Fans of Les McKeown, the unforgettable voice of the Bay City Rollers, are in for an emotional surprise. This month, Highland Sound Records announced the global reissue of McKeown’s final solo album, “The Lost Roll” — newly remastered and released alongside a never-before-heard 2019 interview recorded shortly before his passing.
The album, long considered a hidden treasure among collectors, captures McKeown at his most intimate and reflective. Originally self-produced in his home studio in London, “The Lost Roll” combines the nostalgic energy of the Rollers’ signature sound with a maturity that reveals the man behind the pop phenomenon.
But it’s the accompanying interview that has fans — and fellow musicians — deeply moved. In the recording, McKeown speaks candidly about fame, regret, and his enduring love for music. “I never really left it,” he says softly. “I just changed my audience — from screaming teenagers to life itself.”
According to the label, the newly unearthed interview was discovered on a mini-disc labeled ‘Final Thoughts’, tucked inside a box of demo tapes during the digitization process. The audio has been carefully restored and will be included as a bonus feature in the deluxe reissue, available both on vinyl and digital platforms.
Producer Gavin Reid, who worked closely with McKeown during those sessions, described the experience of revisiting the tapes as “beautiful and heartbreaking.”
“Les was in a place of peace,” Reid shared. “He wasn’t chasing fame anymore — he was creating for the love of it. Listening to him again feels like he’s right here in the room, smiling.”
The album features tracks like “Rolling Home,” “Streetlight Serenade,” and “Never Too Late,” each echoing McKeown’s signature mix of warmth and wistful optimism. The reissue also includes liner notes written by former Bay City Rollers bandmates, celebrating his legacy as both a frontman and a friend.
Fans around the world have already begun sharing memories and tributes online, using the hashtag #TheLostRoll to honor his life and music. For many, this release is more than nostalgia — it’s a final conversation with the voice that defined their youth.
✨ As McKeown once said in that rediscovered interview, “Music doesn’t end when you stop singing — it keeps living in someone else’s heart.”