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August 2, 1965. Memphis, Tennessee. It was on a warm night of the last unending road tour, that by now must have become a city-to-city blur of crowded airports, guarded hotel rooms and delirious audiences for Herman's Hermits, that I was invited to attend a "pool party" at their hotel after the show. This invitation came as I was interviewing the group before they were to go on, but the beginning of surely their wildest tour day (and night) to date began much earlier. 10 a.m. to be precise. An enthusiastic crowd met the British idols at the airport with a frantic reception of tears, screams and attempts to touch "one of them." After staying alive through the airport scene and settling into their hotel rooms, life for the Hermits (like a majority of traveling entertainers) was an attempt to catch up on a large amount of lost sleep. Very few performers get to really see the city they're visiting because it simply isn't safe to journey far from the strictly protected hotel rooms. Of course, staying inside their own room isn't terribly safe, either. Several persisitent girls had to be escorted forcefully down the fire escape to keep them from breaking down Herman's door.  About 6 o'clock in the evening, things began to really come alive as the Hermits started getting ready for the 8 p.m. show. Most of the group went down to a privately reserved section of the hotel dining room but, as usual, Herman had dinner sent up to his room. I made my entrance to their hotel at that time and found it obviously easy to identify the floor where they were staying. From the parking lot, one glance at the triple-stacked Motor Hotel revealed an unbroken line of red coated guards firmly stationed on the third floor. I casually went into the hotel lobby, smiled assuredly at the desk clerk, got into the elevator and made my way to the third floor with no questions asked. One of the guards managed to turn his duty into a profitable venture because I was immediately approached with the offer to buy something from Herman's room. Three girls downstairs screamed up their ascending bids for the souvenir and my friend (who didn't throw me down the fire escape) made a handsome profit for his night's work. The setting at this time of the evening was a constant rush from one room to another in an attempt to get everybody and their clothes ready for the show. I talked with two members of the group, who asked if I could come back to the hotel after their return from the performance. They explained that we could then have a leisurely conversation and interview. I eagerly agreed. At the Mid-South Coliseum, a capacity crowd (larger than for any other British singers) excitedly awaited their appearance. Enough policemen were on hand to ward off the most militant forces. Two girls whom I had seen earlier at the hotel came in with the group. One girl had long, straight blond hair, wore slacks and a striped knit shirt and was British. She was seen dining with Karl Green, the bass guitar player before the show. The other girl was neatly dressed in a dark red sheath, was exquisitely made up and had short brown hair. I instantly recognized her as Vikki Carr, who caused so much furor and jealousy among faithful Herman fans by outwardly flirting with him on last year's Hullabaloo show. It appeared that she might still be a contender for Herman's heart. Both girls stood in the backstage area for a few moments, then went into the men's dressing room where the Hermits were still stationed. It was apparent that the fortunate girls traveled with the group. During intermission, H and the H bravely came out into the backstage area to talk and have pictures taken with the fans. The crowd was so intense and deafening around Herman that I decided to talk with the good looking drummer, Barry Whitwam. My explaination to Barry that I would like to receive an interview with Herman under quieter and less hectic circumstances resulted in the invitation to attend an all night pool party. He said this would give me a chance to get to know Herman and the other fellows on an informal basis.. Naturally, Barry impressed me as a pretty nice guy. Fans were now swarming into the area from every entrance and policemen became fearful that pendemonium would break out. They cleared the mob, but not before two 13-year-old girls who had won a local "Herman Contest" were lucky enough to have their pictures taken with him before all unauthorized persons were asked to leave. While on stage, Herman gave himself completely and wholeheartedly to his audience, but the second that last song had ended he made a mad dash to an awaiting limousine. He knew better than anyone that this was the most dangerous part of his day. As he got into the limousine, one overwhelmed girl broke through the heavy line of policemen and grabbed the handle of Herman's car door. She hung on for dear life as the car started to leave and it took five policemen to tear her away from the door. The scene inside was stunned and subdued as fans couldn't believe Herman had actually been that near to them and now was gone. They went to the stage to touch the place where he had stood only moments ago. Throngs of people waited outside the backstage gate, refusing to believe that Herman had already left and making it impossible for anyone else (which included me) to get out of the gate. When I did finally get to the Motor Hotel there was plenty of noise coming from the swimming pool direction, and it didn't seem exactly like a private party. How so many people found out where they were staying will remain a mystery to the Hermits. |
