What Is This Device..........

[10ClarionSt]

...............that Robin Gibb is holding to his ear in this performance? He's obviously listening to something. Does anybody know what it does? Thanks.

[barry1010]

He used to wear headphones on stage sometimes. I think he could not get on with the in ear sound monitors that most singers use and this is a hand held equivalent.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks Barry.

[andy-hughes]

It does look like a headphone.

In-ear monitors are worn by almost all performers in large venues - but they cut out all external sound, leaving on the sound mix that the engineer selects to be fed to the musician, and as barry points out, they are not ideal for everyone.

Some musicians can automatically hear themselves singing in pitch, others need a little help, and Mr Gibb appears to have been one of those.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks Andy.

[Buenchico]

Move the time slider to 1:41, as he removes the device from next to his head. You can clearly see (if only for a fraction of a second) that it's a pair of headphones.

Also confirmed here: https://www.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Robin_Gibb_hold_his_ear_when_he_sang

He clearly places no trust in foldback monitors!

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks folks. I know nothing at all about this stuff, so thanks for the info.

[andy-hughes]

Buenchico - // He clearly places no trust in foldback monitors! //

For foldback monitors to be effective on a stage that size, they would have to be pumping out some considerable volume, and a lot of artists are mindful of their hearing, and potential damage.

In-ears can be very specifically controlled in terms not only of the volume, but precisely how much or how little of the on-stage sound is played into each individual set.

I would guess the same will apply to the headphone Mr Gibb was using as well.