Les McKeown, star of ’70s pop group the Bay City Rollers, has died.
The Scottish singer, who found worldwide fame as frontman of the Bay City Rollers, passed away suddenly at his home on Tuesday, April 20. He was 65.
In a statement via the Bay City Rollers starring Les McKeown Facebook page, his family announced: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our beloved husband and father Leslie Richard McKeown. Leslie died suddenly at home on Tuesday 20 April 2021.
“We are currently making arrangements for his funeral. If you would like to remember Leslie, please make a donation in his name.
“We thank you and ask for privacy after the shock of our profound loss. Thank you. Keiko and Jubei McKeown.”
In their own statement, the group added via the band’s official page: “We are saddened by the news of Leslie McKeown’s death. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Peko and his son Jubei, their family and friends.
“Rest In Peace, Leslie.If you wish to leave your condolences, please do so in the comments below.”
And Bay City Rollers guitarist Stuart Wood shared: “I am upset and shocked to hear this very sad news. Les and I had our differences over the years… but we are sending our heartfelt condolences to Keiko his wife and his son Jubei and all the Bay City Rollers Fans. It’s a sad day in Bay City Roller history.
“He was a great performance on stage and he was full of energy. I was roadying when Les first came into the band and I saw his first gig when he took over from Nobby Clark and injected new life into the band. I was fifteen and he was seventeen. (sic)”
McKeown joined the group in 1973 and soon found success with their breakout hit Remember (Sha-La-La-La). They released further classics including All of Me Loves All of You, I Only Want to Be With You and Shang-a-Lang.
The star quit the band in 1978 and was replaced by Duncan Faure, at which point they changed their name professionally to The Rollers. However, after three albums this line-up of the band was dropped by its label after failing to match the success of previous years.
Several reunions followed throughout the ’90s, ’00s and ’10s, with McKeown most recently reuniting for a show at the Glasgow Barrowlands on December 20, 2015.
McKeown’s death comes three years after band founder Alan Longmuir passed away. He formed the group with his younger brother, Derek, and their schoolfriend, lead singer Gordon Clark.
The group’s ‘classic five’ line-up featured the Longmuir brothers, Stuart Wood, Eric Faulkner, and McKeown.
