NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Bay City Rollers

The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish Pop/rock band of the 1970s. Their youthful, clean-cut image, distinct styling featuring tartan-trimmed outfits, and cheery, sing-along pop hits helped the group become among the most popular musical acts of their time. For a relatively brief but fervent period (nicknamed "Rollermania"), they were a worldwide sensation. Image File history File links Baycityrollers. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic and Scots1 Government Constitutional monarchy - Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... The current version of this article or section is written in an informal style and with a personally invested tone. ... // Perhaps the most famous musical events of 1969 are two legendary concerts. ... See also: Musical groups established in 1981 Record labels established in 1981 other events of 1981 list of years in music 1980s in music // January 10 - Revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadways Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith February... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... First US Bell Records Bell Records was the name of at least four different record companies in the 20th century. ... Arista Records is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony BMG, and operates under the RCA Records Group // After being fired from CBS Records, Columbia Pictures hired Clive Davis to be a consultant for the companyâ€™s record and music operations. ... Epic Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Billy Lyall (born William Lyall, on 26 March 1953 in Edinburgh, Scotland â€“ died in December, 1989) was the keyboard player, and part-time vocalist with Pilot and member of the Bay City Rollers. ... Born: Patrick James McGynn , March 31, 1958, Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Cover of McKeowns autobiography Leslie Richard McKeown (born November 12, 1955 at Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a pop singer. ... Ian Kevin David Mitchell (born August 22, 1958, at home, 27 Ardmeen Green, Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland) is an Irish-born guitarist who is best known as a former member of the Scottish pop group Bay City Rollers. ... David Paton (born 29 October 1949, in Edinburgh, Scotland) was a (mainly) bass and guitar playing member of three different bands. ... The Bay City Rollers eponymous U.S. debut album; Wood is at the lower left Stuart John Wood (born 25 February 1957, at Chalmers Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland), was a rhythm and later bass guitarist for the 1970s pop sensations, the Bay City Rollers. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic and Scots1 Government Constitutional monarchy - Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... A tartan is type of pattern, originating in woven cloth, but now used in many materials. ...

Since the band's quick rise to, and subsequent fall from fame, the members have endured numerous and varied struggles regarding royalty payments, substance abuse, and personal legal problems.

History

Early Days: Formation-1973

Bassist Alan Longmuir, his younger brother Derek Longmuir, a drummer, along with school mate, lead singer Gordon "Nobby" Clark founded the group in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1967, as The Saxons. Shortly afterwards, seeking a less English-sounding moniker, they chose a new name allegedly by throwing a dart at a map of the United States. The dart landed on the map in the state of Arkansas, but since "Arkansas Rollers" did not sound quite right, and might also lead to problems with pronunciation, they tried again and this time the dart landed near the community of Bay City, Michigan. Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic and Scots1 Government Constitutional monarchy - Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area Ranked 29th - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 kmÂ²) - Width 239 miles (385 km) - Length 261 miles (420 km) - % water 2. ... Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. ...

The Bay City Rollers were managed from early on by the imposing and controversial Tam Paton, himself a former big band leader. Paton was notorious for his rigid control over all aspects of the band's career, including the shuffling in and out of group members at a very high rate. Thomas Dougal Paton, also Tam Paton (born in Prestonpans, Scotland during August 1937) is the former manager of the Scottish boy band, the Bay City Rollers. ... A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from 1935 until the late 1940s. ...

They received their first break when prominent record executive Dick Leahy caught their act by chance in an Edinburgh club. After signing with Leahy's Bell Records, the band's first hit was "Keep on Dancing" (UK #9, 1971), a cover of a 1965 Gentrys hit, recorded at the suggestion of pop impresario and producer Jonathan King. At this time Nobby Clark, was backed on vocals on "Keep on Dancing" by King himself. Upon this release's success, they made guest appearances on BBC-TV's Top of the Pops. The group then won a Radio Luxembourg-sponsored song contest with the tune "Mañana", which was later popular in parts of Europe and in Israel. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... First US Bell Records Bell Records was the name of at least four different record companies in the 20th century. ... The Gentrys were an American band of the 1960s and early 1970s, known for their one hit Keep on Dancing. Founded in 1963 and hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, the seven-member group included Larry Raspberry as the lead vocalist on the million-selling Keep on Dancing, which reached #4 on... Jonathan King (born December 6, 1944) is the stage name of Kenneth George King, a British pop music producer and personality. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, was a long-running British music chart television programme, made and broadcast by the BBC. It was originally shown each week, mostly on BBC One, from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. ... Radio Luxembourg (1933-1992, 2005-)was an important forerunner of pirate radio and modern commercial radio in Europe. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ...

Several non-charting singles were released over the following two years. In late 1973 they narrowly missed the UK chart with "Saturday Night", one of many singles written and produced for the band by the highly successful songwriting duo of Scotsman Bill Martin and Irishman Phil Coulter. Saturday Night was a 1976 pop hit by the Scottish band Bay City Rollers. ... Bill Martin, born William Wylie Macpherson (b. ... Phil Coulter (born February 19, 1942) is a songwriter, performer and music producer from Derry, the second city of Northern Ireland. ...

