Love, Romance and Andy Gibb
Youngest Gibb
He's been linked with Olivia Newton-John, Marie Osmond, Susan George and even an ice-skating champ... and still the youngest Gibb keeps hearts a-flutter.
From the moment they sang a love duet to each other, world gossips have tried to ignite an Olivia Newton-John - Andy Gibb romance.
The song, “I Can’t Help It”, was top 10 in America earlier this year, but the romance has failed to even reach first base.
“Any guy would love to have her.” admits Andy “I’d like the rumors to be true, but it takes two to tango”.
Still, who can complain when at just 23 years of age you are adored by millions, wealthy enough to own your own 58-foot yacht and successful enough to release a greatest hits album?
Perhaps Andy can. Since the divorce from his Australian wife, Kirn Reeder, in 1978 the Bee Gees baby brother has been reluctantly footloose.
He admits he would like to try marriage again, but is now “just friends” with former dates, Marie Osmond and actress Susan George.
“Marie was very, very appealing.” Andy says. “But the religion thing wouldn’t work” (She is a strict Mormon, the Gibbs are Anglican.)
Marriage prospects heightened recently when he met ice-skating champion Tai Babilonia during the taping of a Bob Hope TV special.
“It was one of those magical moments.” says an observer. “Andy just couldn’t keep his eyes off her and it was clear she felt the same about him.”
The romance blossomed for a couple of months. then cooled as Tal gradually backed off. Friends say she felt Andy. with one broken marriage behind him, was not ready for a second.
There are always willing fans, but Andy admits, “They chase me and I tend to back off. But I’m looking for the right one, the one who doesn’t care if I’m Andy Gibb or not.”
Meanwhile, Andy is busy reviving his career, which after an explosive start has gone through a lean patch in the past 18 months.
At 18 he moved from Australia to join his three famous brothers in America. His dream of becoming a fourth Bee Gee soon subsided when his first single, “I Just Want To Be Your Everything” topped the American charts.
His next two releases did the same. and Andy has yet to release a single which has not made the American top 10.
But his last album, After Dark, took ages to record and his popularity lost momentum by the time it came out.
Andy says the delay in recording After Dark came because his older brother Barry was not available to help him in the studio.
The album sold only moderately, and Andy did not tour to promote it. His last concerts were more than two years ago.
“It was too long to be away,” he concedes.
Now he is back promoting his Greatest Hits package and a new single written with brother Barry “Time Is Tune”.
He has been doing the rounds of America’s TV talk and variety shows and pop music programs such as Solid Gold hosted by Dionne Warwick.
His next career move is likely to be to movies.
Despite reports that Paramount Pictures had dropped plans to film a sequel to “Grease”, Andy’s manager, Robert Stigwood, is still keen on the idea.
Robin Johnson, the 16-year-old female star of Stigwood’s most recent movie, “Times Square”, has met Andy as a prelude to them starring in the Grease sequel.
Stigwood’s attempt to move Andy’s bigger brothers into movies (Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band) bombed, and Andy admits he is “putting my life into my hands”.
He has had counsel from such friends as actors Robert Redford and Martin Sheen and has been taking acting lessons.
“I’m scared to death, but movies are what I want to do”. Andy says.
LEFT: Mixing with girls is a favourite pastime with Andy Gibb. Here he’s pictured with Susan George and Olivia Newton-John.