FOR a period in the mid Seventies, Les McKeown was a member of one of the biggest bands in the world.

The Bay City Rollers sold millions of albums worldwide and had number ones across Europe, America and in Australia and Japan.

Rollermania was everywhere and tartan was THE fashion accessory.

Now Les is back on tour with a special show, The Bay City Rollers Story, which will delight Rollers fans of all ages and which comes to King George’s Hall, Blackburn in September.

“It’s not quite ‘an evening with’ kind of show,” said Les. “It starts with me telling the background of how it all started and then going on to tell some stories from the band before it ends up as a full concert with me and my band performing all the hits.

“I tend to leave it all pretty much unscripted as a lot depends on the audience and how they react and what they might come up with.

“Musically it’s a great show as the band and I have been together for around 12 years now and we have got the sound of the original sessions that the Rollers had at the beginning.”

Hits such as Shang-a- Lang and Bye Bye Baby still have the power to get an audience out of their seats.

“The songs were very infectious,” said Les, “that’s why they were such big hits in the first place. People can’t help but jump around to them.

“I think perhaps with all the hype that surrounded us the music does tend to get overlooked a little.

“There was a lot of tension around the band and I think that many people will tell you that fame is a double edged sword.

“You have management and the record company who have one idea and I think that as a band we wanted to show that we weren’t just pretty faces but we were very restricted with what e wanted to do.

“As far as management is concerned they just to want to stick with what’s working and flog it to death and ultimately something has to break and sadly with the Rollers that was the band itself.

“But you can’t forget that we were young lads touring the world together which was a great experience.”

After Les left the band in 1978 to persue a solo career, he had a number of hits in Japan. Well documented problems with alcohol followed plus an on-going legal battle with the record company to recover the ‘missing million’s’ which members of the band claimed they are owed for their worldwide sale – the case is still on-going.

Les remains in regular touch with former bandmate Alan Longmuir, less so with the other members of the band – Derek Longmuir, Eric Faulkner and Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood.

He has also undertaken a series of ‘revival show with other Seventies artists.

“I didn’t mind doing the Once in a lifetime shows in major arenas with the Osmonds,” he said. “But even on those show you only get about 20 minutes to do a few hits, it’s not a proper show.

“But now with The Legendary Bay City Rollers and the new show we’ll be on stage for at least two hours and you get the change to have some fun with the audience.”

The Bay City Rollers Story, King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Sunday, September 22. Details from 0844 847 1664.