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The Rattlesnakes (1950s band)

The Rattlesnakes
The Rattlesnakes in Manchester, early 1958, from left to right: Paul Frost, Kenny Horrocks, Maurice, Barry and Robin Gibb.
The Rattlesnakes in Manchester, early 1958, from left to right: Paul Frost, Kenny Horrocks, Maurice, Barry and Robin Gibb.
Background information
Also known asWee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats[1]
OriginManchester, Lancashire, England
GenresSkiffle, rock and roll, doo-wop, roots rock
Years active1955[2]–58
Past membersBarry Gibb
Robin Gibb
Maurice Gibb
Paul Frost
Kenny Horrocks

The Rattlesnakes were a British skiffle/rock and roll group, formed by Barry Gibb in Manchester in 1955,[3][4] which eventually evolved into the Bee Gees in 1958. They were one of the many skiffle bands that were formed in the United Kingdom in the 1950s since the revival of the American skiffle in the UK that was originally started in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.[5]

Barry started a skiffle group which his younger brothers Robin and Maurice Gibb also joined as vocalists, after they returned to their parents' hometown in Manchester, England, in 1955. Their friends/neighbours, Paul Frost (drums) and Kenny Horrocks (tea-chest bass) later joined. Their debut performance in public happened in December 1957 in Gaumont Cinema, performing the Everly Brothers' "Wake Up Little Susie".[6] Some of their influences at that time were Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Tommy Steele, Buddy Holly and Paul Anka.

On 12 January 2003, Maurice died unexpectedly at the age of 53 of a cardiac arrest, while waiting to undergo surgery for a twisted intestine.[7] On 20 May 2012, Robin died at the age of 62 from liver and kidney failure, following a battle with cancer.[8][9] On 17 November 2012, Frost died in England of cancer at the age of 64.[10]

  1. ^ Patricia Romanowski Bashe; Patricia Romanowski; Holly George-Warren; Jon Pareles Fireside (1995). The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll. Fireside. Retrieved 31 March 2015. barry gibb the rattlesnakes 1955.
  2. ^ Teenager, Volume 10. 1979. p. 43. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ^ Talevski, Nick (1998). The Unofficial Encyclopedia of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780313300325. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. ^ Dafydd Rees; Luke Crampton (1999). Rock Stars Encyclopedia. DK Pub. Retrieved 31 March 2015. barry gibb the rattlesnakes 1955.
  5. ^ M. Brocken, The British folk revival, 1944–2002 (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2003), pp. 69–80.
  6. ^ Adriaensen, Marion. "History Part 2 - The story about the Bee Gees: 1950-1960". brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  7. ^ CandiottI, Susan (16 January 2003). "Gibb autopsy cites twisted intestine". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  8. ^ "Bee Gees' singer Robin Gibb dies after cancer battle". BBC News. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Gibb died from kidney, liver failure". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Bee Gees website Gibb Service International, Bee Gees News". Brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 4 September 2020.

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