Everyone suffering from Beatlemania will be happy to hear there's been a new addition to The new addition is called Hermania, and wow, is it contagious! And so are its inventors,Herman's Hermits.
    How to catch Hermania? Turn on any radio anywhere and you're hound to come down with it. Herman and his Hermits have had two giant hits already, I'm Into Something Good and Can't You Hear My Heartbeat. And a third winner is warming up at the gate.
    As those already bearing up tinder a strong case of Hermania already know, Herman's Hermits is the working name of five of the most adorable Britishers to ever invade our fair shores.
    The group, now recording on the MGM label, was formed only last year. Herman (whose real name is Peter Noone) had always been very keen on pop music, and particularly liked a group then appearing at a youth club in Manchester. They were called The Heartbeats, and one night when they were short a lead singer, Herman stepped out of the audience, offered his services and was a smash.
    Where did Herman's Hermits get their kooky name?
    One of America's top cartoon shows, "Bullwinkle," also appears in Jolly Olde England. A favorite with all the members of the group, they soon noticed the side-splitting similarity of a "Bullwinkle" character named Sherman and their new lead singer. Mistaking the name Sherman for Herman, they christened Peter with this new tag. The Hermits were added because everyone felt the two names were a perfect fit.
    Teenagers all over the world have been having a perfect fit over Herman's Hermits ever since.
The group was brought to the attention of independent record producer Mickie Most, the man responsible for the hits of the Animals and the Nashville Teens. Mickie traveled to see Herman's Hermits at a concert in Bolton, was immediately impressed by their sight and sound, and signed them to a recording contract. Their debut disc was an instant success, and also a prophecy. Herman's Hermits were definitely into something good.
Thanks to the near-instant Communication now in effect between our country's and England's music scene, the group's first recording was a simultaneous hit in both countries.
    Herman, the youngest member, was born in Manchester, England, on November 5, 1947. He studied drama and was able to secure parts in many of Britain's biggest television Shows. His first real brush with singing occurred when a part on "Knight Errant" required him to vocalize. His father decided Herman should rake singing lessons, so the junior Noone attended the Manchester School of Music for two years, studying mainly classical vocals. Herman's acting career was going quite well when he was "discovered" by the Heartbeats. He loves working with the group and has now given tip all thoughts of going back to acting.
    "I didn't really like the people very much, anyway," says Herman.
    Karl Green, bass guitarist, Was born on July 31, 1947, in Salford Manchester. Karl had his first guitar at the age of ten. "It was really because everyone else seemed to be getting them at the time," he said.
    Upon leaving school, Karl worked as an engraver for a year. He then joined a group

called the Balmains, managed by his brother. When this combo broke up, Karl gave up playing for a year and later became one of the Heartbeats.
    Derek Leckenby, lead and rhythm guitar, was born in Leeds on May14,1943, Derek is nicknamed and always known as "Lek." He moved to Manchester when very young and attended grammar school there. He then went to Manchester University where he studied Civil Engineering for two years.
    Lek has owned a guitar for several years and taught himself to play. One evening a friend dropped by his flat while Lek was studying for exams and told him they were short a guitarist in a newly formed group. The friend turned out to be Barry Whitwam, and the group Herman's Hermits. 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 college career sometime in the future and hopes to earn a degree in Engineering. He likes reading, particularly biographies and autobiographies..
    Barry Whitwam, drummer (if the group, was born in Manchester on July 21, 1946. He first started to play when a local group had a vacancy. Two drummers were after the job but Barry was chosen. He had nine months training as a hairdresser and worked for a year in a salon before giving it up for full time work with he group. When this group dissolved, he joined Herman's Hermits.
Barry has had two years of lessons on the drums, but has mostly taught himself. His hobbies are boats and cars.
    Keith Hopwood, lead and rhythm guitar, was born in Manchester on October 26, 1946. After grammar school, he worked as a telephone engineer.
    His first guitar was purchased at he age of 14, and he joined a local group two years later, playing with them for six months. Just as he was packing to look for another combo, he was asked to join Herman's Hermits. His hobbies are records and clothes.
Karl Green is the only remaining member of the original Heartbeats.
In the November, 12, 1964 issue of the famous Mersey Beat, a Liverpool music paper, the following blurb appeared. Herman's Hermits for States in December to do radio and TV dates,including the Ed Sullivan show..
    At the time this was printed, Herman and his Hermits were torn between excitement and apprehension. They'd started as a sensation in the North of England, and grown into world-wide recognition almost overnight. They'd toured England, Canada, and other countries and their record was at the top of the charts everywhere. But what they considered the true test of their group was still in the future..
    One half of their biggest dream was to visit America, and the other half was to have us like them in person as much as we liked their sound.
    The apprehension was quite natural, for most British artists feel that if you don't make it big in America, it's only a matter of time before you stop making it big anywhere.
    Herman and his Hermits needn't have worried.
    Their American visit was a fabulous success, and through the medium of television they won the hearts of the American teens they were unable to see in person.
Many groups have come and gone, both English and American. The music world has always been this way, and always will. There will always be One-Hit recording artists.
    This was the group's next worry, and again they needn't have concerned themselves. Their second disc took off like wild fire, and so, everyone is positive, will their third.
    Herman's Hermits will be paying a return visit to America soon, and if they think they got the Red Carpet treatment this time, wait until next!
    Youngest of all the groups of the day, Herman's Hermits are individually and collectively a blast. And besides being great to look at and listen to, they have a strangely wonderful quality about them. They're so infectiously happy and warm hearted, they're almost angels.
    But not quite.
    There's just enough devilry to make them not almost, but absolutely perfect!

Herman and his Hermits are almost angels... but not quite!

Previous | Teen Screen Mag Index