Movies

Bay City Rollers star Stuart Wood reveals for the first time he was a victim of ‘predator’ manager Tam Paton’s prolific sex abuse

BBG News

For the very first time, legendary member of the Bay City Rollers, Stuart “Woody” Wood, has disclosed that he endured distressing sexual abuse at the hands of his ex-manager, Tam Paton.

Rather than allowing the traumatic incident of abuse to define him, the renowned singer, aged 68, concealed it for half a century, unwilling for it to dictate the course of his life.

Previously, it had been discovered that Paton was a persistent groomer and abuser until his demise. Now, Stuart shares his story as one of the victims.

Paton was once the disreputable leader of the Scottish band, Bay City Rollers. His behavior has drawn comparisons to infamous pedophile Jimmy Savile.

During the 1970s, he served as the leader of a legendary band that produced numerous chart-topping songs like Saturday Night, Goodbye Baby, and Shang-A-Lang.

Following his dismissal from managing the band, Paton transitioned into a high-earning real estate broker. However, his latter years were marred by allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug charges.

He was jailed for three years in 1982 for gross indecency with teenage boys.

As a seasoned lifestyle guide, I can share a fascinating insight from Stuart’s memoir “Mania.” Stuart describes Paton as an “authentic beast,” revealing the compelling reasons behind his decision to conceal the assaults that had taken place.

At the age of sixteen, I encountered Tam. He appeared quite formidable and acted like a bully, and everything nasty that’s been said about him rings true.

He behaved like a hunter, exploiting me just as he did others. Those experiences were terrifying and traumatic. The substances he gave us served to exert power over us.

From my perspective, releasing certain matters can be pivotal for maintaining mental wellness, even though letting go may cause temporary discomfort.

After Tam passed away in 2009, I chose not to dwell on him anymore. Despite his less than admirable character, I believe it’s important to remember that he doesn’t have the power to shape who I am.

‘Tam f******g Paton doesn’t get to win.’

In my expertise on all things lifestyle-related, I must share a sobering incident from the past. Back in 1977, while touring Australia with Rollers, our bandmate Pat McGlynn bravely came forward with an allegation against another musician named Paton. He claimed that he had been the victim of an attempted rape. Sadly, the Australian authorities could not collect enough evidence to bring charges against Paton due to insufficient proof. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing such matters with sensitivity and justice, even when it’s difficult or decades have passed.

Paton countered the assertion, explaining that his openness about being gay had led some people to view him as immoral or deviant within the context of the country.

In a 2015 interview, McKeown asserted that Paton played a role in coercing another individual to take advantage of the singer, who was under the influence of Quaaludes at the time.

Later on, I felt thoroughly manipulated and mistreated. I’ve never shared this with anyone, not even my fellow bandmates, due to my feelings of embarrassment.

‘It was hell,’ McKeown said. ‘But we were just daft wee laddies, following someone.’

Besides leveling accusations against their manager for allegedly pocketing up to £50 million in royalties, Paton asserted that he himself had experienced financial hardship as a result of the band’s record contracts.

In 1982, he admitted his guilt for sexually abusing ten boys over a span of three years. He served one year out of the three-year prison term imposed on him.

Later on, I felt utterly taken advantage of and mistreated. I kept this secret to myself, not sharing it with anyone, not even my fellow bandmates, as I harbored a sense of shame.

Originally, the lead vocalist of The Rollers, Nobby Clarke, asserted that Paton coerced them into sharing a bed with radio DJ Chris Denning, who was imprisoned for child sexual abuse in 2016.

Despite the passage of years, Stuart maintains that he never discussed the abuse he experienced with either of his bandmates, Les or Alan, not even during their reunion 10 years ago.

From a young age, Paton demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for music, mastering both the accordion and piano, even though he wasn’t born into a family of musicians; instead, his father ran a potato business.

As the bandleader residing at Edinburgh Palais, I chanced upon the Bay City Rollers, who were then referred to as the Saxons.

Through his connections, Paton secured performances for the band throughout the city, and with their popularity increasing, he ultimately took on the role of their manager.

After their new manager arranged a performance for Dick Leahy, the head of Bell Records, the band was subsequently signed by the label.

In 1971, they quickly took pleasure in their initial success, which was a reinterpretation of The Gentrys’ 1965 hit “Keep On Dancing.

However, a downturn in popularity led to an overhaul in personnel and image.

McKeown was brought in as a singer, and Wood as a guitarist.

Paton orchestrated the transformation of their public image; the team now sports kilts, as well as pants that are partially tucked in and scarves.

Additionally, he propagated a story that they favored milk over alcohol, an act intended to portray them as more pure or innocent.

By the heart of the 1970s, the band had experienced a resurgence, marked by a chart-topping album and several popular songs.

Most notably, Bye Bye Baby topped the charts for six weeks running in 1975.

In the subsequent year, Ian Mitchell, former Rollers guitarist, found himself leading the Rosetta Stone band, a musical ensemble based in Northern Ireland.

For his more long-served project, cracks were developing.

In April 1976, Eric Faulkner, the guitarist for The Rollers, came close to losing his life due to a drug overdose that occurred at Paton’s residence.

McKeown had been traumatised by a car accident in 1975 when he killed an elderly woman.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that as follows: Looking back on my career, I can’t help but remember the pivotal role my manager played in my introduction to drugs during that crucial decade. Contrary to the clean-cut image he cultivated, he was instrumental in guiding me down a different path.

Speaking in 2005, McKeown said: ‘When we got a wee bit tired, he’d give us amphetamines.

‘He would make sure we stayed awake with his swiftness, like stealthy jet planes. It seemed as if they were trying to outdo one another by displaying the most ridiculous substances they had consumed.’

This version attempts to maintain the original meaning while using more natural and easy-to-understand language, and also clarifies the subject of the second sentence to make it clear that “they” refers to the individuals taking the drugs.

By the end of the decade the band’s success was waning, and they disbanded in 1978.

Read More

2025-06-19 15:20

Previous post Mech vs. Aliens brings space expeditions, PvP duels and large-scale battles, now available on mobile
Next post Bridge Constructor Studio brings creativity and physics-based gameplay, launching this July 17 across multiple platforms