Barry Gibb at the LG Arena, Birmingham

Barry Gibb wiped a tear from his eye as he stood centre stage at the LG Arena, completely overcome by the long, thunderous ovation which refused to die down. He was back on stage for the first time without his brothers and the Birmingham crowd made it perfectly clear that they were delighted to see him.

A decade after the death of brother Maurice and little over a year after the passing of brother Robin, Gibb was on the road with his Mythology tour – a celebration of some of the greatest songs ever written – and boy were the fans ready to party.

A film of the Bee Gees at their wacky best ran into Technicolour Dreams from the trio’s last album, 2001’s This Is Where I Came In, before the main man walked onstage and launched into the 1975 classic Jive Talkin’ and the roof came off… The touch-paper was lit and there was no going back… Everyone knew this was going to be one hell of a special night…

Back we went to 1970 for the Bee Gees’ first Top Three US hit Lonely Days before the unmistakable pounding beat of You Should Be Dancing took us back to 1976 and the camp heaven of Saturday Night Fever… Three songs in and the place was bouncing…

First of May, introduced as manager Robert Stigwood’s favourite, came next before Maurice’s daughter Sam Gibb joined her Uncle Barry onstage for 1971’s How Can You Mend A Broken Heart. With such an amazing body of work, you are only ever one song away from a classic and back we went to 1977 with the beautiful How Deep Is Your Love.

The Mythology tour is very much a family affair and it was time for son Stephen to take centre stage with 1970’s On Time before joining dad Barry on 1968 chart topper I’ve Gotta Get A Message to You.

All was going superbly well until Gibb sat on a stool to perform Morning of My Life (In The Morning) and his mic started to slowly droop down… Cue joke about his age and a quick repair by a roadie and we were off again and into the 60’s classic New York Mining Disaster 1941 followed by 1972’s Run To Me, the last chart success before a three year period when The Bee Gees couldn’t buy a hit.

With a back catalogue including so many classics, it was good to hear a few of the less well-known and early songs like With The Sun in My Eyes and Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show before the breakthrough hit Spicks and Specks from 1966 which finally established the brothers Gibb in their adopted home of Australia after three years of trying.

In an evening like this there was bound to be sentimentality with constant references to Mo, Robin and younger brother Andy who died in 1988. But one of the highlights of the superb night came on Robin’s 1968 hit I Started a Joke which began with Barry singing the first verse before the giant video screens revealed Robin who finished the classic song to deafening applause. A touching tribute…

Back onstage came Sam Gibb for her version of the Diana Ross No.1 Chain Reaction and to open up the huge treasure chest of world-wide smash hit songs penned by the Gibb brothers. Kenny and Dolly’s karaoke-classic Islands in the Stream was followed by Guilty which relaunched the career of diva Barbara Streisand and Barry was joined onstage by backing singer Beth Cohen who not only had a stunning voice but looked very much like a young Streisand as she sang lead on Woman in Love.

So many hits, so many memories and still the disco stompers to come as it was back to 1978 and Too Much Heaven from a time when The Bee Gees were arguably the biggest band in the universe. Stephen Gibb returned for Fight  before the already brilliant show went into an even higher stratosphere.

The unmistakable opening bars of Stayin’ Alive transported everyone back to an era of tight trousers and medallions when disco was king and Saturday Night Fever packed dancefloors all over the world. The LG Arena was rocking with thousands of people eager to show they could still bust some moves. And boy did they go for it… If I Can’t Have You kept the party going before Night Fever cranked the pace up even higher and More Than A Woman took us to an even higher level.

The magnificent night ended with 1998’s Immortality, the last big hit written by all three brothers for Celine Dion and definitely one of their best.

The standing ovation made it clear that the thousands packed into the LG Arena were not ready to go home so back came Gibb and his band to thunderous applause which once again took him by surprise and brought a tear to his eye. The Brummies appreciate great music and a good time and are more than happy to show their appreciation to those who put on a great performance.

Ordinary Lives from 1989 was followed by 1968 classic Words dedicated to wife Linda and then Gibb was gone, leaving delirious fans singing and dancing their way into the Birmingham night.

For so many years The Bee Gees were mocked for their white teeth, tight trousers and uncool image but the Gibb hit factory just kept on turning out classic tune and after No.1 worldwide chart-topper. With so many hits to choose from this night was a guaranteed winner but even so huge credit must go to Barry Gibb and his band for putting together such a stunning performance…He did his brothers proud and ensured their musical legacy lives on.

I do hope this is not the last time he plays live but just in case, make sure you see one of the remaining shows on the Mythology tour. You will have the time of your life…

Star rating *****