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IT was hardly three years ago when a little guy from Manchester, England with a broad, toothy smile and a cute British accent formed a group with a silly name and made a record called "I'm Into Something Good." That title turned out to be the understatement of the year - almost immediately it jumped up into the No. 1 spot on the pop charts. The magic was beginning! Herman's Hermits were rushed over to tour the States with Dick Clark Productions. While on tour, their second record, "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat," was released to become another No. 1 single. Fan mail bombarded their publicity agents, teen magazines, the Dick Clark office and radio stations throughtout the U.S. demanding more of this cute British group - but especially Herman (Peter Noone). They got it! In June of the same year Herman's Hermits returned on their own private tour. They appeared on "Shindig" and within less than a year Herman was the idol of American teenagers, ranking only after the Beatles and the Stones, winning gold records, enjoying demands for more and more personal appearances. And being envied by hundreds of entertainers who still hadn't made it. Especially in England! NO TALENT Back in his native country, the pop music trade was saying, "Herman & His Hermits! You can't be serious!" For this group, which had won the eyes and ears of every teenager in the U.S., was still just another group in England, no better known than ten other groups and generally considered to have less talent."He can't sing very well, he can't act very well, he can't even play the guitar very well - all he can do is look cute and act charming!" That's what one of the top-British talent brokers said no too long ago. What's more, England's hippies were digging the raunchier groups singing "soul" music. WHY HERMAN? But Herman is neat and clean! He's almost old-fashioned in appearance and his act is more in the nature of traditional vaudeville - corn and all!America's teenage girls love him - his act and his songs! They love him in every Smalltown, U.S.A. And if you make a nasty comment about their Herman, they'll literally tear you apart. All Herman has to do is appear on stage and he turns on every girl in sight. He's charming! He's the cutest guy to hit the stage in a long time, with sea blue eyes and a broad, youthful smile. And - when he's singing he looks like he wants to talk to you. He also has a fantastic command over his audience. In the midst of deafening screeches from his fans, all Herman has to do is say "Shush!" and within minutes everybody really quiets down. What other English group can make that statement? The hippies can say what they want - but, Herman is a millionaire at 19! He's sold over 10 |
million records, played live before a million fans, has appeared before hundreds of millions on "Shindig," "Hullabaloo," "Where the Action Is" and is still in fantastic demand. Herman's Hermits made a movie "Hold On!" and Herman alone co-starred with Michael Redgrave on ABC-TV's, "The Canterville Ghost." His fans demand more and so the commercial eyes of Hollywood and television obey that command.
HOW IT BEGAN Rock 'n' roll wasn't Herman's first taste of stardom. Before reaching his teens, he had a role in "Coronation Street," a British TV soap-opera. But, Herman's early ventures didn't end there. He started selling a local football paper in Manchester, where that sport is very popular. "My parents didn't know - they'd have gone through the roof - but I sold papers 'till 10:30 on Saturday nights and even employed other kids, paying them a percentage.Finally, in 1964 a group called the Heartbeats was playing at a local club in Manchester. This group gradually broke up until only one remained - Karl Green. Karl got together with three other boys and, while playing one night, a little 17-year old joined them for a song or two. His name was Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone! The audience loved him! That boy who came for one night never left! As a matter of fact, the audience loved him so much that Karl Green, Derek Leckenby, Keith Hopwood and Barry Whitwam decided he should be the leader. This group became Herman's Hermits. You know the rest of the magic! But even now those way-out hippies and insiders in England sneer at his success. They refuse to concede that Herman really has something which rightfully earned him the acclaim he's won. and Herman is even more determined than ever to prove they are wrong. THE NEW PETER So, for Peter Noone, the battle for success is beginning all over again. The cheerful fun-loving Herman is looking more serious these days - and a bit more nervous. "There are still so many things I want to do," he said. "Although our records have been successful, I feel that we have achieved very little. I want to do something that will give me real personal satisfaction."Peter has enough money to live very comfortably for the rest of his life, but he wants to act - seriously act. And he plans to study acting right now! "I think we can make far better films than "Hold On!" Peter somewhat sadly goes on to say, "When we were broke we naturally wanted to make more money. But now we've made it we're probably not as happy as we were." Was it mainly charm and appeal that put him on top? Even Peter Noone himself wants to find that out. And he's doing something about it! Peter Noone, Esq., the determined millionaire from Manchester, is determined to prove to the world - and especially his scoffing fellow Englishmen - that the success which seemed to come so easily was based on real talent! |
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