From Fame to Silence – What Happened to This Bay City Rollers Star?
Derek Longmuir, the drummer and co-founder of the Scottish pop band Bay City Rollers, once enjoyed global stardom in the 1970s as part of a group that made teenage hearts race around the world. But decades after the screaming fans faded and the glitter settled, Derek’s name returned to headlines—for a very different reason.
In 2000, Longmuir was convicted of possessing indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 300 hours of community service. The case shook fans and raised questions about the double life he had led after leaving the band. At the time, Derek had been working as a registered nurse in Edinburgh.
Despite his conviction, the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council allowed him to continue working in the profession, stating that his offense was considered “out of character” and didn’t impact his fitness to practice.
After the scandal, Derek Longmuir disappeared from public view, avoiding interviews or further appearances. The other band members have mostly remained silent about the controversy, and the case has never been revisited publicly by Longmuir himself.
His story is a haunting reminder that behind pop music’s golden moments, there are darker shadows many fans never see.