By the end of 1973, Nobby Clark had become disillusioned by the band's lack of success and decided to move on.

British Breakthrough: 1974-75

Leslie McKeown was hired to replace Nobby Clark. McKeown hastily re-recorded lead vocals of the group's forthcoming single, "Remember (Sha La La La)", which became a sizable hit. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Cover of McKeowns autobiography Leslie Richard McKeown (born November 12, 1955 at Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a pop singer. ... Edward Winchester Nobby Clark (born August 9, 1902, Elton, Huntingdonshire, died April 28, 1982, Kings Lynn, Norfolk) was an English cricketer who played in 8 Tests from 1929 to 1934. ...

Beginning with "Remember" (UK #6), the Rollers' popularity exploded, and they released a string of very successful hits on the British charts. Following in succession were "Shang-a-Lang" (UK #2), "Summerlove Sensation" (UK #3), and "All of Me Loves All of You" (UK #4).

By the spring of 1975, they were one of the highest-selling acts in Britain. That year saw a successful UK tour (which prompted newspaper headlines about "Rollermania"), and a 20-week UK television series, Shang-a-Lang. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Shang-a-Lang was the Bay City Rollers TV series, produced by Muriel Young in 1975 on the Granada ITV network. ...

A cover of the Four Seasons' "Bye, Bye, Baby", stayed at #1 in the UK for six weeks in the spring of 1975, selling nearly a million copies to become the biggest seller of the year, and the subsequent single "Give a Little Love" topped the charts that summer, their second #1 hit. At the peak of their popularity in the UK, comparisons were even made to The Beatles. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye) is a popular song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, a member of the The Four Seasons whose version of the song made it to #12 the U.S. singles charts in 1965. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Give a Little Love, by Bay City Rollers, was a UK #1 single for 3 weeks in July 1975. ... Summer is one of the four seasons of the year. ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ...

By this time, BCR fans had a completely distinctive style of dress, the main elements of which were ankle length tartan trousers and tartan scarves. A popular playground chant of the time went (to the tune of "This Old Man"): A tartan is type of pattern, originating in woven cloth, but now used in many materials. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pants. ... A scarf is a piece of fabric worn on or near the head or around the neck for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. ... This Old Man is a nursery rhyme of unknown origin. ...

World Impact: 1976

As the group's popularity swelled to superstardom in the UK, a concerted effort was made by Arista Records (the record company that evolved from Bell) to launch the Rollers in America. New Arista head Clive Davis was instrumental in grooming and overseeing the project. His work paid off as in early '76, the Rollers reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with "Saturday Night", the song which had missed the UK chart completely two years earlier. A second US hit came with "Money Honey" which hit #9. Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the 1976 Gregorian calendar. ... Arista Records is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony BMG, and operates under the RCA Records Group // After being fired from CBS Records, Columbia Pictures hired Clive Davis to be a consultant for the companyâ€™s record and music operations. ... Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is a Grammy Award winning record producer and a leading music industry executive. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ...

The dark side of the band's unending schedule of tours and appearances was the great amount of stress the band members felt. By early '76, the strain of success had taken its toll on bassist Alan Longmuir, who decided to leave the group. He was replaced by Ian Mitchell. With Mitchell, the group released an album titled Dedication, and hit the charts with a cover version of the Dusty Springfield song "I Only Want To Be With You", as well as "Yesterday's Hero" and "Dedication". Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Ian Kevin David Mitchell (born August 22, 1958, at home, 27 Ardmeen Green, Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland) is an Irish-born guitarist who is best known as a former member of the Scottish pop group Bay City Rollers. ... Dedication is a rock album by the Bay City Rollers, issued in fall 1976. ... Dusty Springfield OBE (16 April 1939 - 2 March 1999) was a popular English singer whose career spanned four decades. ...

1977 and on

As the Rollers' popularity waned, the shuffling of personnel continued: Mitchell quit the band, replaced by Pat McGlynn. The group's commercial success began to decline towards the end of the 1970s. In 1977, they covered an unsuccessful 1973 single by the String Driven Thing, "It's A Game" to give them their final UK Top 20 hit (#16 in the spring), but "You Made Me Believe in Magic" could only make #34 in the summer, however it managed to just crack the top ten in the United States, but this would be their final major success there too. Summer of 1977 saw the group release the It's a Game album and world tour as a four-piece group - McKeown, Wood, Faulkner & Derek Longmuir. Born: Patrick James McGynn , March 31, 1958, Edinburgh, Scotland. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... String Driven Thing was a 1970s folk-rock band from Scotland, led by Chris and Pauline Adams. ... Summer is one of the four seasons of the year. ... Summer is one of the four seasons of the year. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ...

In 1978, Alan Longmuir reunited with the band for the recording of Strangers in the Wind. The release of this LP was timed to coincide with the debut of the Rollers' US television show "The Kroft Superstar Hour" later renamed "The Bay City Rollers Show" on the NBC network. The show was a poor match for the band. Their time in the teen-idol spotlight was slipping away and their music had matured and become more sophisticated compared to the bubblegum hits they had released in '75-'76. The show and album were each dismal failures. Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... NBC (a former acronym for National Broadcasting Company) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ...

