Remembering Robin Gibb: Bee Gees Legacy and 1979 Capital Centre Performance

December 1, 2023May 20, 2012 by ghostsofdc

The Bee Gees performing at the Capital Centre in 1979 (Washington Post)

In the late 70s, the Bee Gees were on top of the world, owning the music industry. The Washington Post wrote an article about the group coming to Washington for a performance in 1979. They played the Capital Centre on Sunday, September 23rd.

Some singers have a falsetto pitch that can break glass. Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees has a falsetto pitch that sets off female screams. Every time he hit that pitch at the Capital Centre last night, squeals split the air.

One of the screamers was 18-year-old Alice Severe of Baltimore. “I just can’t help it,” she said in a hoarse voice. “It just comes out. I want them to know I’m their fan. Nothing can top them–not the Beatles, not nobody.” She broke off to leap with a fist in air at the opening of “Can’t See Nobody.”

The Bee Gees came to the Capital Centre last night for a two-night stand, the 31st stop of a 38-city tour. The long trek, which began June 28, ends Oct. 6 in the groups adopted home town of Miami.

The tour caps two of the most triumphant years in pop music. The Bee Gees’ soundtrack for “Saturday Night Fever,” released in late 1977, rewrote the section on album sales in the Guinness Book of World Records. The three native Australian brothers followed that up with this year’s No. 1 Album, “Spirits Having Flown,” and with the current tour of sold-out arenas.

Only one of the three Bee Gees remains — Barry.

R.I.P. Robin Gibb (1949-2012).