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BACKSTAGE WITH HERMAN: Imagine a small, brightly lit theater dressing room, unfurnished except for some mirrors. Several photographers and magazine people and two husky policemen mill around restlessly, waiting. Then imagine sudden chaos as five noisy, grinning young men in high-heeled boots and natty navy-blue suits burst in (the same kind of confusion you'd get if five shaggy, tail-wagging English sheepdog puppies were unleashed in the same room). That's the way it was when we went backstage to interview Herman's Hermits before one of their recent concerts. The group is one of the hottest English singing groups going now (remember "Henry the Eighth," "Wonderful World," "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter"?). It's also one of the youngest. From the top, left, they are Herman (real name Peter Noone), the lead singer, spokesman for the group and an unabashed ham. He's a blondish 17-year-old with an infectious grin, made even catchier by the fact that he seems to have a few too many teeth. Barry Whitwam, 19, is the drummer and practical joker. Derek (Lek) Leckenby, 22, plays lead and rhythm guitar, is the group "brain" and plans to finish college as soon as he has time. Keith Hopwood, 18, lead and rhythm guitar, is quiet (but not very). Karl Green, 18, bass guitarist, is the one girls seem to like the most. Flashbulbs popped and we kept firing questions: Were they nervous before a performance? Herman said "no," then cowered and bit his nails in mock terror. Did they notice any differences between English and American teenagers? Lek answered chivalrously that American girls were perhaps a bit prettier. Herman grabbed someone's camera and "shot" our photographer, young Nicholas Bossard, recently arrived from Switzerland (this was his first American job). Then the boys went back onstage, and we went out to watch the show. It was a smash.
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