Bay City Rollers singer Les McKeown has died

Bay City Rollers singer Les McKeown has died. He was 65-years-old.

The news was shared by his family earlier today (April 22) on the group’s official Facebook page. McKeown passed away “suddenly” on Tuesday (April 20); no cause of death has yet been shared.

The post read: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our beloved husband and father Leslie Richard McKeown…We are currently making arrangements for his funeral.”

“We thank you and ask for privacy after the shock of our profound loss. Thank you. Keiko and Jubei McKeown.”

The group’s official Twitter account also posted to pay tribute.

“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.”

McKeown was recruited as the singer for the 70’s group in 1973, fronting the group during their most successful period and selling more than 100 million records worldwide. Teen idols, their fandom was frequently compared to that of The Beatles and the group were often mobbed by fans during appearances.

McKeown sang lead vocals on a number of the group’s biggest tracks including ‘Remember (Sha-La-La-La)’ and ‘Shang-a-Lang.’

Alongside McKeown and bassist Alan Longmuir, the line-up during this period also featured Eric Faulkner and Stuart Wood on guitars and Longmuir’s brother Derek on drums.

Differences in the group led McKeown to leave in 1978, after which he launched his own lucrative solo career.

The group later got back together for a series of reunion shows in 2015 and McKeown released an album ‘The Lost Tapes’ in 2016. The album was a collection of previously unheard and unreleased tracks that McKeown recorded on cassette whilst on tour with the group throughout the 1970s.

Just days before his passing, McKeown was promoting an extensive, 49-date-tour for the Bay City Rollers on social media.







And They Played Shang-A-Lang - Home Ent Trailer
It tells the hilarious and heart -warming coming-of-age story of a boy growing up in 1970's Edinburgh. Over the course of an hour and a half, the narrator transports us through his memories of adolescent life, his first stumbling dealings with the opposite sex, first school disco and typical teenage interactions with his parents coming full circle to his first encounter with the death of a loved one. The show is full of fun, laughter and tears and interspersed with a liberal smattering of smash hits from the 70's, including tracks from The Bay City Rollers, Queen, Abba and The Village People.
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Meanwhile, tributes to McKeown have been coming in on social media. You can see some of these below:

This is a breaking news story – more to follow 

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