The Beatles - After Paul's song, "Penny Lane" became a Beatles hit, the street signs for the actual Penny Lane in Liverpool disappeared with such regularity (as they did on the real Abbey Road), that the town reverted to simply painting 'Penny Lane' on the buildings, rather than have street signs.Biography of Ian Cooke
One half of The Vanguards Duo
Playing since around 1968, Ian performed in cabaret and pop/rock bands before becoming a DJ in 1981. In 1987 he joined Country band West Coast with whom he played four Wembley Country Music festivals between 1988 and 1993. This led to tours in Europe working with George Hug, Switzerland’s top Country singer.
Ian joined Stroller (featuring Pete Bethell) in ’93 and stayed with them for 3 years, performing at many Country festivals and venues such as the Harrogate Conference Centre and the Stables Theatre at Milton Keynes. Stroller also provided backing for American Country artists Billy Walker and Boomer McLellan on visits to the UK, and were the support act for Canadian singer / songwriter Tom Russell when he toured in 1994.
In 1996, at the height of the line-dancing craze, Ian joined the TJ McCall band, touring with the Dean Brothers and The Cheap Seats, performing at many festivals and major line-dancing events including the Dom Valley stadium in Sheffield and The Harrogate Showground.
Ian formed ‘Stroll On!’ with Pete in 2005, with the initial intention of going back on to the Country circuit, but a constant demand for sixties songs led to a decision to create a second show, hence ‘The Vanguards’.
