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Random thoughts from his grown fans, on finally meeting an untouchable man. |
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Whatever happened to the Bay City Rollers?
That was the question that I kept asking myself. More precisely, I wondered whatever happened to their lead singer, Leslie Richard McKeown. I hoped that he was happy. I hoped that he was still singing or at least doing something in the music business, but I never heard anything else about him after he left the Rollers. What happened after the Rollers?
Okay, I was a married woman in my thirties with three kids. Why did I do a search for the Bay City Rollers as soon as we got Internet access? Why was it imperative that I know what happened to Les McKeown? I can't really answer that question. I only know that that search led to a wonderful discovery. Not only did I find out the answers to my "whatever happened to" questions, I found a smorgasbord of other former BCR fans that were asking those very same questions. It was just the beginning of the adventure that would lead to seeing Les McKeown in concert again.
The Kentucky State Fair, August, 1977, the one and only Bay City Rollers concert that I ever attended. My memory of the concert itself is vague. I remember going with my best friend, Jolene. It was exhilarating just being there. We had waited so long just to see him in concert. My 14 year old life was finally complete. A local radio station was giving away a BCR package to listeners. I vividly remember tearing through the house trying to win, and I finally did. The package contained the "It's a Game" album with other various smaller prizes, such as a pair of striped toe socks. Stripes? Who put this package together? Why, oh why couldn't those socks have been back stage passes, I cried! I just wanted to be close to him. How I wanted to meet him!
Well, fast forward to June 22, 2002--Atlanta, Georgia--yes, twenty-five years later. Jolene and I are staying at the Sheraton (he's actually staying there, too) anticipating seeing him perform again. This time we realize that we will actually meet him, because there will be an autograph session after the performance. Thankfully, we didn't run into him in the hotel because now that I'm finally here, I'm so nervous . . . about meeting him and being close to him. Ironic, isn't it?
Before the Rave started, several attendees were in line when Les walked through the lobby. It's him! Suddenly those nerves that I just mentioned all made a mad dash to my stomach. "What am I going to do," I asked Jolene, I can't get his autograph. I will throw up on him!" She assured me that I would not and if I did, that she didn't know me.
The Rave was a smashing success. Les and the Legendary BCR put on an incredible show, and my nervousness vanished as his performance sparked in my imagination the metamorphosis from teen idol to an actual person. Honestly, there's not much of a story to tell about my actual face to face with the man. It was during the autograph session and I felt a bit self conscious and yes, still a little nervous. I did put my head as close to his as I could with that darned table between us and got a great picture to prove that I finally got to meet him.
I left Rave last year with a greater appreciation for Leslie McKeown. The magic voice and the electric stage presence were reminiscent of years gone by and only enhanced by maturity. He was everything that I thought that he would be and more. More than anything else I will always remember that line of fans waiting to get his autograph and just wanting to be close to him, like I dreamed of twenty-five years before, and I will remember how he sat there until every single one was finished.
After all of the autographs and such were signed, several of us were sitting around talking, reluctant to leave after waiting to see him for so long, when Les came down the steps to leave. He asked if we were having a "love-in," and I remember thinking that is exactly what that weekend had been.
I will always cherish my memories and pictures from Rave 2002. It was a twenty-five year old dream come true.
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