IAN BORTHWICK
// bass/vocals
As a child, Ian’s musical future first began with playing trumpet but at the age of 12, the music scene of the time encouraged him to pick up a guitar and before long, he was confidently strumming and singing while the desire to perform just grew and grew.
When a little older, he even ended up as ‘Roadie’ for a band where he gave his help for free in exchange for being allowed to get up on stage and sing a couple of numbers. In this way he gained his first stage experiences and very quickly went on to become an extremely competent solo performer. So much so that at the age of 18 he met Hughie Green and Royston Mayoh on the set of Opportunity Knocks and although ‘THE CLAPPOMETER’ unfortunately said ‘NO’, a chance meeting with other musicians on the show resulted in Ian singing and playing guitar with his own band.
After a few hectic years and alongside his brother, who was also a talented vocalist, he created a superb harmony band which, for the next 14 years, opened many doors for them at venues all over the UK. These included sporting events, 60’s weekenders and some of the largest holiday camps around the coast where they appeared as support act to a string of 60s legends including Gerry Marsden, The Fourmost, Freddie Garrity, The Dakotas and The Hermits.
Ian recalls one really fun night when darts champions, Eric Bristow and Bobby George decided to join them on vocals. “Maybe the harmony wasn’t quite so sweet but the audience just loved it”. After a further 3 year stint with a top class Hollies tribute band which again took him around the country, Ian teamed up with the show Billy Meets Cliff and revealed that not only was he a long time admirer of Billy Fury, but that he used to perform many of Billy’s songs himself in his own solo shows years before. It was obviously just meant to be and Billy Meets Cliff benefits so much from the ‘Engine Room’ drive that Ian produces, not to mention his exceptional vocal ability and input.
