SOME PEOPLE seem to think that marriage is contagious, and now that Hermits Barry, Keith, Karl and Lek have taken the giant step - everyone expects me to be next! After all, it wasn't too long ago that all five of us were footloose and fancy-free. Now the other lads are all family men and I'm the lone bachelor! I always knew that the boys would get married someday. But I didn't expect it to happen so quickly - one right after another!

THE MARRIAGE BUG

Karl Green started the ball rolling. He and Jill were wed in March '67. Karl met Jill about three years ago. She sang with a girl's group called the Dollies, and they did a tour with us in England. Barry Whitwam and Keith Hopwood got married at about the same time. Barry's bride, Dale, was a nurse. They spent their honeymoon in Miami Beach, Florida, last winter, cos we had to tape a TV show there that week. Guess what?! By the time you read this Barry will be a daddy! The baby is due in September, and I kind of think both Barry and Dale are hoping for a little girl. Keith and Penny have already made the rest of us Hermits "uncles". In July, they became the proud parents of a beautiful little boy. They call him "Dax". Derek Leckenby was the last Hermit to take his marriage vows. Lek and Leonie were wed just before we started on our summer tour. So you can still call them "newlyweds." But the marriage bug didn't only hit the Hermits. It even got to our co-manager, Charlie Silverman. Charlie and his brand new bride Melanie said "I do" in New York City on September 5 - and I served as their "best man." Thank goodness our other manager, Harvey Lisberg, is still single, or I'd really be the only one left to tease!

ME FICKLE??

I have nothing against marriage. The truth is, I think marriage is great. But it's only great when you find the right person. I know myself and I couldn't get married now. For instance - I'm fickle! My tastes change so quickly. When I was 17, I liked "noisy", bubbly girls. Now, at 20, I think I like quiet types. Who knows what type of girl will attract me tomorrow?? Also, I like to be in different places. I'm restless and I get bored staying in the same place too long. I've thought I was in love four times (by the time you read this it might be six), but every time I feel that I'm really in love - I get scared!! I begin to think and wonder if I'm doing the right thing - is she really right for me? When I reach that point, I convince myself that if "she" really were the one for me, I wouldn't be thinking and wondering so much - I'd just be head over heels in love! I very much want to get married someday, but that's one thing I plan to take my time about. You see, my marriage has to last a long time - a whole lifetime!

BREAKING UP

Oh, before I forget - there's one other very important thing I want to explain. Wedding bells are not breaking up "that old gang of mine!" In fact, nothing is - or ever will! The truth is, marriage hasn't really changed Barry, Keith, Karl and Lek at all as far as our group is concerned. Actually, now that they have more responsibilities, the boys work even harder. They still enjoy life as Herman's Hermits and we want you to always remember: married or not, we all truly love each and every one of you, cos you've brought us lots of happiness, and most important of all - you've shared a big part of your lives with us!