IN MEMORIAM - FOREVER IN OUR TEENAGE HEARTS

The "Still Rollin" fan community recently proved that the Bay City Roller spirit is alive and well.

 

In a touching tribute to two of the band's most iconic members, the group successfully spearheaded a fundraising campaign to install permanent memorial benches for Les McKeown and Alan Longmuir in Edinburgh’s historic Princes Street Gardens.

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​Princes Street Gardens nestled in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, has long been a place of reflection and beauty. It is now also a site of pilgrimage for Roller's fans. The two benches serve as a permanent "thank you" to:

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• Alan Longmuir: The founding member and "calm center" of the group, who passed away in 2018.

• Les McKeown: The charismatic front-man whose voice defined the band’s golden era, who passed away in 2021.

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​The fundraising effort was born from a desire within the Still Rollin community to create a space where fans from around the world could congregate and remember the joy the music brought them.

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​Despite being spread across continents—from Japan and North America to the UK and Australia, fans organized through social media to hit the ambitious financial targets required by the City of Edinburgh Council for commemorative benches. The campaign utilized:

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• Online Crowdfunding: Small donations from thousands of fans quickly added up.

• Commemorative Merchandise: Sales of fan-designed memorabilia helped bridge the funding gaps.

• Virtual Events: Fan meet-ups held via video calls kept the momentum high during the height of the campaign.​

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The benches aren't just simple seats; they are inscribed with messages that reflect the deep bond between the artists and their audience. Placed strategically within the gardens, they offer a view of the city the beloved band once called home, allowing fans a quiet moment of nostalgia.

 

​For many, these benches represent more than just two musicians; they symbolize a youth defined by catchy choruses, screaming fans, and a sense of belonging to a global community.

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The success of the "Still Rollin" campaign highlights a unique modern phenomenon: the power of legacy fandom. Long after the charts have changed, the community built around the Bay City Rollers remains a supportive, active force. By securing these spots in Princes Street Gardens, the fans have ensured that even as time "rolls" on, the contributions of Les and Alan will never be forgotten by the city—or the world.

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"We wanted a place to sit with them one more time," noted one community organizer. "Now, whenever a fan visits Edinburgh, they have a home."

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The dedication of these memorial benches was a true labor of love, fueled by personal history and a unique contribution from the band’s own lead guitarist.

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The benches were officially unveiled in March 2025. They are located in Princes Street Gardens, specifically overlooking the Ross Fountain—a site with deep historical meaning for the band.

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• Les McKeown’s Bench: The inscription honors his legacy as the voice of the band. His wife, Peko, shared that Les loved walking through the gardens and reading the plaques, often remarking that he’d like one there someday.​

• Alan Longmuir’s Bench: Dedicated to the founding member, its location is particularly poignant; it sits near the Ross Bandstand, where Alan and his brother Derek gave their very first public performance as schoolboys at a Saturday variety show.​

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While fans raised a significant portion through the auction of Les’s stage clothes (donated by his wife, Peko), the campaign reached its goal thanks to a surprise gift from Eric Faulkner, the band's principal songwriter and guitarist. 

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Faulkner discovered well-preserved cassette tapes from the 1970s containing unreleased demos and rare songs. He donated these treasures to the "Still Rollin" fundraiser. Fans who donated £20 or more to the GoFundMe received the EP, which was described by organizers as the "biggest thing to happen in the fan community in 40 years."

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The "Still Rollin" community continues to organize regular events to keep the memory alive.

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Recent events held were a massive gala at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh in October 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rollin’ album and a US based 50th celebration in October 2025, marking their first visit to America in 1975.

 

The group remains very active on social media and through TD1 Radio, which hosts a weekly four-hour show dedicated to the Bay City Rollers.

 

​​The benches now serve as a "permanent home" for fans who travel from all over the world to visit Edinburgh, ensuring the "tartan" legacy is physically woven into the city’s landscape.