What No One Dared to Say About Those Famous Tartan Outfits…
In the 1970s, Bay City Rollers were a global teen sensation. With their signature tartan outfits, feathered haircuts, and chart-topping hits like “Bye Bye Baby” and “Saturday Night”, they became the idols of millions of young fans. But behind the smiling faces and colorful stage costumes was a much darker truth – one involving exploitation, loss of control, psychological trauma, and lifelong emotional scars.
The tartan look wasn’t a style choice; it was a marketing decision. The band members had little say in how they dressed, acted, or even lived. Controlled by their management team, the boys were molded into an idealized image for maximum commercial appeal. They became “puppets in tartan suits” – as Les McKeown once put it.
McKeown, the band’s lead vocalist, revealed that despite their global success, the members received little money. Profits were siphoned off through opaque contracts, and for decades they fought legal battles with Arista Records to recover millions in unpaid royalties.
Beyond financial exploitation, they faced emotional and psychological stress. The boys were forbidden from having public relationships, were forced to maintain a “clean teen” image, and endured exhausting schedules. Many battled addiction, depression, and identity crises in silence.
Les McKeown struggled with alcoholism, admitted to hiding his bisexuality for years, and was involved in a fatal drunk-driving accident. Founding member Alan Longmuir left the group after being labeled “unmarketable.” Guitarist Eric Faulkner suffered a stroke in 2015 and withdrew from public life. Les passed away in 2021, leaving behind a legacy marked by brilliance and pain.
Ironically, the iconic tartan – once a symbol of unity and youth – now stands as a reminder of how tightly managed their lives were. Beneath the synchronized outfits were young men who felt isolated and lost.
Their music still brings joy, but their story serves as a quiet warning: behind every carefully crafted image may lie a much more human and painful truth.