The Bay City Rollers — Scotlandʼs first and biggest boy band
2 July 2018
In the mid-1970s, five scrawny boys from Edinburgh were the biggest teen heartthrobs on the planet. Their band, the Bay City Rollers, became a phenomenon, prompting a hysterical fandom known as Rollermania, and worldwide fame.
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The Rollers were enormously successful in the UK. They played in front of thousands of adoring, tartan-clad fans and twice reached number one in the singles chart.
But when American teenagers learned of the band, that success became global.
A pre-recorded performance screened on Saturday Night Live reached a TV audience of 80 million people.
It paved the way for their much-hyped first trip to America, where their single Saturday Night (🔊) sold 12 million copies and went to number one.
How the Bay City Rollers got their name
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The Bay City Rollers on how they got their name
The Bay City Rollers on how they got their name.
Bay City Rollers - Shang-A-Lang
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The Bay City Rollers perform one of their best-known songs on Top of the Pops
Rollermania arrived in America
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The Bay City Rollers visit America for the first time
Development of the band’s sound
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Interviews with the Bay City Rollers’ songwriters
The end of Rollermania
Their put the boys under great pressure to maintain a squeaky-clean image and this, combined with a gruelling worldwide touring schedule, took its toll on the band.
Ego-driven arguments ensued, culminating in an on-stage fight during a show in Japan. Line-up changes followed, as did the death of Rollermania.
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