"They can see we're enjoying ourselves, and they can tell we like them and appreciate them. We're not trying to shove a message down their throats, or playing them jazz or anything complicated. We're not complicated people, anyway. We're just being ourselves."     So said Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone alias Herman - wide-smiling and boyish front man of Herman's Hermits. Just being himself has brought him world acclaim, roles in major movies, hit records, sell-out stage tours in a dozen different countries. His bank manager has a wide smile too.     Herman was born in Davyhulme, Manchester, on November 5, 1947. Yes, Guy Fawkes Day ... and the fireworks haven't stopped ever since. He was a lively lad at school and at eleven went to the Manchester School of Music to study music, drama, speech training and singing. While there he got acting parts in such telly series as "Knight Errant" and "Coronation Street" ... in the latter he was Len Fairclough's son. Another chap named Davy Jones, now a Monkee, got a useful leg up in that series, too.     Like most youngsters, Herman was attracted to the local beat clubs. Specially to watch and hear a group called the Heartbeats. One night their singer failed to show. As in the best of movie stories, young Peter went up to sing, and wowed 'em.     His alleged similarity in character to Sherman of a TV cartoon series, led to him being nicknamed Herman. The "Bullwinkle" telly-comedy shows had unwittingly thrown up a giant new star name in the pop music industry. In Manchester, "Hermania" was IN. What Manchester thought then was to seep through to London in double-quick time.     Out came "I'm Into Something Good" - which earned a Gold Disc for selling more than a million copies. Nothing could stop the run of follow-up biggies ... "Just A Little Bit Better," "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat," "Wonderful World," Henry The Eighth," "Mrs. Brown," "No Milk Today," "There's A Kind of Hush," ... right through to today when Herman's Hermits have a long-term passport into the world charts.     Though Herman has inevitably grabbed most of the publicity, he won't let people forget his mates in the group behind. Karl Green, Barry Whitwam, Keith Hopwood, Derek Leckenby. Each has a vital part to play: each does it with a mixture of musicianship, humour - and the ability to stay "themselves," even after long years in the spotlight.     At seventeen, Herman himself became the youngest person to be voted into Britain's Top Ten of Best-Dressed Men. Could be that he is already a millionaire, but talking about money is NOT one of this star's weaknesses. Herman goes for the uncomplicated life - enjoying every moment of his life on stage or in front of the cameras ... but also happy to get back home to his lovely young wife, Mireille.     He remains one of America's favourite "adopted" sons. And that despite the current trend towards progressive, underground pop which has thrown up startlingly bizarre characters playing startlingly complex music. Herman sticks with simplicity, with recognisable melodies, pleasant lyrics - something of a harkback to the old days of vaudeville, yet with an essential mod-ness about it, too.     Let an American write sum up what THEY think of him. "He has the sea blue eyes that have the intimacy of clever people and the wide grin which keeps the eyes from being adult. He has the presence of an actor and he is one. He is not a teenager who plunks a guitar and gyrates with ersatz eroticism ... he is the entertainer.     "He's Puck, mixing up the magic dust in the Enchanted Forest."     Herman's Hermits, ladies and gents. A giant attraction. PETER JONES, Record Mirror.

previous page - | - back to Tourbook Index - | - next page

Copyright 2000 Peter Noone, No1one, Inc. All rights reserved.

hermanshermits.com