Approximately two hundred people were all over the place. Unfortunately (or fortunately), the swimming pool was straight below the balcony of Herman's room. To the horror of the hotel manager and Herman's own manager the fellows were using the third floor banisters as a diving board. Luckily, neither the Hermits nor their awe-struck spectators were hurt. Authorities were quick to disperse the diversified pool party. Those fans who had gone to the trouble and expense of paying for a room on the swinging third floor (some were packed eight to a room) resented the majority of free-loading intruders, so an all out water battle began. Wastebaskets full of water were poured over the railing in an effort to dislodge the milling crowd. Adults who were accidentally registered at the highly reputable hotel that night could be seen in front of their respective rooms, just standing in silence, humorously enjoying the lively exhibition. I'll have to admit that though I've seen a good many celebrity evolved hotel riots, this was the swingingest one of all. One brave Hermit, Derek Leckenby, lead and rhythm guitarist, had the nerve to stand out in front of his room and watch the wild proceedings. I decided it might be wise to hang on to a Hermit just in cast some wise guy got the idea that I was an outsider. My friends and I talked with "Lek" for several minutes and he said the same situation goes on every night, all night long, with new faces and new surroundings. Though he had to admit this session was the wildest!  Being very pessimistic about the idea of bursting into someone's hotel room, I finally mustered up enough courage to knock meekly on the door. When someone slightly opened the curtain to see who was there I caught an instant look at what appeared to be two briefly clad figures so I quickly surmised that this was no appropriate time for an interview and left. I had gotten halfway down the hall as a voice from behind called, "Herman said to come in." In disbelief of what I had heard, I turned slowly, went back to the room and said, "Are you sure it's okay?" Herman had a good laugh about the whole deal when I opened the door and discovered that the two people I had seen on his bed were he and Keith Hopwood, lead and rhythm guitarist, still sitting around in their bathing suits discussing business matters with their manager. Herman invited us into his room and introduced us to the others who were there. His manager and the blond girl were seated on a bed against the wall. Vikki Carr sat in a chair next to the window. We talked about the tour and whether he liked to travel. Herman said he loves the personal contact with his fans and touring America, but confessed that he was beginning to get a little homesick. I asked what he thought of the unruly all night vigil that was taking place outside the hotel. He grinned and said, "That's why we had to come up to our room. We're waiting for them all to leave so we can return to the pool." He has observed that American young people are so much more enthusiastic and outgoing than English teens. Changing the subject to music, we established that his own favorite record the group had made was "Silhouettes." It had been an all time favorite and Herman couldn't resist the opportunity of recording it himself. Both Herman and Keith seemed immensely proud of their latest release, "Just A Little bit Better," and were hoping it would continue their long list of hit records. I asked Herman which he liked best, singing or acting, since he had worked as a television actor in England for several years. "Right now I believe I like singing and making recordings better," was the stiff-accented British reply. "I especially like the people I'm working with right now. Eventually, though, I might like to try dramatic acting in America. It's not so much fun in England." Herman said his favorite actors are Tom Courtenay, John Wayne and Albert Finney. We discussed the group's plans in the motion picture field. Their first for MGM, When The Boys Meet The Girls, is a beach party type movie which should reach local theatres by the Christmas holidays. Their next, There's No Place Like Space, stars the quintet. Herman is a delightful person to interview, even when it's approaching midnight and he's had practially no sleep that day. I inquired what time they were leaving the next morning for another city. With a sheepish stare of dread he admitted they had to be at the airport by 5:00 a.m. He said the group still flies by commercial airlines but may buy a small airplane before their next tour so they can sleep later each morning. In order for him to get a few hours' sleep we exchanged several parting remarks. I then left Herman's private world and re-entered the public side where girls stood sobbing beneath his hotel window. From just meeting Herman, I know that he is definitely not the type of person who would demand reclusive privacy or be left alone. The secret life he must now lead has been necessitated by the magnitude of his popularity. Also, because of his overwhelming success, Herman obediently remains in his hotel room during most of the hours of each day when he would rather be outside getting to know the people who think he's wonderful - and getting his share of the wild goings on in his and the Hermits' behalf. |
