by Rose Spotts

Created on: July 08, 2008

The Bay City Rollers' sound has been classified as rock, pop and bubblegum pop. They were the biggest hit of the Rollermania era of the mid 1970's in the UK. Their tartan enhanced hip clothes made girls swoon and their catchy tunes got stuck in your head for hours. It was fun and light and enjoyable and back then, we liked that!

We don't like to use the term "one hit wonder" too much. They had a few hits, so really are they even a one hit wonder? Honestly though, they had their time and it is over. They gave us some fun and we still hear them pop up in movies from time to time or on the radio. Who doesn't know the songs "Saturday Night", "Shang-A-Lang", "Money Honey"? I just can't help but think though, that it was over for them after around 1977 or 1978. They kept going though and continued to put albums out through the early 1980's although not with much success.

It wasn't just the idea that they weren't making music that sold or became popular with the masses anymore, it was also the internal disputes. They just weren't getting along and enough is enough in any situation. Into the late 70's and early 80's that was the case, with various band members leaving to pursue solo careers or other avenues. There was an attempt at reviving the band in the mid 90's as simply The Rollers, but that didn't last either. In documentary, which came out around 2004, the band was featured as well as an ad which featured a greatest hits compilation which managed to make it #11 on the British charts.

There are still two touring versions of the band. Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers and Ian Mitchell's Bay City Rollers. The title members are the only original members and they are from the days they went by The Rollers.

Everything has a purpose and I believe the purpose of the Bay City Rollers was to make the early and mid-70's more fun and colourful. When it is over it is over and sometimes trying to hang onto that makes a good thing go bad. Thankfully this band knew when to quit. It's okay to have a current version touring around. People like to reminisce, and it isn't like they are trying to revive anything.just live the good times of the past. A lot of bands do that. It's healthy. So let's think of the Bay City Rollers in their heyday and maybe catch a current show or just throw on some vinyl and break out our rollerskates. A little bubblegum never hurt anyone!

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