Les McKeown hated doing the show feeling they were too mature to do a show aimed at such a young audience. He decided to leave to pursue a solo career. McKeown agreed to participate in a 1978 tour of Japan but left the group shortly thereafter. The Rollers' fired their manager Tam Paton in 1979. South African born Duncan Faure was hired to replace Les McKeown and the band shortened its name to The Rollers. Three albums were issued under this name, including Voxx (1980) and 1981's Ricochet, before the group disbanded. Cover of McKeowns autobiography Leslie Richard McKeown (born November 12, 1955 at Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a pop singer. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Thomas Dougal Paton, also Tam Paton (born in Prestonpans, Scotland during August 1937) is the former manager of the Scottish boy band, the Bay City Rollers. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Cover of McKeowns autobiography Leslie Richard McKeown (born November 12, 1955 at Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a pop singer. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...

During the 80s and 90s, there were various short-lived revivals featuring some of the original members, notably including a New Year's Eve 1999 concert. Interest was rekindled in Britain by television documentaries about the group and a television-advertised compilation of greatest hits, which entered the UK charts on release in 2004 at its #11 peak. Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Currently, there are two touring versions using the group's name: Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers and Ian Mitchell's Bay City Rollers. Each group features only its titled member from the original Rollers heyday. Cover of McKeowns autobiography Leslie Richard McKeown (born November 12, 1955 at Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a pop singer. ... Ian Kevin David Mitchell (born August 22, 1958, at home, 27 Ardmeen Green, Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland) is an Irish-born guitarist who is best known as a former member of the Scottish pop group Bay City Rollers. ...

UK Discography

Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye) is a popular song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, a member of the The Four Seasons whose version of the song made it to #12 the U.S. singles charts in 1965. ... Give a Little Love, by Bay City Rollers, was a UK #1 single for 3 weeks in July 1975. ...

Who Got All the Money?

A recent Channel 4 documentary, Who Got The Rollers' Millions?, explored the speculation about what happened to the supposed financial fortune the group generated in their career, with accusations that it was defrauded from the group by their management and record company. There are claims that the group sold 100-300 million records and generated the equivalent of five thousand million pounds in revenue, with the band members themselves earning very little.[1] [2] [3]. According to BBC they sold 70 million records. However, even this figure has been disputed by several sources, not least their former record company.[4]. It has been suggested that Channel Four Television Corporation be merged into this article or section. ... ISO 4217 Code GBP User(s) United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies Inflation 2. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ...

In March 2007, six former members of the group (the classic five plus Duncan Faure) announced a lawsuit against Arista Records in hopes of claiming what they describe as "tens of millions of dollars" of unpaid royalties. Nobby Clark has threatened to sue the other band members if their lawsuit is successful, stating that he was the creative force behind the bands success, despite the fact that he left the group in 1973 before the bulk of their fame and fortune began.[5] [6] March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Arista Records is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony BMG, and operates under the RCA Records Group // After being fired from CBS Records, Columbia Pictures hired Clive Davis to be a consultant for the companyâ€™s record and music operations. ... Edward Winchester Nobby Clark (born August 9, 1902, Elton, Huntingdonshire, died April 28, 1982, Kings Lynn, Norfolk) was an English cricketer who played in 8 Tests from 1929 to 1934. ...

References

Stambler, Irwin. Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock & Soul. 1974. St. Martin's Press, Inc. ISBN:312-25025-8 The International Standard Book Number, or ISBN (sometimes pronounced is-ben), is a unique[1] identifier for books, intended to be used commercially. ...

Coy, Wayne. Bay City Babylon (The Unbelievable But True Story Of The Bay City Rollers). 2005. Hats Off Books ISBN:158-73646-38 The International Standard Book Number, or ISBN (sometimes pronounced is-ben), is a unique[1] identifier for books, intended to be used commercially. ...

External links

Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since June 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Musical groups established in 1967 | Scottish musical groups Rollin, released in 1974, was the first full-length album by Scotlands Bay City Rollers. ... Once Upon a Star is a rock album released in 1975 by the Scottish group Bay City Rollers. ... Bay City Rollers, released in late 1975, was the first full-length album by Scotlands Bay City Rollers to be issued in the USA. The album, which reached as high as #20 on the US album chart, included the US #1 hit single Saturday Night. The LP contained tracks... Wouldnt You Like It? was the third studio album to be released by Scotlands Bay City Rollers. ... Rock NRoll Love Letter is a rock album by the Bay City Rollers. ... Dedication is a rock album by the Bay City Rollers, issued in fall 1976. ... Its a Game is a rock album by the Scottish group Bay City Rollers, issued in summer 1977. ... Strangers in the Wind is a 1978 rock album by the Bay City Rollers. ... Elevator is a 1979 rock album by the Bay City Rollers. ... Voxx is a 1980 rock album by the Bay City Rollers. ... The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish Pop/rock band of the 1970s. ...

Contents

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