The Bee Gees were seen by many as the next coming of the Beatles but they really came into their own when they took on the disco sound and put out a string of number one hits.Three of their biggest hits were featured on the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever, which became the biggest selling album in history to that point. The movie featured actor John Travolta as a disco dancing New Yorker and became the biggest impetus for the disco craze among the mainstream public. Suddenly disco became acceptable amongst the music industry as established acts such as the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart tried their hands at the dance-oriented music. New artists appeared everyday, with most making it as one hit wonders, but some were able to extend their disco sound into a decent career. Donna Summer, for example, was seen as the Queen of Disco, establishing herself as a star with numerous number one records. Unfortunately, as with most fads, oversaturation became disco's death knoll. When older singers such as Ethel Merman put out a disco record, it became clear that things had just become too ridiculous.

One group that came to be identified with disco was the Village People. Taking on the role of hunky calendar guys, the group was very popular among gay clubgoers and was able to attain enormous long term popularity in the mainstream. Their rise, however, coincided with the decline of the the music genre, as an angry backlash by blue collar citizens caused disco to be frowned upon. In one case, a Chicago radio personality organized a gathering of disco haters and planned to blow up disco records in Comisky Park, after a Chicago White Sox game. The disco hating frenzy went overboard as a near-riot broke out causing extensive damage to the stadium.

While it is looked upon with disdain by most of the public today, disco was one of the most powerful fads of all time.

Saturday Night Forever:
The Story of Disco
BOOK

The Last Days of Disco
VHS

Pure Disco
CD