History of Bay City Rollers in Timeline
The Bay City Rollers were a massively popular Scottish pop rock band in the 1970s, achieving worldwide fame and teen idol status. Known for their catchy tunes and tartan-heavy fashion, the band was often compared to the Beatles in terms of their massive popularity.
1964: Formation of The Ambassadors
The Bay City Rollers' journey began in 1964 in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the formation of a trio called The Ambassadors. The band consisted of Alan Longmuir on acoustic guitar, his brother Derek Longmuir on drums, and their cousin Neil Porteous on acoustic guitar.
July 1965: Departure of Neil Porteous and Arrival of Dave Pettigrew
In July 1965, Neil Porteous left The Saxons, and Dave Pettigrew joined the band as the new guitarist. Pettigrew's musical proficiency pushed the band to improve their skills.
1969: Name Change to Bay City Rollers and Lineup Changes
Seeking a more impactful name, the band adopted the name "Bay City Rollers." During this period, bassist David Paton (1969-1970) and keyboardist Billy Lyall (1969-1971) were briefly part of the lineup.
1970: Departure of David Paton
David Paton left the Bay City Rollers in 1970.
1971: First Hit and Top of the Pops Appearances
The Bay City Rollers' big break arrived in 1971 with their first hit single, "Keep on Dancing," a cover of the 1965 Gentrys' song. The success of the single led to appearances on the renowned British music chart television program Top of the Pops.
1973: Gordon "Nobby" Clark's Departure and Subsequent Legal Threat
Gordon "Nobby" Clark, who left the Bay City Rollers in 1973 before their peak of fame, threatened to sue the band if their lawsuit against Arista Records was successful. Clark claimed to be the driving force behind their early success.
1973: Arrival of Eric Faulkner, Departure of Nobby Clark, and Near Miss with "Saturday Night"
Guitarist Eric Faulkner joined the band in 1973. However, lead singer Nobby Clark decided to leave the band just as their single "Remember (Sha-La-La-La)" began climbing the charts, reaching No. 6. Les McKeown replaced Clark as the lead singer. Towards the end of 1973, the band narrowly missed the UK Singles Chart with their song "Saturday Night."
1973: Les McKeown Records "Remember (Sha-La-La-La)"
Les McKeown recorded the lead vocals for "Remember (Sha-La-La-La)" in late 1973, marking the beginning of a series of chart-topping hits in the UK.
1973: String Driven Thing Releases "It's a Game"
The song "It's a Game", later covered by the Bay City Rollers, was originally released as a single by the band String Driven Thing in 1973.
February 1974: Stuart Wood Completes the "Classic Five" Lineup
Sixteen-year-old Stuart Wood joined the Bay City Rollers in February 1974, a week after the band's debut performance of "Remember" on Top of the Pops, solidifying the "classic five" lineup: Alan Longmuir, Derek Longmuir, Stuart "Woody" Wood, Eric Faulkner, and Les McKeown.
1974: Arrival of Stuart "Woody" Wood and Formation of the "Classic Five" Lineup
In early 1974, guitarist John Devine was replaced by Stuart "Woody" Wood, finalizing the band's "classic" lineup.
1974: Countdown Show Premieres
The first episode of the Australian music television program Countdown aired.
April 1975: "Bye, Bye, Baby" Tops UK Charts
The band's cover of The Four Seasons' "Bye, Bye, Baby" reached No. 1 on the UK charts and stayed there for six weeks in March and April 1975, selling almost a million copies and becoming the year's biggest seller.
July 1975: "Give a Little Love" Hits No. 1
Following the success of "Bye, Bye, Baby," The Bay City Rollers released "Give a Little Love" in July 1975, which became their second No. 1 hit in the UK. The band released two albums during this period, "Once Upon a Star" (1975) and "Wouldn't You Like It?" (1975), with Faulkner and Wood taking on the primary songwriting responsibilities.
1975: Rise to Global Success
The Bay City Rollers were on their way to global stardom by early 1975.
1975: "Bay City Rollers" Album Dethroned by "Rock n' Roll Love Letter"
The Bay City Rollers' album "Rock n' Roll Love Letter" (1976) reached number one on the Canadian music charts, replacing their previous album, "Bay City Rollers" (1975).
