Barry Gibb: I had to speak out about child abuse to help others
He has recently spoken for the first time about an incident that happened when he was aged just four.
Bee Gees star Barry Gibb has said it was important for him to speak out about the abuse he suffered as a child because other young people have experienced the same thing.
The singer revealed earlier this month that a man tried to molest him when he was four.
Arriving at the O2 Silver Clef Awards, hosted by musical therapy charity Nordoff Robbins, he said: “I was in the middle of an interview and I was talking about the Isle Of Man and really early childhood and it just came out, it was something I had never told anybody and it wouldn’t be appropriate to continue that any longer.
He recently told the Radio Times: “There was a moment in time when a man tried to molest me when I was about four years old. He didn’t touch me, but other things happened, and happened to other kids.
“And eventually they came and arrested him, and they woke me up during the night. Four years old and a policeman on your bed at four in the morning, interviewing you.
Arriving at the ceremony on Friday, where Dame Shirley Bassey will be presented with the O2 Silver Clef Award and Phil Collins will receive the Icon Award, he added: “I think it’s important to say so, I think it’s important to say ‘this did happen’ because there are a lot of people out there like that and they get away with it.
“I wasn’t going to tell anybody but it just sort of came out and that was it.”
Gibb performed in the legends slot at Glastonbury on Sunday, where he said he felt the spirit of his late brothers.
“I always get that sense and especially when it’s something we used to sing together and I feel we were always around one microphone and who could get the closest and who could get the attention. Great memories.
“What I felt was my brothers would have loved this, it would have been the cherry on the cake for them too. It was a wonderful experience.”
After he came off stage following his rapturous reception, he said he needed some time alone.
“It was such an amazing band and I have a band that don’t argue, it’s a very enjoyable experience and we just wanted to be as good as we can be.”
