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The name Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone may not ring a bell in all quarters. But anyone who has been near a juke box, radio, or television set in the last couple of years knows him as Herman, leader of the fantastically successful British "pop" group, Herman's Hermits Eighteen year old Herman and his four Hermits - who all come from Manchester, England - have won international fame through their top-selling records of such hits as "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" and "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter." They have also actually surpassed the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Dave Clark Five in one respect - making their film debuts in Hollywood. After a "guest" appearance in the Connie Francis - Harve Presnell musical, "when The Boys Meet The Girls," Herman's Hermits have now gone on to star in their own Hollywood film, "Hold On!" Vocalist and undisputed leader of the Hermits, Herman - alias Peter Noone - was born on November 5, 1947, in Manchester. He's one of the few "pop" singers in the business today who actually had a thorough musical training. Peter studied violin, piano and music theory at the Manchester School of Music. After a heavy day studying the classics, Peter listened to popular music for relaxation, and became an ardent enthusiast of the new "mod beat" that was emerging. "Hermania" started when a group called The Heartbeats was entertaining at a small Manchester Club One night when their vocalist was absent, Peter was asked to step in. He never left. Of the original Heartbeats, only bass guitarist Karl Green (19) remains. He and Peter were eventually joined by rhythm guitarist Keith Hopwood (19), lead guitarist Derek (Lek) Leckenby (21), and drummer Barry Whitwam (20). Searching through magazines for a name for the new group, the boys decided they liked the sound of 'Sherman' best. But finding nothing to rhyme with Sherman, they decided on the similarly sounding 'Herman', and then on the Hermits. They started off as Herman and the Hermits, but in April, 1964, adopted the name of Herman's Hermits. While performing in Manchester, a London record producer heard about them, flew to Manchester to look them over, and immediately signed them to a record contract. Their first disc, "I'm Into Something Good", was a smash hit when released three weeks later, and within a few months, Herman's Hermits had four singles and two albums topping the record charts. Since then the boys have made guest appearances on most of the top British and American TV variety shows, and have toured America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel and Turkey. |
   It was on their second record-breaking tour of America in 1965 that they made their Hollywood screen debuts in "When The Boys Meet The Girls". they recently returned to Hollywood to film "Hold On!" for M.G.M., who have signed them to a long-term contract. Between tours and Hollywood films, Herman lives in the Beatles' hometown, Liverpool, with his parents and two-and-a-half-year-old sister, Suzanne. Peter also has another 19-year-old married sister. Ironically, after playing "pop" music most of the time, Peter now turns back to classical music when he wants to relax! HIS FILMS: "When the Boys Meet The Girls", "Hold On!" |