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Herman's Hermits were not among the initial wave of British attractions to ride the Beatle crest to America. Their own arrival, four and a half years ago, and the continuing success they have since enjoyed are characterized by two outstanding features: First, the remarkable manner in which they have sustained and extended their phenomenal popularity in the U.S. and second, that they stand in manners and music, as perhaps the most appealing of all the English groups. The young boys from Manchester, England, could in fact easily pass for the typical boy-next-door ideals.
Peter Noone, the "Herman" of Herman's Hermits, is 21 years old. As the world's top teen idol, Peter received more fan mail than any other current star in the teen idiom. On November 2, 1966, Peter made his solo debut acting and singing on ABC-TV's production of "The Canterville Ghost." He appeared with Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Sir Michael Redgrave in a new musical adaption of Oscar Wilde's classic. In December, Peter and the group returned to the United Staes for a ten-day, ten-city tour prior to beginning their next movie. CBS-TV crews joined them on tour and taped portions of it both on stage and off for a special documentary entitled, "The Pop Rock Revolution," directed by David Oppenheimer and aired in April. The Hermits were also featured on ABC-TV's recent special entitled "Go," a pop-op programme which told the story of today's teen generation in music and dance.
Peter Noone (Herman): Born in Manchester, England on November 5, 1947, Peter entered show-business as an actor at the age of 11. Before joining the group at 16, Peter had already won acting roles in theatre and on TV.
Educated at St. Bede's College and Stretford Grammar, Peter has an infectious personality and possesses a sense of self-honesty which seems totally unaffected by his sudden rise to fame. The British Clothing Manufacturers voted him one of the ten best dressed men in 1966, reflecting his interest in clothes.
Karl Green: Adept on both the guitar and harmonica, Karl used to be a process engraver. Among his favourite composers ... Beethoven and Lennon-McCartney; Among his goals ... to make money by doing something enjoyable. Born in Salford on July 31, Karl is 6 feet tall and weighs 11st 5 lbs. He is the group's practical joker and provides welcome laughter during hectic recording sessions, tours and concert dates. He likes "happy people" and dislikes too much make-up on girls.
Derek Leckenby: Derek is the eldest member of the group. As accomplished guitarist with perfect pitch, Derek makes sure all sound equipment is perfect before each performance. Before joining up with Herman's Hermits, he was studying to be an engineer. Derek's favourites include travel, swimming, reading and driving. His nickname to the other Hermits, as well as to their millions of fans, is simply "Lek."
Keith Hopwood: Guitar-playing Keith would like to have more time for his music studies. Eventually, he plans to build a career as a composer. Now twenty, Keith is 5 ft. 9 in. and weighs 9st 10lbs. For relaxation, he collects records, reads and attends horror films. Conceit is his particular aversion, and he is widely celebrated for his collection of kooky hats.
Barry Whitwam: Barry is a drummer for the Hermits. A former hairdresser, his warm smile is noticed almost immediately. Barry has a rather unusual hobby - exploring caves - as well as the more mundane pastimes of boats and cars. A native of Manchester, Barry is handsome, 5 ft 11 in and weighs 11st 7 lbs. He is perhaps the quietest, most reserved of the Hermits.
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