  Hermits are supposed to be crabby old men with long beards who live in coves and throw rocks at birds and children. Herman's Hermits are friendly, young, probably don't shave more often than twice a week, they were staying at a hotel when we met them, and there were no reports of any stoned birds or children while the group was in town. So why are they called Hermits we wondered? According to their press agent, the story goes like this, and we quote: "The name Herman's Hermits came about in a rather strange way. It seems the lead singer, whose real name is Peter Noone, resembles a character on "The Bullwinkle Show" named Sherman. With music on everybody's mind Sherman was mistaken for Herman so he was thusly christened. Why Hermits? What else could go with Herman?" We could think of a few others...like Hangnails, or Herringbones, or Heartburn, or even Hundingers. The present line-up has been together for less than a year. Herman joined them when they were called the Heartbeats. The group was playing at a youth club that Herman frequented. One night they needed a singer. Herman stepped in and sang and hasn't looked back. The personnel of the group has changed around a bit since its formation. Karl Green (bass guitar) is the only member of the original group. As people left, Barry Whitwam (drums) was the first to join, then Derek 'Lek'Leckenby (lead and rhythm guitar) and last Keith Hopwood (lead and rhythm guitar). We talked to Herman when he was in town and this is what he actually had to say: "Our sound is not a Beatles sound. It's not the Mersey Beat. It's a happy sound. (pronounced "hoppy") Friendly. We don't want to blast anyone's eardrums out." "In our group we don't concentrate on writing and we don't have confidence In it." "If it weren't for the Beatles, we might not be in America today. The Beatles started something. A lot of kids said 'If they can do it, so can I.' The kids got guitars and drums and formed groups. The big stars used to be Someone no one could talk to. Then the Beatles came along. They were just normal kids like everyone else, with none of the big star behavior. That made all the kids think,"Well, I'm just the same as them. Why can't I make it too?" "Success has changed our lives. We don't go home as often. We have more money. We're meeting thousands of friends we don't want. You know, people who just sort of hang on." "There have always been Mods and Rockers, only they weren't always called by those names. Americans may be getting the wrong idea about the Mods and Rockers due to all the publicity. It's not as big as it's made out to be. Like, all the Mods go to one style of nightclub and the Rockers go to another. It's really just two different styles of people." "In England, everyone wants to be American. In America, everyone wants to be English. I buy American shoes. I see all these American lads buying English shoes. It's just something different."
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