<P> Born on the Isle of Man to English parents, the Gibb brothers lived in Chorlton, Manchester, England, until the late 1950s . There, in 1955, they formed the Rattlesnakes . The family then moved to Redcliffe, in Queensland, Australia, and then to Cribb Island . After achieving their first chart success in Australia as the Bee Gees with "Spicks and Specks" (their 12th single), they returned to the UK in January 1967, when producer Robert Stigwood began promoting them to a worldwide audience . </P> <P> The Bee Gees have sold more than 220 million records worldwide, making them one of the world's best - selling artists of all time . They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997; the presenter of the award to "Britain's first family of harmony" was Brian Wilson, historical leader of The Beach Boys, another "family act" featuring three harmonising brothers . The Bee Gees' Hall of Fame citation says, "Only Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Garth Brooks and Paul McCartney have outsold the Bee Gees ." </P> <P> Following Maurice's death in January 2003, at the age of 53, Barry and Robin retired the group's name after 45 years of activity . In 2009, Robin announced that he and Barry had agreed the Bee Gees would re-form and perform again . Robin died in May 2012, aged 62, after a prolonged struggle with cancer and other health problems, leaving Barry as the only surviving member of the group's final line - up . </P> <P> In 1955, the brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb moved back to their father Hugh Gibb's hometown of Chorlton - cum - Hardy, Manchester, England, and formed a skiffle / rock - and - roll group, the Rattlesnakes, which consisted of Barry on guitar and vocals, Robin and Maurice on vocals, and friends Paul Frost on drums and Kenny Horrocks on tea - chest bass . In December 1957, the boys began to sing in harmony . The story is told that they were going to lip sync to a record in the local Gaumont cinema (as other children had done on previous weeks), but as they were running to the theatre, the fragile shellac 78 - RPM record broke . The brothers had to sing live and received such a positive response from the audience that they decided to pursue a singing career . In May 1958, the Rattlesnakes were disbanded when Frost and Horrocks left, so the Gibb brothers then formed Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats, with Barry as Johnny Hayes . </P>

Are there any members of the bee gees still alive