Herman (or is it Sherman) swings (or is it sings) as he rocks (or is it shocks) the audience wild.

And all the while his Hermits, kool as a British fogeroo stand behind him. Gad sir, what a combo!

Music-man! That tongue is coated with the stuff as that little old hermit from across the sea throws back his head and pours it out. And the other Hermits. What happened to the cave, fellas?

      From Manchester and the North of England in less than a year the Hermits have come out of hiding. And they've been making it so big that they've been out of hibernation ever since. But what about their true life story? That's been somewhat of a secret. What's this "Hermania" that's sweeping both this country and England?
      Even though Herman is the head of the group, he joined them when they were called the Heartbeats. At that time the group was playing at a youth club which Herman often went into, and one night they just happened to need a singer. "I say," said Karl Green, the bass guitar player. "What do you suggest we do about a singer? Think we can fetch one?"
      "Don't know," said the drummer. "But I do think we ought to find one in a jiffy. Words won't sound too well if no one sings them." "See what you mean" said another member of the group. "No one sings, no one hears the words. And if we tell them it's a vocal and then no one sings, do say the audience will be confused."
      All agreed, making phone calls like crazy. But they couldn't find anyone to play with them. Then they began searching the room. "Who do you suppose the chap sitting there is," said one of the guitar players.
      "Dare say, don't have the slightest idea. But have seen him about quite often. Do you suppose he can sing?"
      "Maybe we can ask him," said Karl.
      "But suppose he sings like a frog. It's not polite to insult him is it?"
      Well finally the boys asked Herman to sing with them - and this was no croak. And this was no joke. Herman was fantastic. The audience went wild.
      We hate to tell you the truth but "Herman" isn't Herman's real name. The name Herman comes from a cartoon character on TV's "Bullwinkle Show." Sherman is the boy on the show. But the group was so amused that their "Herman" and Bullwinkle's "Sherman" were so similar, that they decided to call him Herman. (Or maybe because when he talks to them sometimes he says Look here, men). Then they needed to name the rest of the group. And that was no easy job. They thought and thought and thought and finally decided because they had spent so much time hiding away in England (And were now ready to see the world) that they could call themselves the Hermits.
      Now what about the Hermits themselves? Herman Hermit is only 17 years old. He was born in Manchester, England. He did some singing at school and he took some drama lessons. On a TV show he was in, he had to sing. When he told his father about this, his father decided he should have singing lessons. So he attended the Manchester school of music and took both singing and drama classes. These all started when he was fourteen years old. Herman's ambition then was to be an actor and he appeared in a lot of TV shows. Herman who dug rock and roll like crazy used to go to a youth club at night. That's where he first heard the Heartbeats and as you know, one night when they were short of a singer, he sat in and joined them.
      After that, he just couldn't tear himself away. He loves working with the group and doesn't think he could ever go back to acting. Besides, says Herman, "I didn't really like the people in the theatre very much anyway."
      Karl Green who plays the bass guitar is 18 years old and was also born in Manchester. Karl had his first guitar when he was ten years old. He says he got it because "everyone was getting a guitar at the time." After he left school he worked as an engraver for a year and then joined a group called the Balmains - managed by his brother. When this group broke up Karl stopped playing for a year and then joined the Heartbeats.
      Derek Leckenby also plays a guitar. He's 22 years old. After Derek was graduated from high school he went to Manchester University and studied Civil Engineering for two years. One night when he was studying for exams, Barry, the drummer, came around and asked him to sit in with the group. Derek, called Lek for short, did, and Became a success with the Hermits, but failed his exams. He plans someday to go back to college and become an engineer.
      Barry Whitwam the dummer is 19 years old. Before he started with the group he was a hairdresser and worked for a year in a ladies salon before giving it up for the group. Barry took drum lessons for 2 years but taught himself a lot. And when he's not drumming, he's usually fooling around with boats and cars.
      Keith Hopwood another guitarist is 18 years old. Keith worked as a telephone engineer. He bought his first guitar at 14 and joined a local group at 16. Just as he was leaving this group he was asked to join the Hermits - so here he is.
      And now that "Hermania" is sweeping USA, England, Italy, France, Sweden - all over - the Hermits have decided to come out of hiding for good.