The Bee Gees, formerly known as The Brothers Gibb, pose in front of a Rolls Royce showroom in 1967.
The Bee Gees pose in London in 1967. From left to right, Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, drummer Colin Peterson and Maurice Gibb.
The Bee Gees with a bear skin rug.
Robin Gibb, left, and brother Barry at London's Heathrow Airport in 1967.
The Bee Gees walk down a New York City Street in 1968. From left to right, bassist Vince Melouney, Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and drummer Colin Peterson.
Singer Barry Gibb poses just after winning a Beau Brummell award for best-dressed personality in Britain.
Robin Gibb performs at the London Palladium in 1969.
From left to right, brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb in 1970.
Maurice, Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees in 1973.
Robin Gibb sings on stage during a concert in London in 1975.
Robin, Barry and Maurice do a promotional shot for director Michael Schultz's Beatles tribute film, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," in 1977.
The Bee Gees pose with Barry Manilow at the American Music Awards in1979. Manilow won the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, and the Bee Gees won Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo, or Group.
Maurice, Barry and Robin in 1989.
The Bee Gees perform during the "One Night Only" concert at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, in March, 1999.
Barry, Robin and Maurice pose at a New York press conference in 2001 announcing the release of the Bee Gees album "This is Where I Came In."
Robin Gibb displays his World Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement during the 2003 World Awards in Hamburg, Germany. Gibb accepted the award on behalf of the Bee Gees.
Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) and Robin Gibb arrive at the "Adopt-A-Minefield" benefit gala in support of landmine victims in 2005 in Neuss, Germany.
Robin and Barry Gibb arrive for The Ivor Novello Awards at the Grosvenor Hotel on May 25, 2006, in London, England.
Barry and Robin share the stage with Yvonne Gibb (wife of Maurice, who died in 2003) and BMI CEO Del Bryant at the BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills, California, in 2007.
Robin attends the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo in 2010.
Robin Gibb and John Travolta pose after Gibb announced Travolta as the winner of a Golden Camera media prize in Berlin in February 2010.
- Gibb is fully conscious and lucid, his doctor says
- 3 days ago, the doctor told Gibb's family he feared the worst
- The road ahead is uncertain for Gibb, the doctor says
- The Bee Gees were one of the most successful British music groups
London (CNN) -- Singer Robin Gibb has "confounded" his doctors by emerging from a coma just days after they thought he might not survive it, his physician said Sunday.
Days ago, Bee Gees star Gibb was in a coma and battling pneumonia, the latest turn in health issues that include a recent battle with colon and liver cancer. Now he is "fully conscious, lucid and able to speak to his loved ones," Dr. Andrew Thillainayagam said in a statement.
"He is breathing on his own, with an oxygen mask. He is on intravenous feeding and antibiotics. He is of course, exhausted, extremely weak and malnourished. Our immediate goals are to ensure that Robin's swallowing mechanism is safe enough to allow him to eat and drink, and that he recovers enough strength to breathe effectively, without needing high levels of oxygen by mask."
When that happens, he may be moved out of the intensive care unit at the London Clinic, the doctor said.
"It is testament to Robin's extraordinary courage, iron will and deep reserves of physical strength that he has overcome quite incredible odds to get where he is now," Thillainayagam said.
2002: Bee Gees and 'Saturday Night Fever'
The good news comes just three days after Thillainayagam warned Gibb's family "that I feared the worst.," he said. "We felt it was very likely that Robin would succumb to what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles to any form of meaningful recovery. As a team, we were all concerned that we might be approaching the realms of futility."
"The road ahead for Robin remains uncertain but it is a privilege to look after such an extraordinary human being," Thillainayagam said.
Gibb's wife Dwina and children Robin-John, Spencer, and Melissa have been at his bedside every day, the doctor said.
Robin Gibb's twin brother, Maurice, died in 2003 of a twisted bowel.
His brother Andy died at age 30 from a heart infection in 1988.
The Brothers Gibb -- calling themselves the Bee Gees -- soared to renown as one of the most successful British groups after the 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever" starring John Travolta was built around the group's disco songs.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, the Bee Gees have sold more than 200 million albums, and their soundtrack album to "Saturday Night Fever" was the top-selling album until Michael Jackson's "Thriller" claimed that distinction in the 1980s.
While often in the background as brother Barry sang lead vocals, Robin Gibb stepped forward on several top tunes, including "I Started a Joke" and "I've Gotta Get a Message to You." He also recorded several solo albums during his career.
