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well it doesn't, of course, apply to our boy Herman. So that title of his hit record "A Must To Avoid," might seem a trifle inappropriate. But there was a time - not so long ago - when some people were whispering unkind remarks about Herman. But only to do with his music and one facet of his personaity, we hasten to add. MICK JAGGER went to record as saying that Herman's records were "wet and watery." Others have actually accused him of being a "big-head." Still more have hinted he's one of the "out crowd" with the "in crowd" - meaning especially the beat groups like the STONES, ANIMALS, and ravers of that swinging ilk - and MARIANNE FAITHFULL. SO, JUST TO MAKE HERMAN FEEL AT HOME, I PUT THESE POINTS TO HIM AS HE WAS ABOUT TO BOARD A PLANE FOR AUSTRALIA AT MANCHESTER ON MONDAY. Now, you might expect a mere 18-year-old to be a bit upset when confronted with such pointed hometruths. NOT A BIT OF IT! "It doesn't worry me a bit what they say," he chirped. "And if MICK did say I'm 'wet and watery,' then maybe he couldn't think of anything better at the time. 'don't mix' "Anyway, I don't really know the STONES. I've only met them casually."But Herman does feel some affinity towards the ANIMALS. "I met them in Los Angeles when I was making the film, 'Hold On!' They came to a party we threw. I got on very well with all of |
them - especially JOHN STEEL and CHAS CHANDLER. "But I don't really mix much with any of the groups. I'm not one to go to the same clubs in London. Whenever I have any spare time, I prefer to travel back to Manchester or Liverpool and look up some of my old pals. "Really, I'm a bit embarrassed to talk to the groups. We haven't got a lot in common on the musical side. I don't care at all about blues singers and jazz. And I know a lot of them do. Our interests are just not the same." Well, that makes sense. You can't really imagine ERIC BURDON doing "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" or a George Formby number like "Leaning On A Lampost." 'matured' What about that "big-headed" bit? Herman is quite frank about it. "Oh yes, I was a bit big-headed at first," he said with refreshing candour."Especially when I was acting in films around the age of 13, and when I first came into the business and started making it big. "But I was only 16," he went on. "Now, I have matured a bit, and have learned to be grateful for what I've got. I think I'm very lucky." DOES HERMAN SEE A FUTURE FOR HIMSELF IN COMEDY FILMS? "Not particularly," he said. "I'm just happy to carry on the way I am - doing tours and making records, with the occasional film." Just to prove that Herman's fans at least are as loyal as ever, the girl at Manchester's airport flatly refused to put a call over the intercom for "Herman" when I first called him. "WE'D HAVE A STAMPEDE HERE," SHE SAID. So the call went over in the name of Peter Noone - the name Herman's proud Mum knows him by. I'm not saying unkind things about Herman, anyway. He may have been a bit brash in the past. But not these days. And he gave me a nice parting thought as he dashed to catch the plane. "I'll bring you home a boomerang," he said. HE DIDN'T ADD WHETHER HE WAS GETTING ANOTHER - TO TOSS IN THE DIRECTION OF MICK JAGGER! |
