Robin Gibb Revisits 'Saturday Night Fever' 30 Years On

Posted on Jun 6th 2007 1:00PM by Steve Baltin
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Yes, this is the 40th anniversary of both 'Sgt. Pepper' and the Summer of Love, but for music fans who grew up in the '70s or refuse to buy into the late-'70s rock propaganda of "disco sucks," 2007 also marks another milestone anniversary. It was 30 years ago that John Travolta donned a white suit, strutted through the streets of Brooklyn and created a cultural revolution that lasted into the next decade.

The soundtrack to that revolution was, of course, the 'Saturday Night Fever' album, like the film a monster hit in its own right, propelled largely by a slew of hits by the Bee Gees. The architects of such smashes as 'Stayin' Alive,' 'How Deep Is Your Love,' 'Night Fever' and 'Jive Talkin',' the Brothers Gibb became synonymous with disco. Three decades later, Robin Gibb says the trio, who were at the time already well-established as both songwriters and recording artists in their own right, weren't necessarily looking the claim the title of Kings of Disco.

"We certainly didn't plan it, and we hadn't written especially for the film," Gibb recalls to Spinner. "It wasn't a musical so much the same way 'Grease' was, where people actually sang songs. And as I say, the songs were already written." So what happened? "I think the secret was the ingredients of film and music together. It was the magic of the film and the song," he adds.

Gibb says that while he and brother Barry (Maurice passed away in 2003) don't personally have plans to celebrate the anniversary, the event will be commemorated by many of the principals involved. "Paramount, Travolta, Warner Bros. have got huge plans this year for the 30th anniversary," he says. "We will be involved in special things as they request."