JUST about everyone who knows Herman and has met him this week has heard about the day when Herman's Hermits, on holiday in Hawaii, met Elvis Presley

    Believe it or not, Herman's Hermits are the first English group to have met "The King". And Herman was almost foaming at the mouth just recollecting their historic rendezvous:

    "We got an invitation from El's manager, the Colonel, to go out to the film studios in Hawaii where Elvis was on location. So naturally we all piled out there.
    "Elvis was based in this huge hut, you know, like where the Queen would have stayed. We went in and he was so nice, just sort of walked in and said Hello Herman, how are you? We had to shake hands about sixteen times for the photographers, and meanwhile the Colonel was handing out autographed albums of Elvis'.

Excuse

    "I was surprised to find that El looked so young, and that he doesn't do a big moody. You know you'd expect him to creep about in dark glasses and all that!"
    Herman bubbled on: "I asked the Colonel why they don't come to England. He had two excuses. Firstly if they come to England they've got to go everywhere - France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Germany, absolutely everywhere - because El is fantastically popular all over Europe and it's a case of all or none.
    "Secondly, the Colonel has got a bad back and wouldn't be able to make the trip - and Elvis doesn't go anywhere without the Colonel. Actually I 		 

thought to myself, 'If they can get as far as Hawaii, why not Europe?' but I didn't say anything.
    "Then I talked to Elvis for hours about almost everything from the Beatles to Jimmy Saville! I asked him who were his favourite groups? He said: 'The Stones, the Beatles, and Herman's Hermits,' which made my day. I also asked him, how come he made it without long hair?
    "'I had long sideburns instead!' quipped Elvis.

Happy

    "It's ridiculous just how happy that lot are. The Colonel and El sit around all day telling jokes - they are such a happy circle, which, let's face it, is a lot more than some of today's pop stars!"


    FOR the last four weeks England's latest "darling" fluttering the hearts of America's pop fans, Peter Noone, has been in the US promoting his second cockney record, "I'm Henry VIII". It was subsequently a number one hit.
    Which just about sums up the sort of impact Herman's Hermits have over the waters.
    On his return to England Herman reflected on their American success: "It's a different market altogether over there. As is obvious they dig this English kick very much."
    Herman's Hermits have been accused of cashing in on "the English sound" in the States. Does he think so?
    "That's like saying 'Bananas sell well in England!' We didn't even choose 'Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter,' which was our first big 'English sound hit'. It was on one of our albums.
    "After you get one hit in the States you bring out an album. 'Mrs. Brown' was on ours, and the DJs singled it out, plugged it, and before you know it there's a great demand for it as a single release.
    "The point is, after 'Mrs. Brown' topped the charts we brought another LP which happened to include 'I'm Henry VIII.' This was immediately picked out as a potential hit record by the DJs and the same thing happened.
    "Mrs. Brown" and "Henry", hadn't been 		released as singles in Britain when they were in the States, do you therefore make completely different records for the two markets?
    "Well, we'd sooner have the English market tied up as well, but we have been out of the country for a long time. No, not always in the States as many people think. We've got tours lined up all over the place - Germany, Japan, Australia and Canada.
    "As far as records are concerned, our new one 'Just A Little Bit Better' is being released in the US and England. We're hoping and praying that it will go."
    What are the group's plans for the future. Will they be spending more time in Britain? "we have a few weeks in England now, doing TV and Radio. And, of course," added Herman, "have a bit of a rest.
    "Then it's back to Hollywood to make a film, which should be great fun. We start filming on September 1. It's a very funny film called 'No Place Like Space'.
    "Naturally I've snatched the biggest part," laughed Herman, "but I used to be an actor so I'm not too nervous.
    "The theme is about a rocket ship called Herman's Hermits at Cape Kennedy. The truble crops up when the US government don't want it to be called after us because they say, we are degenerates. You see I got the best part 'cos I read the script! Anyway we're filming for four weeks so I guess we'll see you all when we get back."

Previous | Misc. British Mag Index