Died On This Date (April 8, 2009) Tam Paton / Controversial Manager of Bay City Rollers
themusicsover Thomas “Tam” Paton
August 10, 1938 – April 8, 2009
Scotland born Tam Paton was the manager and main mouthpiece for 70s pop sensations, the Bay City Rollers. Paton helped develop a squeaky clean image for the band by claiming for instance, that the guys preferred milk over alcohol. “Rollermania” exploded around the world thanks to such hits as “Saturday Night” and “Shang-a-lang.” The band fired Paton in 1979 afterwhich he went on to earn millions in real estate. In 2003, Rollers guitarist Pat McGlynn announced that Paton, who was openly gay, raped him while on tour in 1977. The allegations though never doubted were never proven true. Paton was convicted of sex and drug related offenses in later years. He died as a result of an apparent heart attack on April 8, 2009.