This post is part of a weekly series of ‘link-up’ Posts which reflect on life’s journey, old memories and family stories (see below for more info).
There are certain eras that can be summed up from a single photograph. In my opinion, this photo is one of those. It is the iconic memory of the 1970s to any young girl who happened to be between the ages of 8 and 38 at that time.
Friends, this was The Bay City Rollers (sigh). And whilst I cannot deny the ridiculous nature of the ‘uniform’, the wet-behind-the-ears lads in this photograph were soon to become the leaders of a vast Tartan Army, and a 1970s tour de force.
I still own their aptly titled album, “Wouldn’t you like it?” and the answer was invariably a firm, “Why yes. Yes I bloody would.”
The sound of Leslie’s tender ‘Bye Bye Baby’ tones still gives me goosebumps today. Close your eyes for a moment and indulge yourself in a time-warp musical interlude…
Bay City Roller Facts
1. They wore The Tartan in a ‘camper-than-a-row-of-pink-tents’ kind of uniform
2. Shortness of trouser not entirely due to Edinburgh’s proneness to flooding
3. The creature on the right clearly should have had a wee-wee before he left home
Me and my original BCR album (bottom half!)
4. Those cute wee laddies frae bonny Scotland, led by the pant-wetting lovely that was Les McKeown (with the coy looking head tilt in dark blue), rocked our socks back in the day. Alan Longmuir, Eric Faulkner, Stuart “Woody” Wood, Derek Longmuir and Leslie McKeown stuck a pin in a map and took the name ‘Bay City’ Rollers for no other reason than that’s where it landed. Originally called The Saxons, this was seen as a better name for some reason.
5. They became such a phenomenon that mothers everywhere gave up locking up their daughters and donned their own tartan scarves instead. In 1975, 40 female fans attempted to reach the band by swimming across a lake to where they were due to perform. Several were hospitalised, and the band were flown out by helicopter without even performing a single song.
I was a pre-teen at the height of Rollermania, but I can remember joining in the playground chants of “B.A.Y, B.A.Y, B.A.Y.C.I.T.Y, R.O.Double L. E.R.S…Bay City Rollers are the best!” but I was never allowed to don the holy plaid.
Did anyone else have similar band envy as a young ‘un? Were you a Bon Jovi groupie, or maybe you’re young enough to have followed the every move of Gary Barlow, Robbie and the lads? Was there a uniform or a fan club? Got any pictures you’d like to share? I’d love to hear your memories, so get Posting!!!!!
Post an entry to your own Blog and use the Linky tool (link below) to enter your memories into the fray. If you like, just leave a comment and join in that way, but do join in.
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