1975: Rollermania and Shang-a-Lang TV Series
The Bay City Rollers became a massive success in the UK in 1975, sparking a phenomenon dubbed "Rollermania," reminiscent of Beatlemania a decade prior. The band's popularity led to a dedicated 20-week UK television series, Shang-a-Lang.
1975: North American Breakthrough with "Saturday Night"
A concerted effort by Arista Records in 1975 led to The Bay City Rollers' successful launch in North America. Clive Davis, the head of Arista, played a significant role in guiding the project. The band achieved their first No. 1 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 with "Saturday Night," a song that had failed to chart in the UK two years prior. The Rollers made their US debut performance of the song on Saturday Night Live, broadcasted via satellite link with Howard Cosell. "Saturday Night" also achieved No. 1 on the RPM national singles chart in Canada on January 10, 1976.
January 1976: "Bay City Rollers" Album Tops Canadian Charts
On February 7, 1976, The Bay City Rollers' album, "Bay City Rollers" (1975), reached No. 1 on the Canadian music charts.
March 1976: "Money Honey" Hits the Charts
"Money Honey," written by Faulkner and Wood, became another hit for the band, reaching No. 9 in the US. The song achieved even greater success in Canada, becoming their second No. 1 single on the RPM national singles chart on March 13, 1976.
March 1976: "Rock n' Roll Love Letter" Tops Canadian Charts
In a remarkable feat, The Bay City Rollers' album "Rock n' Roll Love Letter" (1976) soared from No. 25 to the top spot on the Canadian music charts in just one week, replacing their previous album "Bay City Rollers" (1975) at No. 1 on March 27, 1976. However, the album only reached No. 31 on the US Billboard chart.
October 1976: Countdown Appearance During a Solar Eclipse
The Bay City Rollers were incredibly popular in Australia. A testament to their fame was an incident during their appearance on Countdown, a popular Australian music television show that aired from 1974 to 1987. Their performance in October 1976 coincided with a total solar eclipse, as recalled by the show's director, Ted Emery.
1976: Alan Longmuir Departs, Ian Mitchell Joins, and "Dedication" Released
Alan Longmuir left The Bay City Rollers in early 1976 due to the pressures of success and feeling uncomfortable being part of a teen band in his late twenties. Seventeen-year-old Ian Mitchell from Northern Ireland replaced him, becoming the first band member born outside Edinburgh. The band released the album "Dedication" (1976) with Mitchell and had chart success with a cover of Dusty Springfield's song "I Only Want to Be with You," reaching No. 12 in the US. Other charting singles from the album included "Yesterday's Hero" (featuring live recordings from their 1976 performance in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square) and the title track, "Dedication."
May 1977: Release of "It's a Game" Single
The Bay City Rollers released a cover of "It's a Game", originally by String Driven Thing, in May 1977. It became their final UK Top 20 hit, peaking at number 16, and their highest-charting German hit, reaching number 4.
August 1977: Release of "It's a Game"
In August 1977, the Bay City Rollers, now a four-piece group, released the album "It's a Game" under the production of Harry Maslin, known for his work with David Bowie.
1977: Alleged Sexual Assault by Paton
In 1977, Bay City Rollers member Les McKeown accused their former manager, Tam Paton, of attempting to rape him.
September 9, 1978: Premiere of "The Krofft Superstar Hour" Featuring the Bay City Rollers
On September 9, 1978, "The Krofft Superstar Hour", later renamed "The Bay City Rollers Show", premiered, featuring the band in an hour-long format.
1978: Departure of Les McKeown and Tam Paton; Name Change to "The Rollers"
Following Les McKeown's departure from the Bay City Rollers in 1978, the band dismissed their manager, Tam Paton, and adopted a new wave and rock-oriented sound, changing their name to "The Rollers".
January 27, 1979: End of "The Bay City Rollers Show"
"The Bay City Rollers Show", previously known as "The Krofft Superstar Hour", aired its final episode on January 27, 1979.
1979: Release of "Elevator"
The Rollers, featuring new lead vocalist Duncan Faure, released their first album, "Elevator", in 1979.
1980: Release of "Voxx"
The Rollers released their second album, "Voxx", in 1980.
