Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople fame sang, ”My brother’s back at home with his Beatles and his Stones/We never got it off on that revolution stuff..” Well, maybe he got off on Herman’s Hermits instead. Selling over 60 million records, the Hermits, headed by Peter Noone, dominated the airwaves with such classics as ”I’m Into Something Good,” ”Mrs. Brown You’ve got a Lovely Daughter,” ”I’m Henry the Eighth I Am,” ”No Milk Today,” ”Dandy,” and ”Don’t Go Out Into the Rain,” among dozens of others. They made a couple of fun, movies as well.
As to the origin of the band’s name, Wikipedia points out that Peter had been a ”child TV star playing Stanley Fairclough in Coronation Street and was only 15 when he achieved international fame as teenage heart-throb, Herman. On stage, Noone initially used his existing stage name Peter Novak. The change to Herman came after the owner of a pub that they were rehearsing in, remarked on his resemblance to the character Sherman in Peabody’s Improbable History, a supporting cartoon in The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, which they misheard as Herman. The group, who by now were a popular dance hall and youth club attraction, and managed by Harvey Lisberg and Charlie Silverman, changed their name to Herman and The Hermits, and it soon became abbreviated to Herman’s Hermits.”
Fun was really the key to Peter Noone (Herman) and the Hermits. Their music was never about the politics and turbulence of the sixties; their contribution was creating welcome distractions in the midst of chaotic times. As a nine year old in 1965 I believe I was more excited at the prospect of watching the band on Ed Sullivan and also more insistent with my parents that I absolutely ”had to” be allowed to stay up and watch them then I had been with the Beatles.
The amazing thing is that they’ve recently regrouped, sort of. Peter Noone has toured as a solo act for many years. He will be touring again in 2007 including a stop in my current home town. He’s been appearing with his revamped band for nine years according to a report from his web site…
Noone’s still into something good
In correspondence Noone professes a non-sectarian belief in God.