Remembering Andy Gibb (1958-88)

36 years ago today, Andy Gibb (the youngest brother of the Bee Gees) died five days after his 30th birthday, reportedly from myocarditis. Gibb suffered heart trouble after years of alcohol and cocaine addictions. He was one of the teen-heart throbs of the 70s, sending many hearts of girls (and gay boys - including me) fluttering.

Gibb shot to fame in 1978, when he released his second studio album "Shadow Dancing" which spun off three hit singles. The title track stayed at #1 for seven weeks in the US during the summer of 1978. His second album, "After Dark" released three more hit singles, including the top 10 single "I Can't Help It", with Olivia Newton-John, which led to him being chosen to co-star with ONJ in the upcoming musical "Xanadu". However, Gibb - who was deep into his addictions at the time - missed pre-production work and rehearsals at the time, which led to him being fired from the project (he was replaced by actor Michael Beck, who ended up not singing in the movie). By 1982, he was picked to cohost the syndicated music show 'Solid Gold' with Marilyn McCoo, but was fired half-way through the season due to his constant absences due to his cocaine binges.

Gibb's career cooled after that, as he was in and out of rehab trying to beat his addiction. He became involved with 'Dallas' actress Victoria Principal, who broke off their engagement in early 1988 - something Gibb said he would never get over, and caused him depression. However, he seemed to have beaten his addictions by February, 1988. Two days after his 30th birthday, he started getting chest pains and went to the hospital in Oxford. On MArch 10, doctors informed him that they would need more tests on him to determine the cause of his chest pains - within hours, they found him slumped over in his bed, dead from myocarditis. Most reports that day said he died of a drug overdose. Gibb left behind his siblings, parents, and a 10 year old daughter from his first wife.