Alan Longmuir
Alan Longmuir (20 June 1948 – 2 July 2018) was a Scottish musician and a founding member of the pop group the Bay City Rollers. He played the bass guitar, whilst his younger brother Derek Longmuir was drummer.[1]
Alan Longmuir | |
|---|---|
Longmuir (right) with the Bay City Rollers in 1976. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alan Longmuir |
| Born | 20 June 1948 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 2 July 2018 (aged 70) Larbert, Scotland |
| Genres | Rock, pop rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1964–2018 |
| Formerly of | Bay City Rollers |
Biography
Early life
Longmuir was born at Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion Hospital, Edinburgh. His father was an undertaker.
Bay City Rollers
A member of a musical family, he formed his first band at the age of 17, with his brother Derek and two others. They changed their name and line-up to become the Bay City Rollers.[1] Until their career took off, he worked as a plumber.[2]
In 1976, at the height of the band's popularity, Alan Longmuir left and was replaced by rhythm guitarist Ian Mitchell, who was ten years his junior. Tam Paton, then the group's manager, alleged that Longmuir had tried to commit suicide. Paton's own conduct was later revealed as a contributory factor in the unhappiness of some band members.[1][3]
Longmuir returned to the group in 1978 following McGlynn's departure, and thereafter switched between bass guitar, rhythm guitar and keyboards. He also played piano accordion.[4]
Later Works
In 1977, Longmuir released "I'm Confessing", which peaked at number 44 in Australia.[5]
Personal life
Longmuir was married twice, briefly to Jan Longmuir, from 1985 until their divorce in 1990; they had one son, Jordan.[6] His second, lasting marriage was to Eileen Rankin Longmuir, from 1998 until his death; Eileen had two sons of her own, to whom Alan was a devoted step-father.[7]
While owner of the Castle Campbell Hotel in Dollar, Clackmannanshire, he suffered two heart attacks and a stroke,[7] and in 2000 he decided to retrain as a building inspector.[8]
Death
Longmuir died on 2 July 2018 at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, Scotland, after contracting an illness while on holiday in Mexico, where he had been a patient at the Galenia Hospital in Cancún but had been cleared to return home. He was 70 years old.[9][10]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Rollin' |
|
| Once Upon a Star |
|
| Bay City Rollers |
|
| Wouldn't You Like It? |
|
| Dedication |
|
| It's a Game |
|
| Strangers in the Wind |
|
| Elevator |
|
| Voxx |
|
| Ricochet |
|
| A Christmas Shang-A-Lang |
|
Live albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Rollerworld:Live at the Budokan 1977 |
|
Singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1971 | "Keep on Dancing" |
| 1972 | "We Can Make Music" |
| "Mañana" | |
| 1974 | "Remember (Sha-La-La-La)" |
| "Shang-a-Lang" | |
| "Summerlove Sensation" | |
| "All of Me Loves All of You" | |
| 1975 | "Bye, Bye, Baby" |
| "Give a Little Love" | |
| "Don't Stop the Music" | |
| "Love Me Like I Love You" | |
| 1976 | "Saturday Night" |
| "Money Honey" | |
| "Rock and Roll Love Letter" | |
| "I Only Want to Be with You" | |
| "Yesterday's Hero" | |
| "Dedication" | |
| "Don't Worry Baby" | |
| 1978 | "Where Will I Be Now" |
| "All of the World Is Falling in Love" | |
| 1979 | "Turn On the Radio" |
| "Hello and Welcome Home" | |
| 1980 | "God Save Rock & Roll" |
| 1981 | "Life on the Radio" |
| "No Doubt About It" |
References
- ^ a b c "Obituary - Alan Longmuir, bass player with the Bay City Rollers". The Herald. Glasgow. from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Diane King (2 July 2018). "Alan Longmuir family issue heartfelt statement after star's death". Edinburgh News. from the original on 3 July 2018.
- ^ Pierre Perrone (11 April 2009). "Tam Paton: Disgraced former manager of the Bay City Rollers". The Independent. from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Hal Erickson (1 September 1998). Sid and Marty Krofft: A Critical Study of Saturday Morning Children's Television, 1969-1993. McFarland. pp. 200–. ISBN 978-0-7864-3093-2.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 181. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Alan Longmuir obituary". The Times. 3 July 2018. from the original on 3 July 2018.
- ^ a b Liam Rudden (2 July 2018). "Bay City Roller Alan Longmuir obituary: From Gorgie tenement to superstardom". The Scotsman Edinburgh News. from the original on 3 July 2018.
- ^ Stephen Naysmith. "Tributes paid after 'original' Bay City Roller Alan Longmuir dies from mystery bug". The Herald. Glasgow. from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- ^ "Bay City Rollers bassist Alan Longmuir dies aged 70". The Independent. from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "Alan Longmuir, 70: Founding member of the Bay City Rollers, who made 70s hits". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
Bibliography
- Stambler, Irwin, Encyclopedia of Pop, rock & Soul. 1974. St. Martin's Press, Inc., New York, New York, ISBN 0-312-25025-8