The Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb to feature on Isle of Man stamps
Gibb said he was honoured to be chosen to appear on seven stamps
Barry Gibb will be celebrated on a new set of stamps available in the Isle of Man.
Gibb was born on the island in 1946 before moving to Manchester in 1955. Along with his late brothers Robin and Maurice, he sold more than 200 million albums worldwide as The Bee Gees.
According to The Guardian, the seven stamps show Gibb at various stages of his career between 1969 and 2019. One stamp shows him on the set of the 1978 film ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, while another shows him performing on stage at Glastonbury Festival 2017.
The legendary musician said in a statement that he was “very proud” of his childhood roots in the Isle of Man. “I was born and bred on the ancient, mystical, magical Isle of Man, and I have very fond memories of growing up there, so to appear on a set of its stamps is not only a wonderful surprise, but also an honour and a privilege,” he said.
President of Tynwald, Laurence Skelly, said that the Bee Gees were “arguably the most famous Manx export”.
“Throughout their careers they have all been outstanding ambassadors of the Isle of Man and so proud of their birthplace and I believe this issue and commemoration is fitting for the last surviving brother, Sir Barry Gibb,” he said.
Proceeds from stamps, at Gibbs’ request, will go to Nordoff Robbins. The charity uses music to enrich the lives of people with life-limiting illness, disabilities or feelings of isolation.
You can order the stamps here.
The news follows a statue of The Bee Gees being unveiled on the Isle of Man in July.
Meanwhile, a new biopic about the pop group is in the works by ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ producer Graham King.
Deadline reported earlier this year that King has linked up with Paramount Pictures and production company Sister to create the biopic. The Hollywood Reporter added that Anthony McCarten, who worked with King on ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, will write the film’s screenplay.
The film has not yet been written or cast, however, Paramount has reportedly bought the rights to the Bee Gees songs from the Gibb Estate on behalf of King.
It mean that the filmmakers will be able to use songs from the band’s back catalogue, which spans five decades, in the upcoming biopic.