The Bay City Rollers, Scotland’s biggest boyband, are set to be immortalized in a new musical to mark the 50th anniversary of their first number one hit. Bursting onto the scene in the mid-70s, the tartan-clad band caused hysteria worldwide.
The musical, titled Rollers Forever, will feature the band’s biggest hits like “Bye Bye Baby,” “Keep On Dancing,” “Shang-a-Lang,” and “Summer Love Sensation.” The show follows two superfans, Susan and Jenny, as they reminisce about their teenage years following their idols.
Original band member Stuart “Woody” Wood, serving as artistic consultant, joined the Rollers at 17 just before their success exploded. He praised the fans who have kept the band’s legacy alive for 50 years.
Award-winning playwright Danny McCahon and acclaimed director Liz Carruthers are behind the production. Current Roller John McLaughlin, who organized the band’s recent reunion, is also involved. For McLaughlin, producing the musical and playing alongside his childhood heroes is a full-circle experience.
The show highlights the unique bond between the Rollers and their fans, who are known for their tartan-clad outfits. Even today, fans don tartan scarves at gigs, celebrating the band’s music and legacy.
The musical is set to open at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow in August 2025, promising a nostalgic trip down memory lane for fans.
One such fan, Gail Shackley from Manchester, has been devoted to the band since their 1975 hit “Bye Bye Baby.” Despite stepping back when the band gained global success, she returned to them in 1994 and remains a dedicated fan. Gail is now working to fund a dedicated bench for the late frontman Les McKeown in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens.
Gail believes now is the perfect time for a musical about the Rollers, as it has become “cooler” to like the band. She looks forward to the show and hopes it resonates with fans like her. “Who doesn’t like a trip down memory lane?” she says.
The group’s line-up had many changes over the years, but the classic roster during its peak in popularity included guitarists Eric Faulkner and Stuart Wood. singer Les McKeown (died 2021), bassist Alan Longmuir (died 2018) and his younger brother Derek Longmuir as drummer. Only Stuart Wood is still a current member of the band.
