Herman's Hermits
In 1963, a publican in Manchester noticed that Peter Noone looked like Sherman from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons. This observation led to the name Herman's Hermits, which evolved from Herman and His Hermits. The group formed by merging two local bands: the Heartbeats and the Wailers. Keith Hopwood, Karl Green, Alan Wrigley, Steve Titterington, and Peter Noone came from the Heartbeats. Derek Leckenby and Barry Whitwam joined later from the Wailers. Noone was only fifteen years old when he joined, making him the second-youngest member of the young group. He was already an experienced actor on the popular British TV soap opera Coronation Street. The band signed with EMI's Columbia label in Europe and MGM Records in the United States after securing a deal with producer Mickie Most.
Between March and August 1965, the group logged twenty-four consecutive weeks in the Top Ten of Billboards Hot 100. They achieved five number-one hits during this period, including Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter and I'm Henry VIII, I Am. Billboard magazine ranked them America's top singles act of the year in 1965, placing them ahead of the Beatles at number two. Their chart debut was a cover of Gerry Goffin and Carole King's I'm into Something Good, which replaced the Kinks' You Really Got Me at number one in the UK singles chart in September 1964. In December 1964, it reached number thirteen in the US. The No. 12 debut of Mrs. Brown on the Hot 100 in April 1965 was the decade's third highest, behind the Beatles' Hey Jude and Get Back. Despite never topping the British charts again, they topped the Hot 100 with two non-UK releases in America.
Mickie Most controlled the band's output as their producer from late 1964 to early 1968. He emphasized a simple and non-threatening clean-cut image for the group. While the Hermits played on most of their singles, some subsequent records employed session musicians like Big Jim Sullivan, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Vic Flick, and Bobby Graham. Mickie Most used session musicians on many records he produced, which was industry practice then. The role of session players on Herman's Hermits records has been exaggerated in rock media and liner notes on the 2004 ABKCO Records compilation Retrospective. According to Peter Noone and Keith Hopwood, Leckenby played the muted lead on This Door Swings Both Ways. The riff in Silhouettes has variously been credited to Jimmy Page, Big Jim Sullivan, and Vic Flick, though Leckenby replaced Flick in the studio under Most's direction.
The band appeared in four films, including When the Boys Meet the Girls in 1965 opposite Connie Francis. They starred outright in Hold On! in 1966, featuring one song performed by co-star Shelley Fabares and nine by the Hermits. Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter followed as a film vehicle in 1968. They also appeared in the 1965 British music revue film Pop Gear. P.F. Sloan wrote the Hermits soundtrack title track to the 1966 film Hold On!. In America, the group appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, and The Jackie Gleason Show. MGM Records often showcased its musical performers in MGM films, releasing their US records through this channel. Ray Davies of the Kinks wrote Dandy, which became a 1966 US number five hit for the Hermits.
Peter Noone left in 1971 to pursue a solo career in the United States. A cover of the song I Think I'm Over Getting Over You went to number sixty-three on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1973. When Noone departed, the Hermits continued with singer Pete Cowap. They signed with RCA Records in the UK and recorded two singles at Strawberry Studios under the name The Hermits. Karl Green left the band in 1980 to spend more time with his family, later opening a plumbing and tiling business in London. Derek Leckenby died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1994, leaving Barry Whitwam as the only original member of the band. Noone continues to play solo shows billed as Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone.
Legal disputes between Whitwam and Noone have occurred since the 2000s regarding the rights to tour under the Herman's Hermits name. In 2003, members were forced to rename the band Herman's Hermits starring Barry Whitwam when touring North America. One case in 2009 had the band sued by Peter Noone when advertisements for their US tour featured Herman's Hermits in large text. This arrangement would not have been noticed by people looking at the advertisement, possibly misleading them into thinking they were seeing an ad for Noone. A lawsuit unraveled, and Whitwam ultimately decided to stop touring in the United States with his band. Continuing acrimony among former members has increased disinformation about the group's role on their records.
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Common questions
How did Herman's Hermits get their name?
Herman's Hermits got its name from a publican in Manchester who noticed that Peter Noone looked like Sherman from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons. The name evolved from Herman and His Hermits after merging two local bands called the Heartbeats and the Wailers.
When was Herman's Hermits most successful on Billboard charts?
Between March and August 1965, Herman's Hermits logged twenty-four consecutive weeks in the Top Ten of Billboards Hot 100. They achieved five number-one hits during this period including Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter and I'm Henry VIII, I Am.
Who produced Herman's Hermits records between 1964 and 1968?
Mickie Most controlled the band's output as their producer from late 1964 to early 1968. He emphasized a simple and non-threatening clean-cut image for the group while sometimes employing session musicians like Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.
What films did Herman's Hermits appear in during the 1960s?
The band appeared in four films including When the Boys Meet the Girls in 1965 opposite Connie Francis and Hold On! in 1966. They also starred outright in Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter followed as a film vehicle in 1968 and appeared in the 1965 British music revue film Pop Gear.
When did Peter Noone leave Herman's Hermits?
Peter Noone left in 1971 to pursue a solo career in the United States. A cover of the song I Think I'm Over Getting Over You went to number sixty-three on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1973 after his departure.