Gone too soon

Andy Gibb Tragedy: How Brother Of Bee Gees Died At Age 30

It's sometimes forgotten, but the three Gibb brothers in the Bee Gees actually had a fourth and younger brother named Andy. He also had a successful solo career as a singer in the 1970s. But Andy's life ended suddenly in 1988 just five days after his 30th birthday. This was what caused his tragic death.

The Bee Gees are a famous music group
Comprised of a few brothers
Brother Andy Gibb died very young

The Gibb family has been through a lot over the years.

Bee Gees band members Barry Gibb and twin brothers Maurice and Robin came from a family of five children, which included a sister, Lesley, and younger brother Andy. Music talent ran in the family, and Andy Gibb was also a successful singer in the 1970s.

Andy Gibb: Brother of Bee Gees died at age 30

You may remember Andy Gibb for a run of '70s hits like "Shadow Dancing" and "I Just Want to Be Your Everything." But the fourth Gibb brother is also sadly remembered for his tragically brief life. He only lived to be 30.

Andy Gibb Tragedy: How Brother Of Bee Gees Died At Age 30

Following Gibb's rise to stardom in the 1970s, his career began to wane and become plagued by issues related to his drug use. According to People magazine, Gibb was a cocaine addict and spent much of his money on drugs.

In 1985, he finally sought help for his substance abuse problems and began to perform again around that time. He returned to rehab in 1987, got sober for good, and planned to make a comeback album in 1988.

He even recorded a few songs, which were later released posthumously, but tragedy struck in March of 1988. Two days after his 30th birthday, Gibb was hospitalized with stomach pain.

He remained in hospital for several days, but, on March 10, he suddenly "slumped into unconsciousness and within a few more moments was dead," People magazine wrote in 1988.

Andy Gibb's cause of death: Myocarditis; drug use?

After Gibb died, a doctor explained that his cause of death was "inflammation of the heart of the sort commonly caused by a virus."

However, in the decades since Gibb died, other experts have speculated that his substance abuse problems may have contributed to the inflammation, also known as myocarditis.