The Rattlesnakes (1955 band)
The Rattlesnakes were a British skiffle/rock and roll group, formed by Barry Gibb in Manchester in 1955, which eventually evolved into the Bee Gees in 1958. They were one of the many skiffle bands that were formed in the United Kingdom in the 1950s since the revival of the American skiffle in the UK that was originally started in the 1920s, '30s and '40s.
Barry started a skiffle group and his younger brothers Robin and Maurice Gibb also joined as vocalists, after they returned to their parents' hometown in Manchester, England in 1955. Their friends/neighbors, Paul Frost (drums) and Kenny Horrocks (tea-chest bass) later joined. Their debut performance in public happened in December 1957 in Gaumont Cinema, performing The Everly Brothers' "Wake Up Little Susie". One of their influences at that time were Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Tommy Steele, Buddy Holly and Paul Anka.
On 12 January 2003, Maurice died unexpectedly at the age of 53, of a cardiac arrest, while waiting to undergo surgery for a twisted intestine. On 20 May 2012, Robin died at the age of 62 from liver and kidney failure. On 17 November 2012, Frost died in England after a long battle with cancer at age 64. As of 2015, Barry Gibb and Kenny Horrocks remained the only survivors of The Rattlesnakes.
