Scam-a-lang: Ex-Roller Alan Longmuir's identity is stolen by Costa Blanca barber

Published on Friday 31 December 2010 11:06

IN HIS heyday he was one of the world's most famous pop stars, with millions of devoted fans around the world.

POP STAR: Alan Longmuir with a photo of himself at the height of his fame with the Bay City Rollers. Now someone is posing as him in the Costa Blanca

Now ex-Bay City roller Alan Longmuir is living a much quieter life at home, laid off work as a plumber after a bout of pneumonia.

Or is he . . . ?

To his astonishment, it has emerged that he appears to have a bizarre identity crisis – and that a second "Alan Longmuir" has turned up in Spain, also claiming to be the ex-Roller.

"Senor" Longmuir has been dining out in the Costa Blanca on tales of his days as the tartan troupe's bass guitarist, dropping hints that the band is about to reform and promising appearances any day now from ex-singer Les McKeown. With an uncanny resemblance to the former pop star and a string of detailed stories about his time in the band and his personal life, the Spanish Longmuir has managed to convince many that he's the real Roller.

But the suggestion that he's living the life of an ex-pat in Spain has come as news to the real Alan Longmuir, who says he is surprised to hear his identity has been "stolen".

"There are some real weirdos out there," he said. "I've had them all – from one girl who used to post cornflakes through my letter box every morning so I'd have my breakfast, to people who just follow you around. But this is the first time I'm aware of anyone else actually pretending to be me.

"Makes you wonder why someone would do it – after all, it's more than 30 years since the Rollers were famous."

His impersonator's cover was blown by a Costa Blanca ex-pat who contacted the Evening News with her suspicions.

"He's very plausible," she said. "He says he's been living in the Costa Blanca for four years and that before that he was in Bournemouth. He's working as a barber just now.

"Anyone that didn't know much about where the real Alan is at the moment would be easily taken in. He has a definite look of Alan Longmuir about him and he says all the right things.

"For example, he says that Les McKeown is due to visit him in the New Year – Les is very active on the touring circuit and it's not unimaginable that he might visit the Costa Blanca, so it's very easy to believe what he's saying."

Alan, 62, said the news helps solve the mystery of why one friend from America contacted him recently to ask when he'd moved to Spain. "He was convinced I'd moved. Maybe this is why."

Alan, who lives on the outskirts of Stirling with wife Eileen, said he can't understand why someone would choose to pretend to be him.

"It's not like I'm loaded, living a fabulous lifestyle or that my name gets me anywhere.

"It's all a bit weird. I suppose there's a sinister side to it too, how do I know what he's saying? He might just be using my name to sponge drinks in bars, but what if he's taking it further? Then it becomes a worry."

And there's a dose of irony between his own situation and that of his identity "thief", he added.

"I've hardly worked all year because I came down with pneumonia and pleurisy. I've had a rubbish year – I broke my ribs when I fell on ice last winter, then was made redundant.

"To be honest, the guy in Spain is probably having a better time pretending to be me, than I'm having. It would be a better idea for me to adopt his identity, go and live in Spain and enjoy myself as him."

From Hollywood mansions to a small semi

IT'S a long way from sex kitten Britt Eckland's Hollywood mansion, where the Bay City Rollers once dined for lunch, to the small semi-detached house near Stirling that Alan Longmuir now calls home.

At their peak, the tartan clad-troupe were more famous than the Beatles, they rubbed shoulders with Hollywood royalty and were chased by fans wherever they went.

Longmuir even recalls turning down a handwritten invitation to meet John Lennon just two days before he was shot, because he was too busy. But while the Rollers enjoyed fame, fortune was less forthcoming. The remaining members of the group are still embroiled in a string of court battles aimed at securing payment for their music.

Lack of royalties was matched by lurid headlines surrounding their late manager Tam Paton. In 1982 he was jailed in connection with indecency against under-age boys, and later cleared in relation to claims he'd raped Roller Pat McGlynn.

And there was shame for drummer Derek when, in 2000, he was given community service for possessing child pornography.