure not to miss!
Don't miss tonight's broadcast of Tommy Gottschalk's big 60th birthday show "My Swinging Sixties" which airs on the German ZDF channel at 20:15 CET. Robin Gibb makes an appearance in this show which was taped in Munich April 1st. Robin gave a great interview and sang "Massachusetts" for Thomas. If you can't watch on TV, go to the show's micro site this evening for a live stream, photos, and more. Make sure too to check our own site's media gallery next week for some more images. Enjoy!
Robin's fourth German festival date has now been announced by promoters. Robin and his band will perform live at the Schlossplatz in Bavaria, Germany, on August 29th. Tickets go on sale this Friday, but fans get first grabs and can buy tickets now through a pre-order link (online only, do not call ticket hotline!). Click here for details and a link.
Robin and Barry Gibb are in New York where they have just inducted Swedish pop quartet Abba into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, at a ceremony staged from the Waldorf Astoria. Click here to read the Gibb brothers' speech for the occasion. Later during the day we will post some photos of the event, so make sure to check back.
On Tuesday evening, Jimmy Fallon (of "Saturday Night Live" fame) will welcome Robin and Barry Gibb on his "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" talk show for an interview! The show starts on NBC at 12:30 am. Enjoy!
Robin Gibb and his band will play a few festivals in Germany this Summer. Confirmed so far are a free admission show in Mainz on August 7, and shows in Leipzig and Dresden on August 27 and 28 respectively. The ticket sales for the latter two start officially tomorrow at 9am, but, the promoter in Germany has just activated the buy links already for Robin's fans. The details can be be found in our Appearances section, so head over there now and be the first to book your ticket!! Next week, we hope to have another confirmation and presales link for you, so make sure to check back!