BACK in the 70's they were the biggest boy band in the world who were met with tartan-clad mass hysteria and scenes reminiscent of the Beatles where ever they went.
And now Hampshire will be transported back to those days of 'Rollermania' when five Edinburgh lads wearing unfeasibly wide, too-short, tartan-edged flares, platform boots with striped socks bearing images of their own faces up the side, tartan-bedecked tops and tartan scarves were belting out songs like Remember, Shang-a-Lang and Bye-Bye Baby.
Les McKeown, the legendary front man of the Bay City Rollers is on a 50-date tour and set to perform two shows at Eastleigh's 300-capacity Concorde Club tomorrow and Friday.
But he will also showcase his new solo album Les McKeown…The Lost Songs - songs he wrote in the band's hey-day but was never allowed to record.
I caught up with Les and we talked about the highs and lows of his career.
He recalled how he would sit in hotel rooms around the world and compose songs into his trusty tape recorder in the hope they would be unleashed on the next Rollers album.
“I kept the tapes in a suitcase in my attic and never thought they’d see the light of day. I’m ecstatic that they have now been turned into this great record and proud to finally be able to perform them for my fans.”
The album was made possible after he teamed up with multi million selling award winning writer and producer John McLaughlin.
"I wrote the new songs when I was 18 to 21 years old, between 1974-79. The producer asked me if I had any ideas about songs and I told him I had ideas about song titles, choruses, ideas about romantic songs and lively songs- lots of stuff from when I was messing around singing into a tape recorder. Some of it sounded a bit weird- my voice sounded different!"
So how does 60-year-old Les remember those roller-coaster days of Rollermania?
"I only remember the happy days. I don't remember the bad days any more as that takes you down to a dark place.
"I always celebrate Rollermania with the fans that have stuck with me through the years.
"It was quite hectic. In January 1974 we went on tour . I left home and went to London and I only got back home six times between then and 1978.
"We were young and stupid at the time . We had lots of energy. I just wanted to be the front man with the swagger," he laughs.
So was there time for a personal life?
"There wasn't any time to develop a relationship with a girl...only 'brief encounters'," he adds with a cheeky laugh.
So there were quite a few one night stands then, I ask.
Still laughing Les says: "You said that not me. I prefer to say 'brief encounters' . It is more romantic and I haven't had any complaints from anyone.
"Time goes fast but when I think back on those years time went really really fast. When I think of those tours it only seems like it was a couple of months of my life - not years."
Les avoids talking about his worst memories and who can blame him? Amid acrimony, he left the band in 1978 after they fell out of pop favour.
There followed a period where drugs and alcohol played too big a part in his life and there was a spell in rehabilitation.
Then there was the money or, rather, the apparent lack of it. Over the years various Rollers have been embroiled in legal wrangles to get a fair share of what they claim are millions which they say they never received during their heyday.
But the really dark stuff related to The Bay City Rollers’ late manager, ‘Big’ Tam Paton. He was not only accused of ripping them off, but indecency towards former band member Pat McGlynn, a claim Les has also previously made.
Certainly the manager served time in 1982 for indecent acts with males (not Rollers) under the age of consent and was convicted of drug dealing.
Les does open up to me about his nervous breakdown though and time he spent in therapy: "My past all caught up with me. In 2002 I lost my parents in the space of a couple of months and that and all that has happened to me brought me down. For six years I'd drink a couple of bottles of whisky a day. I'd always been a glass-half-full kind of guy but in 2008 I went into rehab and sorted myself out.
Because of my outgoing and positive attitude I put things in the back of my mind and then when something really bad happened all these things in the back of my mind came back to me and a feeling of being helpless."
A true survivor, Les remains happily married to his Japanese wife, Peko. The pair have a grown up son Jubie.
I comment that he will always be remembered for the days of Rollermania- more than 40 years ago, whatever he does since and Les says:
"I don't mind that. I think it's great to be remembered for something as successful as that. We were the only band with their own 'mania' apart from The Beatles and we went to Number 1 in the UK, America and Japan. I still tour Japan now and I'm touring Canada and America next year, and I've the festival season in the UK.
There will be another album coming out after this one too. I've recorded 25 'Lost Songs' so far. Ten will be on this album and ten on the next. "
So what were the 'highs' of his career?
"The best times were when we were on the rise and were just a couple of scruffs from Edinburgh who got on Top of the Pops when only the week before we were sat watching Pans People on it. That was so exciting!And all the steps to getting a Number 1 in the USA- all of those steps: selling out in Japan, Canada and the UK, and walking into New York when our song was at Number 1! "
Les adds: "In 1975 we were touring everywhere and we probably spread ourselves too thin and there were lots of bust ups.
But he has never fallen out of love with making music and says life has never been normal either.
"I was never one for leading a normal life. I was always active in the music business, driving around and trying to get myself a band, but you get knocked back when you 'used to be famous' whereas in my mind I was just thinking this sounds good, let's just sell it! All those rejections seem to seep into you. Rehab put me back to being a positive guy with a positive attitude."
So is there any chance the original five will be reunited?
"Myself and Jon( the manager) have put together some dates with Alan ( Longmuir)and Woody ( Stuart Wood) and we are doing about eight dates on the Shang-a-lang Xmas tour, and we recorded a Christmas album with songs like a Rollerised version of White Christmas, and we did T in the Park.
There is talk that Eric and Derek will join us too and the Fab Five will be back on stage . It was nearly impossible but it may happen!
Looking forward to returning to Eastleigh he says: "The Concorde Club is too small but it's good fun to be that close to people. It reminds me of playing the old cubs and getting hot and sweaty! The fans do get a bit frisky there! "
Tickets are still available for tomorrow night's show with Friday a sell out.
Call 023 8061 3989 or visit theconcordeclub.com
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