Mania: Tartan, Turmoil and my Life as a Bay City Roller

By Stuart Wood

Stuart Wood’s love of music was ignited at fourteen when he, along with three schoolmates, formed a band. By the time he turned fifteen, he had left school to pursue a career as an electrician, blissfully unaware of the whirlwind that awaited him. Suddenly, he found himself living the life of a superstar, whisked away in limousines, pursued by frenzied fans on every continent, and thrust into the ranks of one of the bestselling groups in history.

Between 1971 and 1977, Edinburgh’s Bay City Rollers achieved ten top-ten hit singles, four top-ten albums, two number-one singles and two number-one albums. For five years, they were the biggest pop teen sensation since the Beatles.

But the music industry was not all glitz and glamour. Stuart had no inkling of the ruthless machinery behind the scenes, exploiting his talent and dreams.

Rollermania swept the globe, the Bay City Rollers conquered hearts and charts, selling a staggering 300 million records. While many claim to know the full Rollermania story, for the first time, Stuart – one of the few people who lived it – tells his story. Mania is a celebration of one of the world’s biggest bands and their enduring legacy, a rollercoaster ride through fame, fortune and the unforgettable music that defined an era.