More than four decades after they defined the disco era, the Bee Gees — known for their glittering melodies, falsetto harmonies, and unstoppable hits like “Stayin’ Alive” — are once again in the spotlight. But this time, it’s not because of their music. It’s because of what was happening behind it.
Earlier this month, a long-lost reel of studio audio from the mid-1970s was found in an unmarked box labeled simply “Interview Criteria – Pt. 2”. The tapes were discovered in a Miami archive that once housed backup sessions from the famed Criteria Studios, where the Bee Gees recorded much of their iconic Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
What was on the tape has stunned even their most dedicated fans.
The audio includes raw, unfiltered arguments between brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb — emotional exchanges over creative control, vocal leads, and mounting fame. In one moment, Robin can be heard saying:
“I don’t want to sing what I don’t feel. I’m not just a voice — I’m a soul, too.”
There are also quiet, heartbreaking passages: Maurice speaking about loneliness despite worldwide adoration, Barry confessing exhaustion and isolation, and Robin confronting the fear of becoming irrelevant.
But most surprising is a whispered admission — believed to be Barry’s — about a mental health spiral during the peak of their fame:
“It was all glitter on the outside. But inside… I was falling apart.”
Though none of this changes their musical brilliance, it adds new layers of humanity to a group often seen as flawless showmen.
Music historians believe this discovery may shift how future generations view the Bee Gees — not just as hitmakers, but as artists who carried real emotional burdens behind the scenes.
“This is the Bee Gees unmasked,” one music archivist said.
“The pain behind the falsetto.”
The family has not yet issued an official statement, but sources close to the surviving members say they are “grateful” the recordings are being shared “with care, not sensationalism.”