Bay City Rollers Frontman Les McKeown Dead at 65

Bay Metropolis Rollers frontman Les McKeown has died at age 65.

“It’s with profound unhappiness that we announce the demise of our beloved husband and father Leslie Richard McKeown,” reads a message uploaded to the singer’s Twitter account this morning on behalf of his spouse, Keiko, and son, Jubei. “Leslie died out of the blue at residence on Tuesday 20 April 2021. We’re at the moment making preparations for his funeral and ask for privateness after the shock of our profound loss.”

McKeown’s household didn’t disclose his explanation for demise.

McKeown was born on Nov. 12, 1955, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He joined the Bay Metropolis Rollers in late 1973 whereas he was nonetheless a youngster and fronted them all through their most profitable interval. With McKeown on the helm, the Scottish pop-rockers grew to become teen idol sensations and scored a number of Prime 10 albums in the UK, together with the chart-topping Rollin’ and As soon as Upon a Star. Additionally they topped the U.Okay. singles chart with “Bye, Bye, Child” and “Give a Little Love,” whereas “Saturday Night time” raced to No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100.

After leaving the Bay Metropolis Rollers in 1978, McKeown launched a handful of solo albums all through the ‘70s and ‘80s. He reunited together with his previous group in 2015 for a collection of reunion exhibits. McKeown continued to tour as a part of Les McKeown’s Bay Metropolis Rollers up by way of 2020.

“There may be nothing like getting on stage, performing and seeing all these smiling faces within the viewers,” McKeown advised the Belfast Telegraph in 2015. “I’ve by no means had a correct job ever as a result of I used to be in a band once I was 15 then I joined the Rollers. My first performances weren’t that good however you study — now I do know it was what I used to be born to do.”

In Memoriam: 2021 Deaths