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THE world is his oyster. Nineteen, and Fifth Avenue is his kingdom, and no wonder his spirits are higher than skyscrapers. Had you told this chirpy little Manchester bundle two years ago, when he was playing a small part in "Coronation Street", of the swift and breathless transition his life was about to take, he would have just grinned and said something cheeky. Although fame for Herman has been enormous in comparrison with his height and years, it is no mistake. It didn't just happen out of the blue. He always wanted to be in show business. At 14, he was combining singing and acting lessons at the Manchester School of Music. His first TV part was in "Knight Errant" when he was 14, too. Maybe he went slightly off course, because it was always acting that appealed to him. Even so, his sense of comedy has not been frustrated, because he could never resist clowing around, whether at interviews, on stage, or just with his friends. His actual singing career started when a group he used to watch at his local youth club, were without a singer. Hermans stepped in, they dug him, the audience dug him, and he joined them permanently. The group was called the Heartbeats. Gradually, there were changes in the line-up, and in April, 1964, many more heartbeats nearer success, the group renamed itself, Herman's Hermits. His success in the States has been overwhelming. "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" entered the American Hot Hundred at No. 12. In a way he was fortunate to hit the land of hamburger bars, slot machines and fast-moving |
traffic at a time when to be English was to be the greatest. In fact, that feeling still goes. Girls think an English accent is so cute, they pass right out sometimes if an Englishman dares to open his mouth. And expressions like 'cor blimey' and 'nice weather we're having', can land them up in a convalescent home for several weeks! Therefore, bearing this in mind - who, but who, whether bobby-soxer or switched-on parents (American parents are so obsessed and preoccupied with digging what their kids dig, that it's almost a disease) could resist Peter Noone, who crowned himself Herman? The most infectious thing about Herman though, is the fantastic youthful vitality which he radiates. It's so catching, it makes you want to grin all over your face, like he does. At the moment, he's grinning even harder because his ambitions as an actor are being swiftly realised, too. The boys have completed their second film, in which they star this time. It's called "Hold On", and it's best described as a romantic Space comedy. Get that! Our pictures were specially taken during filming, when the boys were relaxing at the fabulous home where they stayed. The Beatles used it when they were appearing in Los Angeles on their last tour. Such a super time was had by all, that the boys invited all their folks over to California to spend a week on the West Coast. herman's little sister went, too (see our cover). Doesn't it make you green, looking at all that sunshine? You gotta admit, though, Herman's sure walking on the sunny side of the street. |