Staying Alive - For Andy
By Anna TinkerIt has been 15 years since Sydney-born Kim Gibb gave her superstar husband Andy Gibb an ultimatum- drugs or me.
The famous singer chose drugs, and it killed him.
Kim, a beautiful, blonde 35-year-old, who lives with her parents and teenage daughter in Sydney's north-western suburbs, still mourns her childhood sweetheart. Every year on March 10, the anniversary of his death, she sends roses to his Los Angeles grave, and in all the years that have passed she has never had a serious relationship with another man.
"I left Andy because he wouldn't stop taking drugs," Kim says sadly. "I didn't go back to him until he died."
For a short while after the couple split, Andy led the high life in Los Angeles, dating beauties like Marie Osmond, Olivia Newton-John and Dallas star Victoria Principal. His highly pubic romance with Victoria led many to believe they would marry.
Everyone, that is, except Kim. She was adamant he truly loved her and believed he would eventually return. But in March 1988 he died of a massive drug overdose, leaving her with a child, a broken heart and shattered dreams of what might have been.
Her health suffered, too. Kim believes it was the stress of watching Andy kill himself and grief at his untimely death that saw her end up fighting cancer in the intensive care unit of a Sydney hospital.
Today, Kim is the picture of glowing good health. With her blonde hair gently curling around her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkle with enthusiasm as she talks about her painful past, her bright future with the person who is the link between both, 15-year-old Peta.
Mother and daughter live with Kim's parents and her twin sister, Kerrie. They keep in constant touch with Peta's "other family"-- Andy's famous BeeGees brothers, Barry, Robin and Maurice, and their families.
Pet met her father twice when she was small, but barely remembers him.
"He used to ring to say he loved her very much," says Kim, smiling at her slim, blonde daughter
"We made sure she knew him and spoke regularly to him. And now we all stay in touch. We send them pictures of Peta and we hear from each other at Christmas and exchange cards. If any of us needs something, they are always there.
"They were wonderful when I was so very sick. I couldn't believe the flowers. I haven't seen anything like it."
Peta has inherited her dad's musical abilities. She has been put forward for the prestigious international Baccalaureate exam, excelling in two subjects- writing and singing.
Kim, however is anxious not to pressure Peta into music. Her own bitter experience has taught her what a fickle- and dangerous- business it is.
She believes that for every person who makes it, there are thousands who don't. But, if Peta wants to try, Kim won't hold her back.
"I've always said if she wants to, that is fine, but she has to get an education first," says Kim.
"I have a healthy disrespect for the industry. But if she really wanted to... she's her own person. She does have a beautiful voice, like Robin's, but hers is her own."
Kim suddenly looks tired. It's only 18 months since she spent six hours under the surgeon's knife and then weeks hovering between life and death. Doctors had almost given up hope of saving her when she resolved she wouldn't give in without a struggle.
From that moment, hospital staff were stunned by the speed of her recovery. Kim had drawn on the same reserves of strength that had seen her turn away her one true love, cope with the divorce, and then survive his death.
"I am a pretty strong person," she says with a wry smile. "That strength stood me in good stead when I was sick. I suddenly thought, 'I've so much to live for'. Then I wouldn't let go."
Kim is ready to face the world again, but even if the wounds have healed, the ordeal of the past has taken its toll on her tight-knit family.
Her mother believes Kim's twin sister Kerrie never married because she saw the heartache of Kim's marriage.
It hasn't been easy for Kim, either. When she tried to find a job after the marriage split, she was accused of being the rich, spoilt widow, taking work from those who needed it. It didn't matter that Andy was bankrupt when he died, or that she wanted nothing more than a quiet, ordinary life.
These days she doesn't even listen to the BeeGees' records, and hardly ever plays Andy's music because of the pain it can still cause her.
Instead, she lives privately on the family's property, slowly ecovering her strength, helping her mother breed prize-winning Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and trying to forget.
"I've never even been into pop music, I've always been into dog shows," she says. "What happened has happened. It would destroy you if you became preoccupied with it all. Life is too short to hold a grudge.
"I now feel better than I have in years. I know I have plenty to livefor."
*** Transcriptionist note: Andy did not die from a drug overdose... see "Andy Did Not Die From Drink" article on this site.***
