Les McKeown
Encyclopedia
Leslie Richard McKeown is a pop singer
. He was the lead singer for the 1970s pop
sensation the Bay City Rollers
during their most successful period.
, Scotland
.
He joined the Bay City Rollers in late 1973, replacing original lead singer Nobby Clark. The group's intense popularity, nicknamed "Rollermania", took off shortly after that. He was with the band until 1978, at which time he left to pursue a career as a solo artist. He released a series of solo albums which saw modest success, primarily in Germany and Japan.
One of McKeown's most unusual musical collaborations after leaving the Bay City Rollers was singing on Filigree & Shadow
, the second album by gothic/dream pop band This Mortal Coil
.
In 1988-1989 Les McKeown worked with Dieter Bohlen
. The result of their partnership was an album - It's A Game
.
In 1990 he participated in the UK heats of the Eurovision Song Contest
with the song "Ball and Chain", which placed fifth.
He was ordered by Harlow magistrates on 23 August 2005 to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on drugs charges, following his bail release. On 31 January 2006, McKeown admitted being a drug user but denied being a dealer. On 3 February 2006, he was acquitted of cocaine dealing. He suggested that he would sue the Metropolitan Police for earnings he lost from an overseas tour that was cancelled as a result of the proceedings.
Today McKeown resides in Hackney
, England
with his Japanese
wife, Peko, and their son, Richard. He still tours with his current band, "Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers" (he is the only former Roller in the band). The group appeared in the Countdown Spectacular
two-concert series in Australia
between late August and early September 2007. McKeown has completed a UK tour called Rollermania!, completed a UK tour of Once In A LIfetime
with David Essex
, Leo Sayer
and The Osmonds
and has, along with Alan Longmuir
, appeared in the USA playing four dates as well as putting on a meet and greet fest for American fans. McKeown is due to go back to the USA, as well as Canada, at the end of September beginning of October for more concert dates. Longmuir had agreed to join McKeown again, but health problems meant he had to withdraw from the US and Canada dates.
McKeown developed a serious alcohol problem from about 2002, which resulted in him drinking a bottle of whisky per day. He underwent treatment in the passages clinic in Los Angeles, which was documented in the Rehab reality TV program that was broadcast on the Living channel in the United Kingdom. In an interview with Scotland on Sunday in 2009, he talked about his relationship with Tam Paton
and his own bisexuality.
Pop Singer
"Pop Singer" is the début single from London-based glam rockers Rachel Stamp. It was released in February, 1996 through WEA. The single was released as a 2 track CD Single and limited edition pink 7" vinyl of 1000 copies...
. He was the lead singer for the 1970s pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
sensation the Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
during their most successful period.
Biography
McKeown was born on November 12, 1955 in Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion Hospital, EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
He joined the Bay City Rollers in late 1973, replacing original lead singer Nobby Clark. The group's intense popularity, nicknamed "Rollermania", took off shortly after that. He was with the band until 1978, at which time he left to pursue a career as a solo artist. He released a series of solo albums which saw modest success, primarily in Germany and Japan.
One of McKeown's most unusual musical collaborations after leaving the Bay City Rollers was singing on Filigree & Shadow
Filigree & Shadow
Filigree & Shadow is an album released in 1986 by Ivo Watts-Russell's supergroup, This Mortal Coil. The supergroup consists primarily of artists attached to the 4AD label, of which Ivo was the co-founder and the owner and president...
, the second album by gothic/dream pop band This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil was a gothic dream pop supergroup led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom...
.
In 1988-1989 Les McKeown worked with Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Günter Bohlen is a German songwriter, singer, musician, producer, entertainer, TV personality, and writer. Bohlen is best known for being part of popular pop-duo Modern Talking during 1984–1987 and 1998–2003.-Biography:Bohlen took his Abitur in Oldenburg...
. The result of their partnership was an album - It's A Game
It's a Game (Les McKeown album)
It's A Game is album by Les McKeown, released in 1989 with four singles released. After the album, Dieter Bohlen released a cover of Blue System's song Nobody Makes Me Crazy , which didn't appears on album.-Track listing:...
.
In 1990 he participated in the UK heats of the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
with the song "Ball and Chain", which placed fifth.
He was ordered by Harlow magistrates on 23 August 2005 to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on drugs charges, following his bail release. On 31 January 2006, McKeown admitted being a drug user but denied being a dealer. On 3 February 2006, he was acquitted of cocaine dealing. He suggested that he would sue the Metropolitan Police for earnings he lost from an overseas tour that was cancelled as a result of the proceedings.
Today McKeown resides in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with his Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
wife, Peko, and their son, Richard. He still tours with his current band, "Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers" (he is the only former Roller in the band). The group appeared in the Countdown Spectacular
Countdown Spectacular
The Countdown Spectacular is a series of concerts reviving the nostalgia of the Australian music television series Countdown.-Countdown Spectacular:...
two-concert series in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
between late August and early September 2007. McKeown has completed a UK tour called Rollermania!, completed a UK tour of Once In A LIfetime
Once in a Lifetime
- Film and television :* Once in a Lifetime , a film based on a play by Kaufman and Hart , starring Jack Oakie* Once in a Lifetime , a TV film based on a novel by Danielle Steele...
with David Essex
David Essex
David Essex OBE is an English musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Since the 1970s, Essex has attained nineteen Top 40 singles in the UK , and sixteen Top 40 albums...
, Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer is a British singer-songwriter, musician, and entertainer whose singing career has spanned four decades. Sayer became a naturalised Australian citizen in 2009. Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s...
and The Osmonds
The Osmonds
The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied career—a career that took them from singing barbershop music as children, to achieving success as teen-music idols, to producing a hit television show, and to continued success as solo and group performers...
and has, along with Alan Longmuir
Alan Longmuir
Alan Longmuir was the Scottish bass guitarist for the 1970s pop group, the Bay City Rollers.-Biography:...
, appeared in the USA playing four dates as well as putting on a meet and greet fest for American fans. McKeown is due to go back to the USA, as well as Canada, at the end of September beginning of October for more concert dates. Longmuir had agreed to join McKeown again, but health problems meant he had to withdraw from the US and Canada dates.
McKeown developed a serious alcohol problem from about 2002, which resulted in him drinking a bottle of whisky per day. He underwent treatment in the passages clinic in Los Angeles, which was documented in the Rehab reality TV program that was broadcast on the Living channel in the United Kingdom. In an interview with Scotland on Sunday in 2009, he talked about his relationship with Tam Paton
Tam Paton
Thomas Dougal "Tam" Paton , was the manager and primary spokesman during the 1970s of the Scottish band, the Bay City Rollers....
and his own bisexuality.