More than half a century ago a tartan-clad Scottish boy band took the music world by storm but as several hundred joyful people at Wexford National Opera House danced the night away, those decades seemed to just melt away.
While only one member of the chart-topping Bay City Rollers is still alive, their legacy lives on as a five-member group led by original guitarist, Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood, pumped out dynamic feel-good songs that transformed the historic auditorium into a lively disco, bringing audience members to their feet for most of the evening, singing songs from their youth and waving tartan scarfs, the iconic fashion accessory for true Rollers fans.
Rollermania became widespread in the early 1970s and the audience was reminded just why that was so as they re-ignited a medley of the group’s biggest hits such as ‘Shang-A-Lang,’ ‘Bye Bye Baby,’ and ‘Saturday Night,’ the latter released globally in 1975, perhaps the most successful record in the group’s history and their first number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 the following year.
Together the current Bay City Rollers, Ian Thomson on lead vocals and guitar, John McLaughlin on vocals and keys, Mikey Smith on bass guitar, Jamie McGrory on drums, and Woody himself on guitar, blend classic hits with a renewed passion and energy that bridges generations of fans. Evidence of this being the preponderance of grandmothers, mothers and daughters at the concert.
Known as the ‘tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh,’ the Bay City Rollers sold an estimated 120–300 million records worldwide, making them one of the best selling acts of all time globally, and one of their iconic hits, ‘Keep On Dancing,’ a cover of a 1965 hit by The Gentrys, won a roar of approval from the cheerful Wexford audience, even more so when it was dedicated to founding member and bassist Alan Longmuir, who fell ill and passed away several years ago while on holiday with his wife in Mexico.
When the group launched into another of the ’70s hits ‘Remember (Sha La La La),’ decibels rose even higher in the auditorium. The band also played songs from The Bay City Rollers’ debut album, Rollin’, which had become a smash hit all those years ago, remaining on the UK album chart for a solid 62 weeks.
Before Woody and his fellow musicians took to the stage, the audience was well entertained by the impressive opening act talents of local guitarist and tenor singer, Mark Waters. Mark’s vocal range is remarkable which he amply displayed with a range of contemporary ballads and country classics such as ‘Ring of Fire’ by Johnny Cash, ‘Delilah,’ recorded by Tom Jones and ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ by Bob Dylan.
Great credit to the National Opera House for helping bring a much appreciated dose of musical nostalgia to so many people last night.
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