Peter Noone

Peter Noone, original lead singer of the 1960’s British Invasion band, Herman’s Hermits, still plays and tours year round with Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone, and has a lot of interesting stories to share.

I first started listening to Herman’s Hermits the summer of 1998, when I met Peter Noone after a concert he played at with Davy Jones and Bobby Sherman. I was immediately drawn to his comical, fun-loving charisma and told him so after the show, thanking him for being such a great act on stage.

After that, I discovered the Hermits catchy song catalog, procuring a “Herman’s Hermits On Tour” LP from my neighborhood thrift store, and a Herman’s Hermits Greatest Hits CD from the local Sam Goody. The British tunes soon became an ever-present fixture in my life. From the adorable Goffin/King hit, “Something Tells Me I’m Into Something Good”, to the mysterious, haunting A-minor, Gouldman single, “No Milk Today”, to the wacky, musical hall classic, “Henry The 8th”, the British boy band is a welcome Invasion. The music is sweet yet satisfying, and I absolutely love singing along and pretending to be British.

Over the years I’m happy to say I’ve seen a handful of concerts staring lead singer, Herman himself, Peter Noone, along with his great band: Vance Brescia, Rich Spina, Billy Sullivan, and Dave Ferrara.

And very recently Peter graciously agreed to be interviewed by me. 🙂

So, here to goes, to Noone It May Concern: My interview with Peter Noone.

It is so good.

Emily Wells: How old were you when you became a Hermit? How old were you when Herman’s Hermits first became successful?

Peter Noone: I was 16.

I came via The Cyclones then.

Pete Novak and The Heartbeats, then Herman And The Hermits, then Herman’s Hermits.

Karl Green was 17 and came to us from The Balmains.

Keith Hopwood was 17 and he replaced Alan Chadwick in 1963.

Lek (20) and Barry Whitwam (19) were in a band together and joined April 1, 1964.

Herman And The Hermits had already made it locally playing regularly at The Cavern, The Oasis etc.

Emily Wells: You were quite young!

Who came up with that name “Herman’s Hermits”? What’s behind the name?

Peter Noone: In a pub and the owner said, “You don’t look like Buddy Holly,” (The Heartbeats did a Buddy Holly tribute and I wore horn rimmed glasses) ,”you look like Herman on the Bullwinkle show.”

He meant Sherman, but we laughed and he said and you can call the “Heartbeats,” “Hermits,” cause they dress like cavemen.

Emily Wells: So you went from Peter Novak And The Heartbeats to Herman And The Hermits, later Herman’s Hermits.

Well that’s a cute story, I wouldn’t have expected that part about a pub owner.

How did your life change after you became famous?

Peter Noone: I was living with my grandparents because my parents lived in Liverpool, and my group were based in Manchester, so for the first week after the record, “I’m Into Something Good” charted I stayed there. Both of my grandparents were a bit hard of hearing so I could sneak my friends in without them knowing, but my granddad had nightmares about the First World War and would shout at Germans in the night which spoiled any romantic ideas, of which I had many!

No girl likes to hear, “Take that you filthy Hun!” and “I’ve got one here for you you bloody bosh,” every three minutes followed by a scream!

So I got a tiny flat in London Brook Mews North Paddington London W2–same little street as George Harrison–and got a new car.

I got a Lamborghini, but took it and swapped it for a Jaguar because no nice girls would get in the Italian car?

I got a driver, because I had no drivers license, as I was banned from driving for a previous offense when I drove a car across a road in Wales!

I spent every minute of every day doing interviews and promoting the newly famous group Herman’s Hermits, and I was the spokesman for the group, and I was good at promotion.

Emily Wells: I absolutely love every aspect of that story–your granddad, how you lost your license, your reason for the Jaguar…

What is your favorite Herman’s Hermit song that you have recorded? What is your favorite Herman’s Hermits song to perform?

Peter Noone: I like audience reaction to songs. I love “I’m Into Something Good”, and “There’s A Kind Of Hush”, but love “Mrs. Brown”, and “Henry The 8th” too.

I actually LOVE all my songs which is what saved me from whatever happened to all those other oldies but goodies singers!

Emily Wells: Yes, *ahem* those “other” singers…

According to Wikipedia, “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” was recorded as an afterthought in two takes, but went on to be a number one hit in the US and Canada. How did you feel about the song’s unexpected success? How do you feel about the song itself?

Peter Noone: It was a song we had done at The Cavern in Liverpool early days, and we loved the song and the presentation. It was also a HUGE hit in the UK.

When I sing it on stage EVERYONE in the audience sings along, as it was on a BRITISH EP–which was 4 songs for the price of two songs–and was HH’s biggest selling EP, and the song was MASSIVE everywhere, because it is fun and British and is a great bit of music!

