Introduction:
Maurice Gibb rose to international fame as a pop icon alongside his brothers, Barry and Robin Gibb, when they formed the legendary group, the Bee Gees.
Together, the trio dominated the music charts with timeless hits like “How Deep Is Your Love,” “Tragedy,” and “Night Fever.” Beyond his work with the Bee Gees, Maurice showcased his songwriting talent by creating music for renowned artists, including Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton.
Outside of his musical career, Maurice’s personal life also drew public attention, particularly his high-profile marriage to singer Lulu, which ultimately came to an end after four years.
The couple first crossed paths backstage at Top of the Pops in 1969, when Lulu was just 20 and Maurice was 19.
Their connection was instant, and the young stars quickly fell in love, marrying later that same year. The wedding took place only weeks before Lulu’s memorable performance at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Reflecting on their early romance, Lulu once shared: “I thought Maurice was adorable, so I said, ‘In that case, tell him to stop talking about me and take me out.’
“And he did exactly that. I never expected much to come of it, but somehow, our relationship began to grow—albeit in its own complicated way. ‘Going steady’ would never have been the right term for what we had. Perhaps ‘going unsteady’ better captures the way we constantly drifted in and out of love.”
Despite some disapproval of their whirlwind romance — including concerns from Maurice’s brother, Barry — the young couple went ahead with their wedding, exchanging vows in Gerrards Cross, a picturesque town in Buckinghamshire, England.
Their honeymoon plans in Mexico were put on hold as Lulu prepared for her upcoming Eurovision performance.
Sadly, their fairytale beginning didn’t last. At the time, Maurice was reportedly struggling with alcoholism, which placed immense strain on their relationship.
Reflecting on their marriage years later during an appearance on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, Lulu admitted: “We thought we were the king and queen of the world, living this fabulous life. The drinking was certainly part of the problem, but truthfully, we should never have gotten married. We should have simply enjoyed a romance instead.”
“I knew it had to end,” Lulu later confessed. “He didn’t want it to, and it broke his heart. I absolutely loved and adored him, but was I truly in love with him? Looking back, I think I was probably just in love with the idea of being in love.”
The couple officially divorced in 1974, parting ways to begin new chapters in their lives.
Lulu later found love again, marrying celebrity hairstylist John Frieda in 1977. That same year, they welcomed their son, Jordan. After 14 years of marriage, the pair separated in 1991, with Jordan moving to the United States to live with his father.
Maurice, meanwhile, remarried in 1975, tying the knot with Yvonne Spenceley Gibb on October 17. The couple built a family together, welcoming their son, Adam, on February 23, 1976, and their daughter, Samantha, on July 2, 1980. They remained devoted to each other until Maurice’s untimely passing in 2003 at the age of 53, due to complications from a twisted intestine.