Alan Longmuir

Alan Longmuir (20 June 1948 – 2 July 2018) was a Scottish musician and a founding member of the 1970s pop group, the Bay City Rollers. He played the bass guitar in the band whilst his younger brother Derek Longmuir was drummer.[1]

Alan Longmuir
Birth nameAlan Longmuir
Born(1948-06-20)20 June 1948
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died2 July 2018(2018-07-02) (aged 70)
Larbert, Scotland
GenresRock, pop rock
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsBass guitar
Years active1970–2018

Biography

Longmuir was born at Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion Hospital, Edinburgh. His father was an undertaker. 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, a man ten years his junior, who would in turn make way for Pat McGlynn. 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]

In 1977, Longmuir released "I'm Confessing", which peaked at number 44 in Australia.[4]

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.[5]

Longmuir was married twice, first to Jan Longmuir, from 1985 until their divorce in 1990; they had one son, Jordan.[6] His second marriage was to Eileen Rankin, and lasted from 1998 until his death; Eileen had two sons of her own.[7] In 2016, it was claimed that Eileen had fought backstage with the wife of another band member, after the latter criticised Alan Longmuir's playing at a reunion concert.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10][11]

References
  1. "Obituary - Alan Longmuir, bass player with the Bay City Rollers". Herald Scotland. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  2. Diane King (2 July 2018). "Alan Longmuir family issue heartfelt statement after star's death". Edinburgh News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018.
  3. Pierre Perrone (11 April 2009). "Tam Paton: Disgraced former manager of the Bay City Rollers". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. "Alan Longmuir obituary". The Times. 3 July 2018. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018.
  7. Liam Rudden (2 July 2018). "Bay City Roller Alan Longmuir obituary: From Gorgie tenement to superstardom". The Scotsman Edinburgh News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018.
  8. "Bay City Rollers wives in 'backstage bust-up'". Access All Areas Edinburgh. 12 July 2016. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  9. Stephen Naysmith. "Tributes paid after 'original' Bay City Roller Alan Longmuir dies from mystery bug". Herald Scotland. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  10. "Bay City Rollers bassist Alan Longmuir dies aged 70". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  11. "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
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