1981: Release of "Ricochet" and End of Touring
The Rollers released their third album, "Ricochet", in 1981. Due to declining sales, the band stopped touring by the end of the year.
1982: First Japan Reunion Tour
Seven former members of the Bay City Rollers reunited for a tour in Japan in 1982.
1983: Second Japan Reunion Tour
The Bay City Rollers, with a lineup of seven former members, embarked on their second reunion tour of Japan in 1983.
1985: Release of "Breakout"
A reunion album titled "Breakout", featuring contributions from various past members, including Les McKeown, Pat McGlynn, Eric Faulkner, Stuart Wood, and Ian Mitchell, was released in Japan and Australia in 1985. The album saw the addition of drummer George Spencer to the lineup.
1987: Les McKeown's Revelation on Jonathan Ross Show
In 1987, Les McKeown, in an appearance on Jonathan Ross's chat show, revealed that The Bay City Rollers did not perform on their first four singles.
1987: Countdown Show Ends
The final episode of the Australian music television program Countdown aired.
1990: Stuart Wood, Alan Longmuir, and Eric Faulkner Tour as the Bay City Rollers
Stuart Wood, Alan Longmuir, and Eric Faulkner reunited in 1990 to tour under the Bay City Rollers name, releasing several CDs featuring re-recorded versions of their classic songs.
1996: 20th Anniversary Performance on Japanese Television
The classic lineup of the Bay City Rollers, except for Derek Longmuir, reunited in 1996 to perform "Saturday Night" on a Japanese television show commemorating the 20th anniversary of Rollermania.
1999: Millennium Concert in Edinburgh
The classic lineup of the Bay City Rollers, without Derek Longmuir, reunited for a one-off millennium concert on New Year's Eve, 1999, held in Edinburgh, Scotland.
2000: Millennium Concert in Edinburgh
The classic lineup of the Bay City Rollers, without Derek Longmuir, reunited for a one-off millennium concert on New Year's Eve, 1999–2000, held in Edinburgh, Scotland. This marked their final official concert together.
2001: Statute of Limitations Issue Arises in Bay City Rollers' Case
A New York statute of limitations posed a challenge in the Bay City Rollers' lawsuit against Arista Records. The statute limited the recovery of damages to six years prior to the lawsuit's filing, potentially negating claims for royalties incurred before 2001.
2001: Release of "Rollerworld: Live at the Budokan 1977"
The Bay City Rollers' 1977 performance at Japan's Budokan Hall during their "It's a Game" tour was released as a live album titled "Rollerworld: Live at the Budokan 1977" in 2001.
2003: McGlynn Accuses Paton of Sexual Assault
In 2003, Bay City Rollers member Les McKeown accused their former manager, Tam Paton, of attempting to rape him in 1977. However, the police did not pursue charges due to insufficient evidence.
2004: Release of "Very Best of the Bay City Rollers"
The compilation album "Very Best of the Bay City Rollers" was released in 2004 and reached number 11 on the UK Albums Chart, driven by television advertising and renewed interest in the band sparked by documentaries.
March 2007: Lawsuit Against Arista Records
In March 2007, six former members of the Bay City Rollers, including Duncan Faure and the "classic lineup," initiated legal action against Arista Records, aiming to recover millions of dollars in allegedly unpaid royalties.
2009: McKeown Accuses Paton of Rape
In 2009, Bay City Rollers member Les McKeown accused their former manager, Tam Paton, of raping him.
September 2010: Lawsuit Filed by Former Members
In September 2010, Gordon Clark, Ian Mitchell, and Pat McGlynn filed a lawsuit against the six members involved in the Arista Records case, alleging exclusion from the lawsuit and seeking financial damages for breach of contract.
March 2011: Bay City Rollers Sue Arista Records
In March 2011, the Bay City Rollers initiated a lawsuit against Arista Records over unpaid royalties. The band alleged that Arista had withheld significant royalty payments owed to them.
2013: Ruling Against Clark, Mitchell, and McGlynn
A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge ruled against Clark, Mitchell, and McGlynn in 2013, citing the statute of frauds, which necessitates written agreements under certain conditions. The judge determined their claims for unjust enrichment were invalid as they were based on income generated from a revival decades later rather than their contributions during the band's active recording period.
