From Susie D – Hello Mr. Pop History. The Bee Gees – ever popular during the ’70′s disco craze – were nothing during the 1980′s. I heard radio stations simply got tired of playing them – and we know that radio made the hits. Is it true?

Mr. Pop History – Quite the opposite. Radio programmers – the smart ones – don’t ban artists. It’s all about the music. Back during the 1980′s – radio programmers such as Scott Shannon (Z-100) and Larry Berger (WPLJ) – both influential NY top-40 stations, believed the trio just fell out of touch with their audience. This was evident with the Bee Gees 1987 release of “ESP.” It was supposed to be their comeback album/single – but it didn’t happen – at least here in the States. As Scott Shannon said at the time – “there’s better music to play on the radio now.”And – he was right. Guys like Shannon and Berger knew their their audience.

And, I believe it also had to do with the early 1980′s  fallout with longtime manager Robert Stigwood. There’s a positive correlation between this – and their popularity – especially in the States.