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Bee Gee brothers demand answers

Investigating Maurice Gibb's death 'will be our quest'

Maurice Gibb's career spanned decades, with fans across generations.
Maurice Gibb's career spanned decades, with fans across generations.

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CNN's Susan Candiotti reports on the life and career of Bee Gees singer Maurice Gibb (January 13)
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MIAMI BEACH, Florida -- Relatives of Bee Gee Maurice Gibb said Monday that they plan to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

The musician was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center after collapsing in his home in Miami Beach with an intestinal blockage last Wednesday.

Before Gibb underwent emergency abdominal surgery Thursday, he suffered cardiac arrest, according to a hospital statement. Afterward, he was in critical condition.

"The fact that they had to operate on Maurice during the shock of cardiac arrest is very questionable, and we will pursue every factor, every element, every second of the timeline of the final hours of Maurice's life," Gibb's brother Barry told the British Broadcasting Corp.

"We will pursue that relentlessly. That will be our quest from now on," he said

During the surgery, doctors removed 80 percent of Maurice Gibb's stomach, he said.

Maurice's agent, Carol Peters, said Gibb was able to open his eyes and wiggle his toes after the operation.

Gibb, 53, died early Sunday.

A doctor not related to the case told CNN that it would be extremely unusual for surgeons to continue an operation after a patient has suffered cardiac arrest. Only a catastrophic event during surgery would likely have necessitated continuing, the doctor said.

Citing patient privacy laws, the hospital said it was unable to comment.

A memorial service is planned for Wednesday in the Miami, Florida area, Peters said.

A hospital source said singer Michael Jackson visited Gibb in the hospital.

Maurice Gibb played bass and keyboard for the group, whose name is short for the Brothers Gibb.

The remaining Gibb brothers said they will continue to write and perform as the Bee Gees and plan to dedicate their next album to Maurice.

The Bee Gees -- Maurice, his twin brother, Robin, and their older brother, Barry -- have lived in South Florida since the late 1970s. Their younger brother, Andy, who had a successful solo career, died in 1988 at age 30 from a heart infection.

Known for their close harmonies and original sound, the Bee Gees are members of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, and their 1977 contributions to the "Saturday Night Fever" album helped make it the best-selling movie soundtrack ever. Among the hits on that album are "Stayin' Alive," "More Than a Woman" and "How Deep Is Your Love."

Their other hits include the haunting "New York Mining Disaster 1941," "I Started a Joke," "Lonely Days" and "Jive Talkin'."

The group won seven Grammy Awards together. The Bee Gees' most recent album, "This Is Where I Came In," was released in 2001.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti contributed to this report.



The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.


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