'70s pop sensation Les McKeown has been living secret gay life for 30yrs.

Byline: ANI

London, February 18 (ANI): Pop singer Les McKeown, 53, has been living a secret gay life for the past 30 years, it has emerged.

According to reports, the lead singer for the '70s pop sensation the Bay City Rollers has admitted it in front of cameras for a TV documentary.

His wife Peko has been stunned by the revelation, as she had no idea he has been meeting strange men for sex throughout their marriage.

The first person Les told the secret he had never shared with anyone was a therapist.

The singer told the therapist that the ethos of his addiction to alcohol is a symptom of underlying emotional problems.

Les revealed that aged 19, at the height of the Rollers' fame, he was raped by another man.

"Date rape is the best way I can think of to explain how I was cajoled into a situation through drugs into having sex with another man," the Mirror quoted him as saying.

"It happened in America in a hotel room. I was given Quaaludes, a drug for lowering your inhibitions and making you horny. If a girl took it she'd be all over you.

"Afterwards I felt really used and abused. I never told anybody about it, not even the other guys in the band, because I was ashamed.

"Maybe part of the shame was that I'd actually enjoyed it. Before that, I'd always thought I was straight, but what was happening to me was very erotic and I felt pleasure from it.

"Now I think a lot of the shame I've felt ever since has to do with the person who did that to me. I hated him.

"I tried to drink it away and push that memory into obscurity. The knock-on effect was that I found myself attracted to men, and now and again I've taken action on that," he added.

Les also admitted to having had a dozen gay partners in all.

"I've been a bit of a George Michael, meeting people, often strangers, for sex. Not in public toilets - I'm not big on the unhygienic side of things," he said.

"These days you'd meet online and figure out a place where to meet - your place or mine. I certainly wouldn't introduce myself as Les from the Bay City Rollers.

"I'd say my name was Les but they weren't really interested in surnames. We weren't going on dates, we were just getting together for sex.

"I had a couple of regulars I'd see quite a lot of, but I didn't have what you would call a relationship with them. It was just meeting the same person for sex.

"I don't think I ever put myself in dangerous situations and I think I'm a good judge of character. I have had an Aids test.

"I'd always use protection but sometimes, because of the drinking, I couldn't remember what I was doing last night and there was that nagging fear: what if? Afterwards there was no guilt or shame, and Peko would be none the wiser," he added.

Les also said that his Japanese wife, who he met in 1979, was very angry when she came to know about his secret life.

"She said, 'You little s***!' I've kept this secret from her for all these years because I was afraid of losing everything I'd got. But I think she was relieved when I did tell her," he said.

"She told me she did have suspicions about my sexuality. Actually, I think my bisexuality is a minor thing compared to what else she's had to put up with.

Peko, however, is still standing by him.

"I've apologised to Peko. We're going to see how things go," says Les, who is also repairing his relationship with his son. (ANI)

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