The Bee Gees had to deal with the news of their younger brother Andy Gibb’s passing on March 10, 1988. His age was only thirty.

The youngest member of the Gibbs family, a music phenomenon in his own right, has a history of substance misuse and addiction.

Even yet, his career was mostly hampered by his issues, as his personal funds and confidence dried up along with the hits.

Unfortunately, he was unable to break his habit and started drinking heavily just days before he passed away. He said to his mother Barbara that “I might as well be dead” and acted erratically and unpredictable most of the time.

He was admitted to the hospital for the night due to chest symptoms, but he tragically passed away after collapsing into unconsciousness while speaking with the physician. His heart gave out.

Robin Gibb, who was also in the UK at the time, had to inform his Miami-based brothers Barry and Maurice of the news.

“That has to be the saddest, most desperate moment of my life,” Robin recalled afterwards.

Devastated, the Bee Gees would write a sorrowful song called ‘Wish You Were Here’ to honor their late brother.

Following almost ten years in the doldrums, the Bee Gees were once again riding high and finding chart success when the tragedy occurred.

While the Gibb brothers were creating their next album, One, which would be released in 1989, “You Win Again” made a comeback to the top of the charts in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

According to Maurice, the goal of that record was to fulfill their younger brother’s lifelong dream of becoming the fourth Bee Gee by bringing Andy into the group.

Unfortunately, it was not to be. According to Robin, Andy “had developed a fear of life, almost driving himself to oblivion”

The Bee Gees were so distraught about the death of their brother that they had no choice but to return to the studio.

“The week after, we thought maybe if we get back to work we can get re-centred,” Maurice said.

“It was really lovely when I played the strings [on keyboards].” Robin and Barry both burst into tears, and I did too. I said ‘I can’t play anymore’. We returned home.

The brothers were successful in their first attempts at writing together; they contributed “Shape Of Things To Come” to the 1988 Summer Olympics album.

With their late brother Andy at the forefront of their thoughts, they wrote ‘Wish You Were Here’, which immediately sparked an emotional outburst.

The song depicts a person attempting to live through their memories in order to deal with a significant loss. Barry, Robin, and Maurice were obviously in a lot of pain.

Barry’s beautiful and melancholic singing of “A summer song keeps playing in my brain / And so I awake in somebody else’s dreams”

“I wish you were here” is a recurrent theme that effectively highlights the void they all experienced in their lives without Andy.

Barry, the oldest brother, remained stoic about the terrible loss of Andy away from the Bee Gees, stating: “They say it causes soul growth when you lose somebody.”

“Previously, you didn’t give much thought to life’s spiritual aspects. After that, you begin to view everything in that way.

The Bee Gees, who were known for their workaholic tendencies, took a six-month hiatus to regroup and process their loss.

The band stepped off the gas after that and put their bond as brothers above their relationship as bandmates.

“In many ways, I think we’ve all refused to accept he’s gone for good,” Maurice said after a few years.

“The rest of the family has undoubtedly become closer since his passing. We are united in our devastation.”