Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb has woken from a coma and responded to members of his family, his spokesman said Saturday.

Gibb, 62, contracted pneumonia and fell into the coma last week. He is suffering from colon and liver cancer.

His spokesman Doug Wright said the singer had been able to nod and communicate with family members, who have been at his bedside at a hospital in west London.

He did not give further details.

The British star's wife Dwina said last week that the singer's brother, fellow Bee Gee Barry Gibb, had been singing to Robin to try to rouse him.

His three children had also been playing music to him, she said.

The Bee Gees - twins Robin and the late Maurice Gibb and their elder brother Barry, 65 - are among the biggest-selling groups of all time.

Robin Gibb had bowel surgery 18 months ago but a tumour was found and he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon and the liver.

In February, he said he had made a "spectacular" recovery from his treatment, sparking hopes that his cancer was in remission.

But Gibb was too ill to attend last week's premiere of his first classical work, The Titanic Requiem, composed with his son Robin-John to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking.

He had been due to perform the song Don't Cry Alone at the central London premiere.

AFP