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YES, it's true what they say about Herman. He looks like a doll made after himself - too blonde, blue-eyed, cheeky and adorable to be real. We know, cause we saw him in person at his very own press conference at the Americana Hotel in New York City. Picture a ballroom elegantly arranged with good things to eat and drink all over. Chic looking ladies in large brimmed hats are smoking cigarettes out of holders and well dressed purposeful young men are chatting among themselves. They don't look like rock 'n' roll rans, but just watch them when they see Herman. They can't resist. What is it about that boy? He reaches everyone. You look into his face and something personal occurs; he's the little innocent boy seemingly lost in a big, strange world. You want to offer your protection but, in spite of his look, he is always in full control of the situation. He sure proved that at the Americana. While the press became more and more flustered Herman didn't balk for a second. He answered all questions (no matter how ridiculous) with the same boyish charm. One reporter asked, "Why do you wear your hair so long?" He probably expected a highly serious answer defending teenage tastes all over the world, but Herman fooled him with a shrug of the shoulders, a scratch of the head and the following explaination: "Cause I got funny ears, I've always had funny ears," and everybody roared. Then somebody asked him to discuss the differences between American and English girls and which he preferred. "Oh I don't know, it seems to me all girls over the world are the same, they just dress a little different and some got funny accents." |
Herman's own accent is what we in America might call "funny"; it's the thickest Northcountry you ever heard without h's, t's or d's or hardly any consonants at all. But Herman can sure communicate in any language there is. His message is easy enough to understand; don't take things too seriously, it's not worth it. Laugh, stay on top of things and they won't bother you. Herman is instinctive and spontaneous rather than intellectual in his approach to just about everything. Life doesn't bug him, he lives it joyously and immediately. Perhaps the reason that everyone feels so close to Herman is that he's really no different from ordinary people who don't have millions of dollars. He says that success hasn't changed him and from all appearances he's telling the truth. No one looks less phony or calculating than Herman. Problems of being famous? There just aren't any so far as Herman is concerned. Life is a lark when you're on top ... but then when you aren't? Time will take care of all that. Right now there's just too much fun. Someone did ask Herman what, if there is anything, does he dislike about being a celebrity. "Yeah, there's one question we all get tired of; it's the old story of how we named our group. You see its a long story and not really very interesting. We wanted to call ourselves something uncommon, and there's this TV show called Sherman, so we changed it to Herman 'cause there's no one in England named Herman and then ... oh but you don't want to hear about that ..." As for the other Hermits, they seem a bit shy, but then who wouldn't next to Herman? Herman's Hermits record for MGM. |