Former Bay City Roller Les Mckeown Wants A Reunion
Seventies pop-star Les McKeown has made a direct plea to his former Bay City Roller band mates to put away their differences and help bring back ‘Rollermania’.
The band’s original line-up split in 1979, and have endured a volatile relationship ever since, with Les suffering from a well documented mental breakdown in 2008 and the other band members gradually fading into obscurity.
But speaking toThe Hour, ex-RollerMcKeown said, in the wake of the release of a new greatest hits album, that he is willing to ‘forgive and forget’ if it means a return to the band’s 70s heyday.
Les said: “Eric, Stuart, Alan, Derek, if you’re watching, let’s get back together guys. I think they might just be up for it.”
Formed in Edinburgh, the Scot’s super-group released their debut album Rollin in 1974, and core band members Eric Faulkner, Stuart Wood, Alan Longmuir, drummer Derek Longmuir and Les himself, went on to sell nearly120 million records worldwide before their break-up in 1979.
During their 70’s heyday the Bay City Rollers were regularly followed by a ‘Beatlesque’ army of screaming girls dressed in the popular fan’s attire of tartan-lined trousers and shirts. From Japan to America, the Scots boy band took the music world by storm and shreds of ‘Rollermania’ can still be seen to this day.
"The maddest it ever got for me was when we were chucked into the back of a van to go and do this radio interview. When the doors opened there were 65,000 people screaming their heads off. The biggest shock I ever had in my life.”
Former singer Les has went on to achieve modest solo-success after leaving the band and even represented the UK in the 1990 Eurovision song contest, finishing a respectable 5th.
Unfortunately, after years of financial wrangling over the Bay City Roller’s lost profits, Les went into a steep decline and started drinking heavily, culminating in a mental breakdown and spell in rehab.
But it’s his five years with the Bay City Rollers that still have people talking, and Les aims to recapture some of the old ‘Rollers’ magic now that he has turned a new leaf.
“In 2008 I was literally drinking myself to death. Ever since then I’ve been a changed person. I’ve completely changed my outlook on life after my rehabilitation.”
The band’s original line-up split in 1979, and have endured a volatile relationship ever since, with Les suffering from a well documented mental breakdown in 2008 and the other band members gradually fading into obscurity.
But speaking toThe Hour, ex-RollerMcKeown said, in the wake of the release of a new greatest hits album, that he is willing to ‘forgive and forget’ if it means a return to the band’s 70s heyday.
Les said: “Eric, Stuart, Alan, Derek, if you’re watching, let’s get back together guys. I think they might just be up for it.”
Formed in Edinburgh, the Scot’s super-group released their debut album Rollin in 1974, and core band members Eric Faulkner, Stuart Wood, Alan Longmuir, drummer Derek Longmuir and Les himself, went on to sell nearly120 million records worldwide before their break-up in 1979.
During their 70’s heyday the Bay City Rollers were regularly followed by a ‘Beatlesque’ army of screaming girls dressed in the popular fan’s attire of tartan-lined trousers and shirts. From Japan to America, the Scots boy band took the music world by storm and shreds of ‘Rollermania’ can still be seen to this day.
"The maddest it ever got for me was when we were chucked into the back of a van to go and do this radio interview. When the doors opened there were 65,000 people screaming their heads off. The biggest shock I ever had in my life.”
Former singer Les has went on to achieve modest solo-success after leaving the band and even represented the UK in the 1990 Eurovision song contest, finishing a respectable 5th.
Unfortunately, after years of financial wrangling over the Bay City Roller’s lost profits, Les went into a steep decline and started drinking heavily, culminating in a mental breakdown and spell in rehab.
But it’s his five years with the Bay City Rollers that still have people talking, and Les aims to recapture some of the old ‘Rollers’ magic now that he has turned a new leaf.
“In 2008 I was literally drinking myself to death. Ever since then I’ve been a changed person. I’ve completely changed my outlook on life after my rehabilitation.”