A photobook documenting the last tour by the Bay City Rollers has revealed how popular the rock superstars were in Japan.
The Edinburgh-born group were so big throughout the Asian country, that fans were still devoted to the start in their 70s.
The Record reports that frontman Les McKeown, before his death last year, aged 65, remained an iconic sex symbol amongst Japanese fans, with woman reliving their teenage years at sold-out gigs.
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It may not be a complete surprise to those who were familiar with the band and its members, as Les was married to a Japanese woman, Peko, who asked promotor Sam Mokhtary to bring together a book at her request.
It shows how the frontman embraced the Japanese lifestyle and how his mutual love affair with the nation lasted four decades.
Sam said: “Les’s last tour was 10 dates and they all sold out. People might not realise this but Les was a massive icon in Japan, not only as a Bay City Roller but as an artist in his own right.
"His solo project Egotrip was a big success too.
“In 1979 and the early 80s he was selling out legendary venues such as Japan’s Budokan, best known for hosting the likes of Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton.
"He would still get mobbed at airports, train stations and hotel lobbies by groups of tartan-clad fans. He had this ability to turn the whole place tartan.
“Japan loved Les but he loved the country right back. He understood the culture and the Japanese sensibility – he showed them respect but he also knew how to make them crack a smile and laugh.”
In her book about Les, Peko admitted the marriage was “not all about good things”.
She said: “His demons are well-known and of course this affected his family and yes, sometimes I wanted to leave.
"I didn’t because I loved him and the mainly good times we had were beautiful.”
The couple stayed together for almost four decades, despite struggling to keep the marriage going due to his alcohol and drug problems, as well as affairs with both men and woman, according to her book.
The Rollers sold 100million records and millions had the band’s posters on their walls in the 1970s.
Their monster-selling singles, including Bye Bye Baby and Give a Little Love, both hit No1 in 1975.
In 2002, founder member Alan Longmuir, who died last year, said: “Japan was the wildest place. If we ever got together again, it would be to tour America and Japan.”
The Rollers were left penniless after being exploited by the industry, chiefly by manager Tam Paton.
Mokhtary is running a crowdfunder to produce the new book.