February 2015: Eric Faulkner's Health Issues
Eric Faulkner was unable to participate in the Bay City Rollers' reunion due to health complications from viral encephalitis, which he contracted in February 2015 and nearly proved fatal.
September 2015: Announcement of Reunion and Glasgow Barrowlands Show
In September 2015, Les McKeown, Stuart Wood, and Alan Longmuir announced a Bay City Rollers reunion, with plans for a show at Glasgow Barrowlands on December 20.
July 2016: End of Reunion
Stuart Wood ended the Bay City Rollers reunion on July 9, 2016, due to a lack of booked shows. While Les McKeown had been booking solo shows with his band throughout 2016, this effectively dissolved the reunion.
2016: Bay City Rollers Settle Royalty Dispute with Sony Music
In 2016, the Bay City Rollers reached an out-of-court settlement with Sony Music, Arista Records' parent company, ending a decade-long legal battle over unpaid royalties.
2017: Cancellation of New Album and Tours
Planned tours and a new album for the reunited Bay City Rollers, intended for 2017, were never realized and ultimately cancelled.
February 2018: Announcement of "New Generation" Bay City Rollers
Stuart Wood announced a "new generation" Bay City Rollers in February 2018, with plans to perform in Tokyo, Japan, in June. The lineup consists of Wood on guitar, Ian Thomson on lead vocals and guitar, Marcus Cordock on bass, and Jamie McGrory on drums.
July 2018: Death of Alan Longmuir
Alan Longmuir, bassist for the Bay City Rollers, passed away on July 2, 2018, while vacationing in Mexico with his wife.
November 2018: Posthumous Release of Alan Longmuir's Autobiography
Alan Longmuir's autobiography, "I Ran with the Gang: My Life in and Out of The Bay City Rollers", co-written with Martin Knight, was published posthumously in November 2018.
2018: Line-up Change
In 2018, the Bay City Rollers' line-up changed once again, with Stuart "Woody" Wood remaining as the only original member. The new line-up included singer Ian Thomson, bassist Mikey Smith, keyboardist/singer John McLaughlin, and drummer Jamie McGrory.
2019: Les McKeown and Stuart Wood Deny Reunion Possibilities
Despite rumors stemming from Alan Longmuir's wishes for a reunion, both Les McKeown and Stuart Wood dismissed any possibility of working together again in 2019. McKeown, however, expressed interest in collaborating with Eric Faulkner.
August 2020: Les McKeown Expresses Openness to Reunion
In August 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the music industry, Les McKeown indicated a willingness to reunite with Stuart Wood, emphasizing the need for better planning this time.
September 2020: Death of Ian Mitchell
On September 1, 2020, Ian Mitchell, former guitarist for the Bay City Rollers, died at the age of 62 from throat cancer.
April 2021: Death of Les McKeown
Les McKeown, former lead singer of the Bay City Rollers, passed away on April 20, 2021, at the age of 65.
2021: Bay City Rollers Release Christmas Single
In 2021, the Bay City Rollers released a Christmas single, spreading holiday cheer among their fans.
December 2023: Planned Concerts and Festival Appearances
Between March 9 and December 10, 2023, the "new generation" Bay City Rollers, consisting of Ian Thomson, Stuart Wood, Marcus Cordock, and Jamie McGrory, had a schedule of 11 concerts and festival appearances, including nine in the UK, one in Denmark, and one in Germany.
2023: Mikey Smith Replaces Marcus Cordock on Bass
In 2023, Mikey Smith replaced Marcus Cordock as the bassist for the "new generation" Bay City Rollers.
2023: Documentary Renews Allegations Against Paton
The 2023 documentary "Secrets of the Bay City Rollers" brought to light new allegations of sexual abuse against former manager Tam Paton. Potential band member Gert Magnus claimed that Paton offered him a place in the band in exchange for sex.
2023: Bay City Rollers Release EP
The Bay City Rollers released an EP in 2023, continuing to share their music with fans.
2024: Announcement of UK Concerts
Five concerts have been announced for the "new generation" Bay City Rollers in 2024, all taking place in the UK.