The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees

© the artist. Image credit: Patricia Tutt / Art UK

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Notes

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The work shows Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb and consists of three separate figures standing on a record (a circle of granite) inscribed with the lyrics of Ellan Vannin, the ‘alternative’ Manx National Anthem, which the Bee Gees recorded for Manx charities. The sculpture was inspired by the video for ‘Stayin’ Alive,’ and purports to show them swaggering back into Douglas from across the sea. The brothers were born on the Isle of Man. Maurice wears cowboy boots; Robin has a Capricorn birth sign medallion and Barry has a tiny map of the Isle of Man on his necklace.
Title

The Bee Gees

Date

2021

Medium

bronze

Measurements

H 220 x W 250 x D 250 cm (E)

Accession number

IM5_PT_S064

Acquisition method

commissioned by Douglas Borough Council

Work type

Statue

Owner

Douglas Borough Council

Custodian

Douglas Borough Council

Work status

extant

Unveiling date

8th July 2021

Access

at all times

Inscription description

at feet of figures, between the triskelion and the arms of Douglas City Council: Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb CBE / Robin Hugh Gibb CBE / Maurice Ernest Gibb CBE / known as / THE BEE GEES / were born here on the Isle of Man / they have written, produced and performed over / 1000 songs all over the world and stand amongst the most successful artists of all time / The Bee Gees recorded a version of Ellan Vannin, the unofficial anthem of the Island / For Isle of Man charities in 1997. The song was released as a single and included / In their world tour as a show of pride in the land of their birth; at heels of figures on left: Ellan Vannin was originally written as a poem / by Eliza Craven Green in 1854 but it is known widely / today for its rendition in song published in 1896. / The Manx translation here is by John Nelson in 1900; centre: When the summer day is over, / and Its busy cares have flown, / I sit beneath the starlight, / With a weary heart alone. / Then rises like a vision / Sparkling bright in nature’s glee / My own dear Ellan Vannin / With its green hills by the sea. / Then I hear the wavelets murmur / As they kiss the fairy shore; / Then beneath the em’rald waters / Sings the mermaid as of yore; / And the fair Isle shines with beauty / As in youth it dawn’d on me, / My own dear Ellan Vannin / With its green hills by the sea. / Then mem’ries sweet and tender / Come like music’s plaintive flow, / Of the hearts in Ellan Vannin / That lov’d me long ago; / And I give, with tears and blessings / My fondest thoughts to thee, / My own dear Ellan Vannin / With its green hills by the sea; on the right: Tra ta'n laa gial souree harrish / As e chiarailyn tarroogh çhea voym, / Ta mee soie fo ny rollageyn / Lesh cree deinagh orrym pene: / Eisht ta girree roym myr ashlish / Loandyr gial ta’n ellan veen, / My heer deyr shenn Ellan Vannin, / Lesh e chroink glass rish y cheayn. / Ta mee clashtyn tharmane tonnyn / Myr ta’d nish paagey yn traie; / As heese dowin fo’n ushtey geayney / Kiaulleeagh foast ta’n ven-varrey, / As ta’n Ellan soilshean aalin / Myr ve ayns my aegid hene, / My heer deyr shenn Ellan Vannin / Lesh e chroink glass rish y cheayn. / Nish ta smooinaght millish meiyghagh / Çheet myr kiaulleeaght gys my chree / , Jeh ny cree’ghyn va ayns Mannin, / Foddey roie hug graih da mee; / Ta mee coyrt lesh jeir as bannaght, / Nish my smooinaght share dhyt hene, / My heer deyr shenn Ellan Vannin / Lesh e chroink glass rish y cheayn.

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Located at

Loch Promenade, Douglas

IM1 2LZ

Located between Marine Gardens numbers 1 and 2, facing Regent Street.