This Manchester band were controlled
by pop music maestro 'Mickie Most' who was regarded highly in
this role despite having failed as a pop musician himself. The
musicians came together originally as the Heartbeats and their
vocalist, Peter Noone, had been a successful young actor- once
having appeared in the TV soap 'Coronation Street'.
Their first release was a cover version
of a song recorded in America by Earl-Jean, lead singer of the
girl group 'The Cookies'. Such was the progress of the 'British
invasion' that the Hermits' cover reached #13 in the USA while
Earl Jean had to be content with #38. In the UK Noone's boyish
looks helped push the record all the way to #1. It was also undoubtedly
Peter Noone's cutish looks that helped their fortunes in the
U.S. where they became even more successful than at home. Like
many other vocalists in fading groups Noone ultimately embarked
on a solo career. Unfortunately, by then record buyers had moved
on and were becoming accustomed to music that was a good deal
more progressive than hitherto and the solo career did not take
off as hoped.
Peter Noone was reunited, though briefly,
with the other 'Hermits' during 1973, and an attempt to rekindle
his musical career during 1980 with a new venture 'The Tremblers'
did not bring the success hoped for. Subsequently, the singer
appears to have concentrated his life on his interests outside
the music industry- not least his acting and his family.
Herman's Hermits continued successfully
without their original vocalist for several years in cabaret
and even today occasionally perform on the 1960's revivalist
and nostalgia concert round. Apart from several brief appearances,
Noone stayed in virtual musical retirement until the late 1990s
when to the delight of his fans he began touring extensively
again. So somewhat confusingly you may now come across two different
sets of 'Herman's Hermits' on the road. |