HERMAN THE CUTE CUT-UP BECOMES HERMAN THE SHARP-TONGUED CRITIC
OOOOH - WHAT HE SAID!
  

Herman Blasts Byrds, 'B's

    There's one thing about Herman and his "little boy" image - he can turn it on and off at will.
    And there was no better example than a few days ago when he suddenly dropped his sweet kid role and began sounding off with some comments that scroched the hair on quite a few people's necks.
    The very first thing which Herman wanted to scream about was the condition of the British pop scene.
    "All our good groups are leaving the country because it's such a sick scene. In England to earn 300 pounds a night you have to travel miles around. But in America I have earned 8,000 pounds in one night. So why not go to America for a few weeks. Nothing's happening in England.
Kinks Fade
    "Look at the Kinks - they started fantastically well but they are just another group now with a 100-yard sprint to catch up with the Big Two, the Stones and the Beatles.
    "We're just a group, so why shouldn't we go to America where we are an English group?
       "In America I really work on the 'little-boy-lost' image. But it's true - I really am thick!'
    That was a mouthful and Herman began to feel just a little bit better but he wasn't quite through yet - he still had some more to say.
    In fact, he had a solution for Britlain's "sick scene." "We need something new, something as big as the Beatles or the Stones. They are the kings of the theatres and Georgie Fame is king of the clubs.
Knocks Byrds
    "As for the Byrds - we've got five million groups as good as the Byrds. They're just a second-hand Rolling Stones.
    Next on Herman's agenda was a little mud-slinging in the direction of one of England's top teenage shows, "Ready Steady Go."
    "'Ready Steady Go' does more harm than good. The only excitement you get on the show is a shot of a girl's skirt and you say 'how disgusting' and talk about it for hours."
    And with that parting shot Herman got down from his soapbox, put on his sweet little boy smile, and went happily off to play the Hermits' next date.

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