"GENTLEMAN" John Cooke had a noble send-off worthy of his romantic hero "Don Juan" - complete with a white carriage drawn by two plumed horses, which bore his coffin to Stourbridge Crematorium.
More than 150 friends and family joined in a celebration of the life of the 67-year-old musician and poet, well-known for cycling around town wearing his trademark bandana.
Music composed by the drummer, including "Skin 2 Skin", was played during the service at the packed crematorium, with many standing outside.
World renowned blues musician Gwyn Ashton serenaded mourners on his hollow necked lap guitar with a piece written specially by him for the funeral.
Another friend, singer Jemma Stone, performed a song written by Mr Cooke, called "Where you're dancing".
Tributes were also paid by Katharine Heathcock, sister of Stourbridge classical composer Marcus Tristan, who read a message from another dear friend of Mr Cooke's, Susan Muir, who now lives in Goa.
Mandy Mole recalled her poignant memories of Mr Cooke, while lines from the late musician's favourite poem Byron's "Don Juan" were also read.
Jolyon Barker, who compered the service, said a committee of friends, including Mr Cooke's nephew Julian Pugh, had organised the ceremony.
He added: "John was a very spiritual man and we all decided that somebody who understood and knew him should MC the service.
"It was an honour and a privilege to serve my beautiful brother and friend in this way.
"John was noble and majestic in spirit - a beautiful person who was generous and magnanimous.
"We thought a Mercedes or a Rolls Royce would not have been good enough for John - he needed the noble horses pulling his coffin in a white carriage."
At the wake, held at the Talbot Hotel in Stourbridge, a display was made of his bicycle and drums and an enlarged photograph of him in his younger years, looking the very image of a "Don Juan".
Mr Cooke, of The Broadway, Norton, died on July 30 from a heart attack.
Among those attending the funeral were representatives of Stourbridge Rotaract Club, for which Mr Cooke raised an estimated £2,000 more than 45 years ago through an 80-hour non-stop drumathon - attended by Led Zeppelin's John Bonham.
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