▁Beat les ▁and ▁the ▁Sup rem es . ▁ ▁Following ▁Maurice ' s ▁death ▁in ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 5 3 , ▁Barry ▁and ▁Robin ▁retired ▁the ▁group ' s ▁name ▁after ▁ 4 5 ▁years ▁of ▁activity . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁Robin ▁announced ▁that ▁he ▁and ▁Barry ▁had ▁agreed ▁the ▁Be e ▁Ge es ▁would ▁re - form ▁and ▁perform ▁again . ▁Robin ▁died ▁in ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁aged ▁ 6 2 , ▁after ▁a ▁prolong ed ▁struggle ▁with ▁cancer ▁and ▁other ▁health ▁problems , ▁leaving ▁Barry ▁as ▁the ▁only ▁surv iving ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁group . ▁ ▁History ▁▁ 1 9 5 5 – 1 9 6 6 : ▁Music ▁orig ins , ▁Be e ▁Ge es ▁formation ▁and ▁popular ity ▁in ▁Australia ▁ ▁Born ▁on ▁the ▁Is le ▁of ▁Man ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 0 s , ▁the ▁Gib b ▁brothers ▁moved ▁to ▁their ▁father ▁Hugh ▁Gib b ' s ▁h omet own ▁of ▁Chor l ton - c um - H ard y , ▁Manchester , ▁England ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 5 . ▁They ▁formed ▁a ▁sk iff le / rock - and - roll ▁group , ▁the ▁R att les n akes , ▁which ▁consisted ▁of ▁Barry ▁on ▁guitar ▁and ▁vocals , ▁Robin ▁and ▁Maurice ▁on ▁vocals ▁and ▁friends ▁Paul ▁F rost ▁on ▁drums ▁and ▁Ken ny ▁Hor ro cks ▁on ▁tea - ch est ▁bass . ▁In ▁December ▁