Bay City Rollers singer Les McKeown has died at the age of 65, his family have announced.
The Scottish pop star, who fronted the iconic pop rock band during their 1970s heyday, died suddenly at home.
The announcement was made by his family on the band’s Facebook page this afternoon.
The statement read: ‘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.
Pictured: Les McKeown, lead singer of the Bay City Rollers, has died suddenly aged 65
Les McKeown found worldwide fame in Scottish pop group the Bay City Rollers in the 1970s
‘If you would like to remember Leslie, please make a donation in his name to: [details] We thank you and ask for privacy after the shock of our profound loss.
‘Thank you. Keiko and Jubei McKeown’
Formed at the end of the 1960s, the Bay City Rollers enjoyed huge success at home and abroad with their distinctive tartan outfits and upbeat pop tunes like Bye Bye Baby and Shang-a-Lang.
They had a massive teen following and sold more than 100 million records.
The Scots singer rose to fame with Rollers hits including Shang-a-lang and Bye Bye Baby.
Former manager John MacLaughlan told the Daily Record: ‘I’m very sad and shocked and so is Peko, his wife.
‘She is heartbroken and called me from Les’ phone with the news. I picked up and thought it was Les wanting a chat.
‘I’m still in shock right now, I spoke to him last week and he was on great form and happy about life and happy to book his tour.
Formed at the end of the 1960s, the Bay City Rollers enjoyed huge success at home and abroad
‘We were friends as well as working partners.
‘He was hoping to get it all going again and he was one of the hardest working men in the music industry.
‘We got on so great and he was great fun to be around. He had his moments but was always a good laugh to be around and a great performer.
He added: ‘He was a great singer. The Bay City Rollers were the biggest band in the world in the mid seventies and beyond.
‘They had their own TV show and Rollermania. They flew the flag for Scotland and made me think as a wee boy watching the telly you can be a popstar and in music and they meant a lot to me getting involved in music and the industry and the clothes and the hair and image were brilliant and the gang mentality was amazing.
‘I’m honoured to have worked with them.’
Pictured: the band had a massive teen following and sold more than 100 million records
The former Bay City Rollers frontman Les McKeown, pictured with his wife Keiko, has been described as one of the hardest working men in the music industry after his death on Tuesday
Guitarist Stuart Woody Wood said: ‘I am upset and shocked to hear this very sad news.
‘Les and I had our differences over the years but even though we had disagreements we are sending our heartfelt condolences to Peko wife and his son Jubie 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. Iwas 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. I joined properly when I turned sixteen in 74. He had lots of energy on stage.’
In September ex-member Ian Mitchell died at the age of 62.
The band was formed by Alan Longmuir, who died in 2018, with his younger brother Derek
Mitchell joined the group in 1976 at the age of 17, replacing founding member and bassist Alan Longmuir.
But he quit the band after nine months to return his native Northern Ireland, where he performed with old school friends as the group Rosetta Stone.
While Mitchell was with the Rollers, they released the 1976 album Dedication and a cover version of Dusty Springfield’s I Only Want to Be With You.
But he found tensions within the band hard to cope with and departed that December, to be replaced by guitarist Pat McGlynn.
The band were formed by Edinburgh-born Alan Longmuir, who died in 2018, with his younger brother Derek.