It looked for sure like we'd lost Herman this time, but somehow he really did make it on the plane and then who should join him and his Hermits but the Animals. It was quite an hour.
It all started about noon one Wednesday when the Hermits made a brief stopover in Los Angeles on their way from New York to Hawaii, before returning for a couple of performances over the weekend.
Everything started out fine as the plane taxied in and several hundred excited fans gathered to greet the group.
Five ruffled and tired English lads tumbled out of the plane and somehow made their way through the fans into a side room for a press conference.
As they sat down at a long table a blast of flashbulbs hit them and Herman, pretending his hands were guns, shot them all down.
Dutch Boy
Then he took off his sunglasses and sat there looking for all the world like a little Dutch boy in his white coat, blue and white checked shirt and blue cap with his blue eyes shining.
Herman did most of the talking as they were asked about the seven figure deal they've just completed with MGM involving motion pictures and recordings.
He didn't really seem to know a lot about the group's next movie except that "it's going to be a comedy" and it's tentatively titled "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter."
Someone asked what they do with all the money they make.
"We all invest money in a few things," Herman replied.
"Like what?"
There was a long pause, a slow smile, and finally he just said "property."
The conference continued, Herman making faces, and Karl yawning periodically - he seemed to be more tired than the rest of the group.
Back Again
Herman, still doing most of the talking, answered questions about writing - "We always write our B sides, but rarely the A sides;" Los Angeles - "it's always great here;" the Stones' "Aftermath" album - "I like that album myself;" and when they are coming back - "probably September or October."
Keith got his two cents in when someone noticed he hadn't combed his hair. "They mess it up out there," he said pointing to the mob of fans just outside the door.
Lek too, got in a few words when I got him off to one side and asked if he'd seen the Beatle album that was banned here.
"Why does everyone ask that?" he queried. I explained that it caused quite a stir here and he said "everyone got all upset in England, too."
As for his opinion of the cover, he said, "Its just a picture."
A few more questions and a few more pictures and the easy part was over.
Now came the fun and games known as getting five Hermits through about five hundred fans and into a waiting plane.
As I stood across the hall beside the door they had to go through to get to the plane I saw four Hermits disappear and then reappear in front of my eyes. A couple of guards literally yanked them through the fans and onto the plane.
But then came Herman and I thought it was all over. He paused for a moment at the door to hand his sunglasses and hat to someone and the next thing I knew he too disappeared into the mob of fans.
But when he finally did appear again he was headed in the wrong direction - down the hall instead of across it.
Waving his hands and running madly down the corridor with several hundred fans after him, he really looked like maybe he might never make it to that plane.
But BEAT photographer Chuck Boyd outran the fans, stopped him and showed him another way down to the plane.
When I walked onto the plane he was sitting down with a seat belt laying loosely across him, smiling and looking like nothing had happened - and he had his sunglasses and hat back on.
As the other Hermits made their way to their seats, all noticing the attractive stewardesses dressed in Hawaiian sarongs. Lek casually sat a large stuffed something-er-other that had been given to them in the seat next to him, fastened a seat belt around it, held it's hand (paw maybe?) and told it there was nothing to fear.
Then there was quite a discussion about who wanted to go back and watch the movie. They were afraid it would be the same movie they'd seen on their way out, but it turned out to be another. Debbie Reynolds' "Singing Nun." None of them seemed over anxious to see it. I guess none of the Hermits are great Debbie Reynolds fans.
Then came the next big surprise of the day.
Animals Arrive
As I stood by the open door of the plane trying to convince myself that I really did have to get off the plane and that I really didn't want to hide somewhere on board and fly off to Hawaii with them, four rather scruffy looking guys came on board.
At first I didn't recognize them, but in the middle of them was one very short Eric Burdon looking better than I've ever seen him. He didn't need a shave, his hair was combed (somewhat) and he was even smiling!
So in strolled four of the Animals, who were originally scheduled to meet with the Hermits in Hawaii but at the last minute had come into L.A. at the same time. They made a quick change of plane without being seen by anyone except this BEAT reporter, and our photographer.
No Hilton
Hilton Valentine wasn't with the others. He's staying with friends in New York and will meet the rest of the group in Hawaii.
There were a few short words of greeting and then the Hermits settled down in the front of the plane and the Animals made for the back - maybe the Animals are Debbie Reynolds fans.
After somehow convincing myself to get off the plane, I walked back out into the still waiting gathering of Herman fans. I wondered what they would have thought if they'd known that the Animals were on board that plane also.
Rarely do you get to see two major British groups together like that, and Herman and the Animals are kind of a weird combination.
There seemed to be no great friendship or lack of it between the two groups. They just said hello and went their separate ways.
And the BEAT was there to report it all to you.
