Olivia Newton-John reflected on her late friend Andy Gibb in the latter months of her life.
The Bee Gees’ younger brother and pop singer, who rose to stardom as a teenage hero, died five days after his birthday in 1988 at the age of thirty. Groundbreaking Productions of Lisa Saltzman has now optioned a new book about him, “Arrow Through the Heart.” It looks at how Gibb became a well-known celebrity on his own and how his battles with cocaine addiction led to his untimely demise.
Newton-John was one of the many people who contributed their recollections of Gibb to the book. In the summer of 2021, novelist Matthew Hild and “Grease” star exchanged emails.
Olivia Newton-John wrote about her bond with Andy Gibb to author Matthew Hild. (Getty Images/Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection)
When asked how he would characterize the relationship between the two, Hild told Fox News Digital, “This is kind of the million-dollar question.” The media speculated much about whether or not they were romantically involved. However, Olivia always maintained that Andy was one of her closest pals. Even when Andy was still alive, he would continue to express the same sentiment about her. Several people have speculated on whether they were more than just friends. However, no proof of that was discovered. They were also ten years apart in age. Those who knew them all referred to them as siblings.
Hild said, “They were on TV together for about four or five years.” When they interacted, they showed a lot of chemistry and looked fantastic together. However, she consistently emphasized that Andy was only a close friend whom she dearly respected.
Hild claims that before Gibb became well-known, Newton-John initially got to know him through his siblings in the early 1970s. They had comparable backgrounds and were involved in similar music circles in Australia. Although both Gibb and Newton-John were born in the United Kingdom, their upbringing in Australia brought them closer in age.
Newton-John soon came to be considered “a friend of the family,” Hild said. The title track of her 1976 album was a version of the Bee Gees song “Come on Over,” which she had recorded. In 1979, she recorded two duets, “I Can’t Help It” and “Rest Your Love on Me,” with the youngest Gibb. In the same year, she performed with Gibb and the Bee Gees at a televised concert to raise money for UNICEF.
Hild said, “When they first met, Andy was just a kid who spent a lot of time in the studio with his brothers.” However, they developed a genuine relationship once he reached 19 and 20. Olivia’s revelation in our letter that she considered Andy as talented as his siblings shocked me. He had a great deal of uncertainty and was concerned that he would be perceived as following in his brother’s footsteps. She did, however, think highly of him as an artist. She was adamant that Andy had the personality, voice, and attractive looks to become a star. Olivia expressed her belief that Andy had a lot of potential.
Even decades later, Hild said, “You could tell in those letters that she was incredibly proud of what he achieved.” “She was eager to see what he could have accomplished as an artist.”
Gibb of the Bee Gees and Olivia Newton-John in New York City, about 1979.
Hild said that Newton-John was “definitely aware” of Gibb’s battles with addiction, but she didn’t elaborate on her thoughts.
Hild remarked, “She felt very protective of Andy.” She was unwilling to discuss that. She also knew Victoria Principal, his ex-girlfriend, who recently paid tribute to Olivia on social media following her death. Olivia still harbored a deep affection for Andy, wishing to cherish their memories and friendship. “Andy was such a kind, sweet person,” she would constantly say. The tragedy was that he had so much potential and could have achieved so much more. And everyone I talked to had the same opinion: Olivia had a younger brother named Andy, whom she cherished.
Gibb fell deeply in love with Principal, an actress from “Dallas,” in 1981. However, rumors circulated about the turbulent nature of their fast-paced romance. Reports suggest that drugs played a significant role in their breakup.
In 1981, Victoria Principal and Andy Gibb posed in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images/Harry Langdon)
In 1985, Gibb entered the Betty Ford Center after his family persuaded him to seek treatment. Even after his recovery, Gibb was unable to resume his previously prosperous career.
In 1984, Newton-John married actor Matt Lattanzi, and a year later, she joyfully welcomed a daughter named Chloe into the world.
According to placeholder Hild, Newton-John last met Gibb in 1987 while she was in Miami, where Gibb lived. While at an event, they immediately hugged, delighting the paparazzi.
In 1988, Gibb was determined to begin his journey back. Barry Gibb even brought his younger brother to London so they could work together again. Gibb obtained a deal with Island Records and relocated to a carriage house on his brother Robin Gibb’s farm.
Hild asserts that Gibb’s complaints of stomach and chest issues led to three hospital admissions. The night of March 9, 1988, Gibb passed out on Robin’s property. Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, claimed his life the next morning. A pathologist did not discover any signs of alcohol or other drugs. A viral infection was the cause of his heart’s inflammation.
Barbara Gibb, his mother, once remarked, “Drugs had caused the damage in the first place, but they had nothing to do with it when he died.” Gibb’s cardiac condition, according to Hild, was “going on for years and was probably drug-related.”
Newton-John was pals with one of Gibb’s backup singers, who remembered sitting close to the singer during his burial.
Hild stated, “He told me how he sat next to Olivia and saw how shaken she was.” She was quite agitated. “This is so sad,” the singer once said to Olivia. She bit her lip and made every effort to contain her emotions. Towards the end of his life, Andy called all of his buddies and said, “Let’s collaborate.” He held great expectations for his return record. He would say, “I’m coming back,” to his buddies. I have no question that he and Olivia would have collaborated on another duet.
According to Hild, when Newton-John wrote his book, he had one thing in mind for his readers.
“She stressed in our letters what a wonderful friend Andy was,” Hild added. “She said exactly that. Olivia wished to preserve Andy’s memory in addition to paying tribute to him. She would never talk about his difficulties, no matter how awful they were. She firmly believed that his music and his extraordinary gift should be his legacy. And it’s simple to understand why they got along so well. Both were extraordinarily kind individuals who delighted in using their music to bring joy to others. It was evident that they were at ease with one another.
Newton-John described Gibb as “a dear friend of mine” in an interview with Fox News Digital back in 2019.
At the time, she remarked, “He was just a sweetheart.” What a kind and caring young man. His death was filled with such sorrow. We still feel his loss deeply today.
NewtonOn Monday, John died at her property in Southern California. She was seventy-three.
On social media, her husband John Easterling posted, “Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years, sharing her journey with breast cancer.” “During this extremely trying time, we kindly ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy.”
Her husband, sister Sarah Newton-John, brother Toby Newton-John, daughter Chloe Lattanzi, and several nieces and nephews survive her.