Shangalang time again as Bay City Rollers hit the road

AS Christmas parties go, Britain is set for three very special ones this year.

Rollermania and the Shangalang Christmas Party will see the Bay City Rollers and some special guests light up London, Blackpool and Glasgow.

For some fans, seeing one of the biggest bands of all time in action will be a trip down Memory Lane, while the much younger generation will be keen to see what all the fuss was about.

And, for singer Les McKeown and the lads themselves, it will be all about springing a few surprises, belting out all the hits and reliving their 1970s heyday.

Alongside Les, other original members Stuart “Woody” Wood and Alan Longmuir will be there, with Derek Longmuir and Eric Faulkner replaced.

“Things are going great, my tour has gone brilliant, my new album The Lost Songs is doing well, and we’re looking forward to the Christmas gigs, especially the Glasgow Hydro, as I’ve never played there before,” admits Les, who along with the Rollers sold over 120 million records.

“It might be nostalgic for Alan and Woody, but for me, I don’t notice the fans getting older, because I have always been working all the time.

“I’ve built up quite a Roller following by constantly touring, and it’s great that people get dressed up and come along. It is always party time!

“There will be lots of guitars, because there are many little bits in Rollers songs that aren’t obvious but need to be in it.

“And Woody might play a bit of sax as well.

“I encouraged him to pick it up again and start practising, and that will be a nice little showpiece for him.

“We also have Sweet on the bill, featuring Andy Scott, who is absolutely outstanding.

“In the past, Sweet and the Rollers were mortal enemies,” explains Les.

“The bands’ fans often clashed, but I said to the promoters they had to get Sweet on with us, as I’d got to know Sweet and the late Brian Connolly.

“He is gone now, and my band will be doing a tribute to our peers who have passed on to the Great Rock ’n’ Roll Gig In The Sky, such as Brian, and Mud’s Les Gray, David Bowie, Alvin Stardust and Freddie Mercury. We have a little medley just to remember those brilliant guys.”

VIDEO: Bay City Rollers perform at our Broons Awards ceremony

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If that sounds like these concerts could get quite emotional, you’re not mistaken, and just as much for the people on stage as in the seats.

David Bowie fanatic Les will be thinking of the late, great Space Oddity superstar during the shows, as well as those fabulous days back in the 70s, when the tartan-clad Rollers ruled the world.

“We used to do Bowie’s song Rebel Rebel,” he recalls, “but I was such a massive Bowie fan that I refused to sing it as I thought it would be disrespectful. Eric sang it at the time.

“The way we were managed, we were kept away from other groups and singers.

“It was part of how they managed us, and it’s hard to find a photo of us with other groups.

“There’s so much about those days that we forget, and then someone posts an old photo and it takes you back.”

The Bay City Rollers dates include — December 11: Glasgow SSE Hydro, 12: Cardiff Tramshed, 14: London Hammersmith Apollo, 15: Wolverhampton Civic, 16: Blackpool Winter Gardens/Empress Ballroom, 17: Newcastle O2 Academy.

Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.co.uk

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