|
|
|
If you liked the last two movies that featured Herman's Hermits, you can look forward to lots more in the future. The boys have just signed a seven-figure multiple deal, in excess of one million dollars, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which encompasses motion pictures and recordings. Under the new arrangement, Mickie Most will continue to exclusively record the Herman's Hermits. The Hermits will be starred in a number of motion pictures for MGM. The act's first motion picture, "Hold On," was a big success. A number of old and new motion picture properties are under consideration, including one entitled, "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter," written by Trevor Peacock (writer of the hit song), and "A Day At The Circus" originally made by the Marx Brothers. "Mrs. Brown" may well be the Hermits' next picture. This represents quite a step up inthe world for the Manchester lads. Herman is the son of an accountant. He was born at Davyhulme, Manchester, on Guy Fawkes Day, 1947 ... his full name is Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone ... he is 5' 9" tall, weighs ten stone, has fair hair and blue eyes ... he studied music, voice and drama at Manchester School of Music for four years, from the age of eleven ... he first entered show business when he was eleven years old in a TV series, Knight Errant - he also appeared in Family Doctor as an actor ... and later became known to millions of TV fans as Len Fairclough's son in Coronation Street ... he has had eight million-selling discs - and three million-selling long players ... he lives in the Prime Minister's constituency of Huyton, Liverpool ... he owns a 3.8 Jaguar and a 7 litre Cadillac - but has still to pass his driving test. The Group personnel are: Karl Green (bass guitar) is 19 years old and was born in Salford, Manchester on July 31st, 1947. Karl had his first guitar at the age of ten. "It was really because everyone else seemed to be getting one at the time," he says. On leaving school, Karl worked as an engraver for |
a year, and then joined a group called the Balmains, which his brother managed. When this outfit broke up, Karl gave up playing for a year and then became one of the original memebers of the Heartbeats. Derek Leckenby (lead and rhythm guitar) is 23 years old and was born in Leeds on May 14, 1943. Derek is nicknamed and always known as "Lek." He moved to Manchester when very young and attended grammar school. From there Lek went to Manchester University where he studied Civil Engineering for two years. Lek had owned a guitar for some time and had taught himself to play. One evening Barry Whitwam came around to his flat while he was studying for his exams. He said that he knew Lek had a guitar and that they were a guitarist short in the group. Lek stood in and later joined up. He carried on with his studies but, unfortunately, failed his exams. Lek would like to take up his studies sometime in the future and it is his ambition to earn a degree in Civil Engineering. Lek likes reading, particularly biographies and autobiographies. Barry Whitwam (drums) is 20 years old and was born in Manchester on July 21st, 1946. He first started to play when a local group had a vacancy. Two people were after the job, but Barry bought a kit first and was taken on. He had nine months' training as a hairdresser and worked for a year in a ladies' salon before giving it up for the group. When this group broke up, he joined Herman and the Hermits. They changed the name to Herman's Hermits the night he joined. Barry had two years of lessons on the drums but has taught himself a lot. Likes messing around with boats and cars. Keith Hopwood (lead and rhythm guitar) is 19 years old and was born in Manchester on October 26th, 1946. Keith attended grammar school and on leaving, worked as a telephone engineer. He bought his first guitar at fourteen and joined a local group at sixteen, playing with them for six months. Just as he was packing his group up, he was asked to join the Hermits. Likes records and clothes. A simple liking for music has certainly paid off for Herman's Hermits. |