Les McKeown - Bay City Rollers - ‘Gold’
Rockin’ Roller tales of Saxons, Zeppelin, Queen, Bowie, Midges, missing millions, lost songs, ebooks, errant accordionists and more, as the BCR frontman talks-up the new 50-track ‘Gold’ compilation of the Tartan Terrors’ finest music and reveals his renewed sense of purpose in keeping the music alive.
Selling well over 100 million records worldwide during their golden years (1974-1978), the magnitude of the phenomenon of Rollermania had not been seen since The Beatles and would not be seen again until the rise of Millennial boy-bands, such as One Direction.
Despite the passing of years, their staunchly loyal fan-base continues to keep the memory of the band, and most importantly their music alive. The good news is that Crimson Productions are releasing a definitive and comprehensive collection of the band's music as part of the popular, budget-priced 'Gold' CD series, on 25th October 2019.
https://www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk/catalogue/releases/bay-city-rollers-gold
Comprising 50 tracks, spread across three CDs, the collection features all of the band's charting singles (including B-sides) as well as fan-selected deep-cuts from their six original studio albums from 1974's 'Rollin' to 1978's 'Strangers in the Wind'.
The band's lead singer and front-man during those golden years, Les McKeown spoke to Andy Rawll about his roller-coaster-ride music career, from his early days as a rock n roll runaway to achieving top of the pops stardom, before his eventual departure and fall and rise as a solo artist. Watch the video to hear tales of long-hair, Saxons, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Bowie, missing millions, lost songs, ebooks, errant accordionists, told with a wonderful sense of positivity, humility and forgiveness.
Following a number of turbulent years, that included battles with addiction, family trauma and bereavement (including the death of friend and BCR founder member Alan Longmuir in 2018), Les is back on top form and relishing his renewed passion for live performance, with a fifty date tour, alongside his longstanding band, starting soon.
https://lesmckeown.com/concert-dates-2019-2020.
He also reveals that he's recently updated his autobiography, which had been out of print and is now available as an eBook from here: ‘Shang-a-lang: life as an international pop idol’ - by Les McKeown with Lynne Elliott.
There's also the first volume of 'Lost Songs' that has now been released, that mines the extensive archive of previously unused material that he composed during and after his time with the band. Currently available from iTunes/Apple Store: 'The Lost Songs' - Les McKeown
Simply put, ‘Gold’ is the only Bay City Rollers compilation you’ll ever need, including 50 tracks across 3CDs, covering the band’s most successful line up of Les, Eric, Woody, Alan and Derek and features all 12 of their UK chart hit singles
CD1 includes the Top 10 “Remember”, “Shang-a-Lang”, plus top 5 smashes “Summerlove Sensation” and “All Of Me Loves All Of You” and the American chart topper “Saturday Night”
CD2 includes UK No.1 “Bye Baby”, fellow chart topper “Give A Little Love” plus the Top 10 “Money Honey” and “Love Me Like I Love You”
CD3 features No.4 smash “I Only Wanna Be With You” alongside Top 30 “It’s A Game” and “You Made Me Believe In Magic”
www.baycityrollers.com
https://lesmckeown.com
@LesMcKeownOfficial
@LesMcKeownUK
‘Gold’ Album Info: https://www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk/catalogue/releases/bay-city-rollers-gold/
Lost Songs: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-lost-songs/1145422048
eBook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shang-Lang-Life-City-Rollers-ebook/dp/B07Y289KVR