About the Song
In 1963, a young trio from Australia—Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, who would soon become known worldwide as the Bee Gees—performed a stirring rendition of Blowin’ in the Wind (written by Bob Dylan) on an Australian television show. While this version was never released as a formal studio single by the Bee Gees, the performance remains a fascinating glimpse into their early artistry and the influences that would shape their musical journey.
At that time, Barry was just seventeen and his younger brothers—twins Robin and Maurice—only around fourteen. Despite their youth, the three voices melded together with surprising maturity, delivering the folk-anthem’s questions of freedom, justice and humanity with earnestness. Their harmonies, youthful but keenly tuned, conveyed a sincerity that belied their age.
Musically, this early Bee Gees take is markedly different from the glossier pop and disco-era productions that would later define them. Here, stripped of excess, the voices carry the weight, supported by acoustic elements and a TV-studio immediacy. The choice to cover Blowin’ in the Wind speaks to their early awareness of songcraft beyond commercial hits—they engaged with a song that asked big questions, not just one that topped the charts.
For mature listeners, especially those acquainted with the later international success of the Bee Gees, this rendition offers a moment of reflection: the young men who would go on to sell millions clearly started with substance and craft. It’s a reminder that greatness often comes from roots in humility and genuine connection to song. In their youthful voices one hears both innocence and the seeds of the soaring harmonies to come.
While this version may not be part of the band’s mainstream catalog, its significance lies in witness: it records a moment when the Bee Gees were still in formation—leaning into influences, performing with raw sincerity, and building toward the bigger sound the world would know them for.