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WHAT a conquest of America by Herman the Hermit! Plans are made to elevate him to film-star status. He has been offered roles in a film starring Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews and in a new version of "Girl Crazy" starring Connie Francis. And look what happened when he clashed with President Johnson ... Out of one door, from a vast auditorium in Chicago, stepped the president. There was a ripple of applause from the crowd. From the other side of the building at the same time walked Herman - 17-year-old Peter Blair Noone, from Manchester. Immediately the night air was filled with a bedlam of screams. It took twice as many policemen to protect young Master Noone as Mr. Johnson needed. Surely a unique distinction to upstage the President on his home ground. But grabbing the limelight is becoming part of daily life for this boy. Peter Noone sounds like a young edition of George Formby. He sings old songs with a new beat, and is the emerging hero of millions of pop fans in America. In six weeks of touring the United States Herman's Hermits have soared up and up on a phenomenal chain of successes. The other four in the group, all from Manchester, are Derek Leckenby 20, Keith Hopwood 18, Karl Green 17, and Barry Whitwam 18. They have won five Golden Disc awards with hits like "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter," "I'm Into Something Good," "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat," "Silhouettes" and a long-player. The Hermits accept their success with remarkable maturity and common sense. "Nothing fancy for us," said Peter. "We all realise we're havng a great run, but you aren't |
going to find any of us rushing out and buying a couple of Rolls Royces or anything stupid like that." He gathered his Hermits together 14 months ago. "The kids like us because we are all kids ourselves," he said. "They want to marry us. You should see the state some of these 10 and 15-year-olds get into. "They come to look at - to touch us if they can. They see themselves in us. Not like the Beatles any more. They are old men. We're in the right age bracket and when we pass out of it maybe our success will go with it. "But it won't bother me. If it all ends tomorrow I wouldn't do myself in. You see, we can still remember what it's like to be broke. "And we can remember our pay just 18 months ago for one night's work was 5s. 9d. When we had paid all our expenses - our bus fares - we were left with the fantastic sum of 2d." Now their reward for a one-night appearance is close to £2,000. The amazing thing is that the Hermits have climbed to the top in America before reaching the heights at home. "It's all because of George Formby," said Peter. "They've never heard of him in America and some of his old numbers we sing just tickle them to death. And they go wild about the accent." When I left Herman and his Hermits in the early hours of the morning, Peter Noone was whistling yet another old George Formby favourite. I'd like to tell you what it was but I was sworn to secrecy. "That is our next Golden Disc, I hope" he said. |