Former Bay City Rollers band member dies aged 62

The Bay City Rollers: Stuart Wood, Derek Longmuir, Les McKeown, Eric Faulkner and Ian Mitchell with Twiggy
Photo: Andre Csillag/Shutterstock — The Bay City Rollers: Stuart Wood, Derek Longmuir, Les McKeown, Eric Faulkner and Ian Mitchell with Twiggy Photo: Andre Csillag/Shutterstock

Former band member of the Bay City Rollers Ian Mitchell has died aged 62.

Mitchell, from Northern Ireland, was the first person to join the band from outside of the band’s hometown of Edinburgh.

He was with the band for a short time, joining in 1976 when he was just 17 and leaving after seven months.

Ian Mitchell joins the Bay City Rollers, replacing Alan Longmuir in April 1976. Picture: David Liddle

The official Bay City Rollers Facebook page released a statement announcing Mitchell’s death in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

It said: “We are deeply saddened by the news of Ian Mitchell’s death. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Wendy, their family and friends. Rest In Peace, Ian.”

Mitchell joined the band to replace bassist Alan Longmuir. The group’s success had taken its toll on Longmuir, who was also significantly older than the other band members.

While with the Bay City Rollers Mitchell recorded one album, Dedication, in 1976, and had a hit cover of the Dusty Springfield song “I only Want to be With You.”

The track reached number 12 on the US charts.

Mitchell left in late 1976 as the band’s popularity began to dwindle. He was replaced by guitarist Pat McGlynn.