Original Hermits

Original Hermits

The Beginnings

Original Herman's Hermits Band Members

Full Real Name: Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone.

Birthplace & Date: Born November 5, 1947, in Manchester, England.

Family Info: Father, Denis; mother, Joan.

Schools Attended: St. Bede's College and Stetford Grammar School.

Entered Show Business: Made his debut when he was 11 years old in Granada-TV's Knight Errant in 1959.

Instruments Played: Piano and rhythm guitar. Also is vocalist.

Full Real Name: Keith Hopwood.

Birthplace & Date: Born October 26, 1946, in Manchester, England.

Family Info: Father, John; mother, Lyllian.

Schools Attended: Urmston Grammar School.

Entered Show Business: Made his debut when he was ? years old at the Plaza Ballroom in Manchester.

Instruments Played: Rhythm guitar.

Herman's HeRmits Tee Shirt

Full Real Name: Karl Anthony Green.

Birthplace & Date: Born July 31, 1947, in Salford, England.

Family Info: Father, David; mother, Olivia.

Schools Attended: Wellacre School and Flixton School.

Entered Show Business: Made his debut when he was 11 years old and played at the Broadway Cinema.

Instruments Played: Bass guitar and harmonica

Full Real Name: Jan Barry Whitwam.

Birthplace & Date: Born July 21, 1946, in Manchester, England.

Family Info: Father, George Vincent; mother, Elsie.

Schools Attended: Ladybarn School.

Entered Show Business: Made his debut when he was ? years old and played at the Mouth Club.

Instruments Played: Drums.

Full Real Name: Derek Leckenby.

Birthplace & Date: Born May 14, 1945, in Leeds, England.

Family Info: Father, Clifford; mother, Ellen.

Schools Attended: William Hulme's Grammar School and Manchester University.

Entered Show Business: Made his debut when he was 17 years old and played at the Oasis Club in Manchester.

Instruments Played: Lead guitar

You Can Send Peter Your Thoughts At.......

Hermans Hermits were one of the most interesting of the original wave of British Invasion groups. Unlike the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the Hermits didnt threaten authority figures with a longhaired look and loud guitar rock. In fact, they were a pleasant, polite group of chaps who sang pleasant, music hall-styled ditties that people of all ages could enjoy. In the process, they scored eleven Top-10 hits on this side of the Atlantic.

The Hermits were originally called the Heartbeats until they got a new lead singer, former child actor Peter Noone. Someone thought Peter looked like the Sherman from The Bullwinkle Show, but instead called him 'Herman' due to mishearing the name. The band renamed themselves Hermans Hermits and began to perform in their native Manchester. They quickly gained a local following, a pair of managers, and the attention of pop producer Mickie Most.

Most saw a potential superstar in Peter Noone and quickly went to work in the studio. However, only Noone performed on the early recordings: the band was replaced with pro session musicians, including future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. The Hermits first single was Im Into Something Good, a cover of an old pop tune propelled by Noones exuberant, high-pitched vocal and a bouncy arrangement. It shot to #1 in the U.K. and broke the band in U.S. by going to #13 at the end of 1964.

Hermans Hermits began to tour the U.S. in 1965. The touring paid off, making Noone a pin-up in teen magazines and setting the stage for a string of smash hits. Cant You Hear My Heartbeat went to #2. The follow-up, the wistful ballad Mrs. Brown Youve Got A Lovely Daughter, went to #1 and stayed there for three weeks. Next up was a #4 cover of the Sam Cooke song Wonderful World, followed by the boisterous music hall classic Im Henry the Eighth, I Am. Henry gave them their second #1 and was followed by an another Top-10 hit in Just A Little Bit Better.

1966 was another year of Top-10 hits for the Hermits, starting with A Must To Avoid in January. Other hits from this year included the gentle Listen People and another music-hall oldie, Leaning On A Lamp Post. The next year, they continued to storm the charts with songs like Theres A Kind Of Hush. In 1968, the Hermits got their own feature film in the form of Mrs. Brown Youve Got A Lovely Daughter. Noone also played the title role in a television production of Pinocchio.

Hermans Hermits continued to record until their split-up in 1970. Noone went on to a solo career in England and divided his time between recording and acting. He and his former bandmates have done periodic reunion tours throughout the years. Their music still has the same timeless, effervescent charm it always has and continues to entertain pop music fans of all stripes today.