Introduction
Bee Gees Star Sir Barry Gibb Reveals He Struggled to Get to His Feet After Being Knighted
Music legend Sir Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of the iconic Bee Gees, recently opened up about an unexpectedly emotional and humbling moment: struggling to get to his feet after being knighted by Prince Charles (now King Charles III) at Buckingham Palace in 2018. The ceremony, a crowning achievement in Gibb’s decades-long career, was far more than a formality—it was, as he now reveals, one of the most overwhelming moments of his life.
Best known for his falsetto voice and for co-founding one of the best-selling music groups of all time, Barry Gibb was knighted for his services to music and charity. But during a recent interview with ITV News, the 77-year-old singer shared a deeply personal reflection about that day—one that left fans touched and reminded the world of the human side of a global superstar.
“I couldn’t get up,” Gibb said with a humble smile. “Not because I was weak, but because the moment was so full of meaning. I was thinking of my brothers. I was thinking of Mum and Dad. I was overwhelmed.”
Barry Gibb lost his younger brothers—Maurice in 2003, Robin in 2012, and Andy in 1988—all before reaching the age of 65. Though the Bee Gees were world-famous for their tight harmonies, global hits like “Stayin’ Alive”, “How Deep Is Your Love”, and “Night Fever”, they were first and foremost a family. For Barry, standing alone to accept such a high honor was not just a moment of pride—it was also a reminder of those who weren’t there to share it.
“There was a part of me that didn’t feel I deserved it alone,” he said softly. “Everything we did, we did together.”
Despite the bittersweet emotion, Gibb has embraced the knighthood as a symbol of not only his personal achievements but of the Bee Gees’ enduring legacy. He proudly goes by “Sir Barry,” though he remains grounded and deeply reflective about his journey. “We were just kids from Manchester who loved music,” he said. “We never imagined it would lead to this.”
Health challenges have also played a role in Barry’s perspective on that day. Now in his late seventies, Gibb has become more candid about aging, grief, and how it feels to carry on the legacy alone. Yet, he remains active in music, recently releasing a solo album (Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook, Vol. 1) in 2021 that reimagines Bee Gees classics with a country twist.
For fans around the world, the image of Barry Gibb kneeling before royalty, struggling to rise, is a powerful metaphor—not of weakness, but of the emotional weight carried by a man who has given the world so much. In that moment, the spotlight wasn’t just on a knighted musician. It was on a brother, a survivor, and an artist whose journey has been as heartbreaking as it has been historic.
Sir Barry Gibb’s story is a testament to love, loss, and the enduring power of music. And for many, his knighthood was not just a royal honor—but a tribute to the entire Gibb family.