Emily Wells: You are right. It’s fun and British. 😉

You starred in some movies for Herman’s Hermits (which unfortunately I have not seen yet–I would like to). Do you like acting? Do you prefer singing?

Peter Noone: Its all the same thing to me. I act onstage as Herman, and as Peter Noone I am shy, quiet and reclusive! When I act I become the character, à la Stanislavsky!

I have played many different characters: even a cross-dressing, embezzling, murderous manager of a band, using my life experiences to the best of my ability, none of which are real!

Emily Wells: You are quite the actor, it’s hard to imagine you ever shy. Or as a cross-dressing embezzling murderous manager…

What is your favorite city that you have traveled to on tour?

Peter Noone: I like New York, and I like almost everywhere, as I am an extremely grateful person and I am happy to see people at my concerts wherever they might live!

Emily Wells: Well that’s wonderful. I like the New York shows as well. 🙂

What is the most fun thing you’ve ever did with the Hermits? What is the craziest thing?

Peter Noone: We were the first ever punk band, and we did everything with our tongues firmly in our cheeks, remembering always that we were English musicians and never to take ourselves seriously, and to avoid the trap of trying to impress other musicians.

We only wanted to impress our followers and they bought 80 million plus records.

Most of the time we would sit in our hotel rooms dreaming of the good old days when we were unknown, and would go on school trips to museums and lunches with my Auntie Celia.

Then we would wake up and remember how lucky we were to be making a living PLAYING rather than WORKING!

No one was ever allowed to utter the words HOW MUCH?

LET’S was our motto.

Emily Wells: That is a really great attitude.

Have you and the Hermits ever gotten into any serious trouble?

Peter Noone: I have been arrested a few times, but never charged!

Once for breaking into my parents house in Liverpool, as I had forgotten the number and only remembered CHESTNUT Avenue HUYTON. After looking through many windows for a sign of what might be my parents house, like a plaster cast poodle with diamante eyes from my mothers Wedgwood collection, or a balsa wood airplane from my father, the constables of Liverpool arrested me and took me to the local station no handcuffs.

Another time I was accused of GBH* (as per the TOM JONES recent book), but when the guy stood up in the magistrates court the case was dismissed. I weighed 110lbs then and he weighed 375lbs. Case dismissed.

He had a black eye and a broken nose, but my solicitors cleaned me up and suit and tied me and glued my hair down.

*Grievous Bodily Harm

Emily Wells: That story about breaking into your parents house is so good. Not what I thought you were going to say when you started with “plaster cast” either… 

Did the Hermits have special clothes for touring/on stage? Uniform?

Peter Noone: We wore suits, that was always our uniform. We were quite simply nice chaps!

Emily Wells: Suits are always nice. As are nice chaps!

I heard you spent some time with The Beatles back in your day. What was that like?

Peter Noone: I spent as much time with The Beatles as they would let me, and learned quickly when to shut up and listen.

John Lennon was my friend and would buy me a drink when I was too young to buy my own.

At the Ad Lib club they had a two drink minimum and he said, ”You get two cokes and I will get two Bacardis,” and I would give him one of my cokes and I would get one of his Bacardis.

The club scene was still vibrant and the music was loud and American, and we didn’t dance with each other, so we just stayed there looking at the girls and wondering if they had a ride home.

Emily Wells: LOL, that’s a cute story, I love it. I also would have spent as much time with The Beatles as they would have let me…

Did you have classic musical training/music theory? Did you sing in a church choir? Were you an altar boy? 😉

Peter Noone: I was everything.

My granddad was the church organist.

My grandmother was the Choirmistress (it was the name back then).

I was an altar boy at that church, and I was in the choir, and I did music theory at Manchester School of Music, and was an ENGLISH MARTYR school student.

Emily Wells: I knew it. 😉 I also was brought up singing in churches, and sang with a Congregational choir–we called them Choirmistresses too.

What is the craziest thing a fan has ever done to/for you?

Peter Noone:  Many of my followers have tattoos on their bodies which is confusing.

I cannot tell you anything crazy because they are all still alive.

Emily Wells: Mmmmmm, gag order, I understand.

What is your favorite thing about being a Hermit?

Peter Noone: I am HERMAN and not a hermit, although I am quite reclusive by nature.

There are much worse places for me to be than alone.

Emily Wells: You are… Completely right.

Last but not least:

Peter Noone: I haven’t really spent much time thinking about what giraffes wear, but I will give it some thought and get back to you after I have thought about it which may not be soon, so remind me in about 40 years when I will have time to spare and a spare tyer!

Emily Wells: Okay, that’s cool. I’ll wait.

Thank you for doing this interview, Peter! If that isn’t Something Good, I don’t know what is. 🙂

Join us next time for another interview with one of your favorite 60’s musician teen idols! At The Loving 60’s!

And be sure to check out Peter Noone’s Official Website, for news, facts, images and updates by and on Herman himself.