Forgotten Gibb: The Untold Story of the Sister Who Walked Away from Fame
Lesley Evans, the lesser-known sibling of the legendary Bee Gees, has long remained in the shadows—deliberately distant from the dazzling glow of stardom that so deeply defined her brothers. Now 67, Lesley lives in quiet seclusion in Australia’s picturesque Blue Mountains where she breeds Staffordshire bull terriers, far removed from the glamour and noise of celebrity. But behind her tranquil life is a story rich in memory, tinged with heartbreak, and filled with moments history forgot.
While only the most devoted fans know of her existence, Lesley was once a fleeting but unmistakable part of the cultural phenomenon that was the Bee Gees. In a rare and emotionally candid interview, she opens up about her unique place in the Gibb family, her decision to step away from music, and the enduring pain of having buried three of her younger brothers: Robin, Maurice, and Andy.
Lesley recalls the final conversation she had about Robin, whose battle with cancer ended in 2012. It was her only surviving brother, Barry Gibb, who delivered the heartbreaking news. “Just before he died, Barry rang and said to me, ‘You know he’s not gonna come through this, Les,’” she says. “Then he said, ‘It’s just us now, luv.’” That moment, as stark as it was simple, marked the closing of an era for the Gibb family.
Though she turned her back on the stage long ago, Lesley once had her moment in the spotlight—if only for a night. She stepped in for Robin during a sell-out show at London’s famed Talk of the Town in 1969. Robin, sidelined by a disagreement with his brothers, left a gap that only Lesley could fill. “I secretly became the fourth Bee Gee,” she reminisces. “I know Robin watched and told me he felt very choked up about it.”
Yet, it was never a life she wished to keep. While her brothers pursued global fame, Lesley chose a path of quiet fulfillment. She married Keith Evans, an Australian salesman, and together they raised seven children, cultivating a life rooted in family and devotion rather than celebrity.
Her memories of childhood are remarkably vivid, filled with music, laughter, and the kind of close-knit bond that only siblings can understand. One such memory stands out—the time she saved Robin’s life after he fell into a river on the Isle of Man. “I remember him floating along with his eyes staring up. I waded in waist-deep and grabbed him.” That act of courage became a defining moment in both their lives.
Despite the distance and the years gone by, Lesley held a deep affection for her brothers, especially Robin, whom she last saw in 2010 shortly after his emergency surgery. “He was full of life, bouncing off the walls,” she says, but she sensed something wasn’t right. Soon after, the family learned of his cancer diagnosis.
Now, with Robin gone, and Maurice and Andy lost years before—Maurice to complications from an undiagnosed twisted intestine at 53, and Andy to heart issues at only 30—their mother, Barbara, at 93 is left to grieve more than any parent should. “She asked me, ‘What have I done wrong to lose three sons so young?’” Lesley shares. “But she remains strong, still fighting fit.”
Though Robin’s funeral was held in England, Lesley chose to stay in Australia, tending to her ailing husband who recently suffered a stroke. “Barry and mum understand—it would be too much for me,” she explains. Still, her brother’s memory remains a vivid presence in her life. “He will live on in my heart forever.”
In the world spotlighted by stages, flashing cameras, and golden records, the story of Lesley Evans offers a poignant reminder: behind every icon is a family, and sometimes, the most moving stories are those quietly lived, far from fame’s blinding glow.