Peter Noone was a member of the iconic 1960s band Herman’s Hermits.
With his thick hair and youthful appeal, he might easily be compared to today’s Justin Bieber or Harry Styles.
However, there is one notable distinction between this former adolescent idol and those of today…
Peter Noone, the leader of Herman’s Hermits, rose to fame in his teens because to his cute visage and equally lovely voice. The band became renowned after touring both America and Britain.
In 1964, the band achieved their first number-one success in England with “I’m Into Something Good.”
“Herman’s Hermits sold millions of records before anyone even saw us, which just doesn’t happen now,” remarked Noone.
“I didn’t know what I was doing: my stage persona was a shy little boy, which is basically what I was.”
Noone and the rest of his band had over 20 hit recordings and even outsold the Beatles in 1965. Some of their more popular songs included I’m Into Something Good, No Milk Today, and There’s A Kind of Hush (All Over the World).
By the age of 17, the band had secured a million-dollar record deal, and one of Noone’s career highlights was when Elvis Presley played one of their hits-“I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am”-on stage in 1965.
“He was making fun of me, but who cares?” says Noone. “It was Elvis!”
Even at this young age, Noone was living the quintessential rocker lifestyle.
“Although without the drugs bit,” he insists. “That was never my thing.”
But when asked about all of the other typical rock ‘n’ roll habits?
Noone, 64, is back on tour with Britain’s Solid Silver 60s Show. His fellow Hermits veterans will not be accompanying him, but Brian Poole of The Tremeloes (“Do You Love Me” and “Twist And Shout”) and Brian Hyland (“Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”).
“You never get tired of the buzz of touring,” adds Noone, ‘and it’s fantastic to know we can still draw an audience. People come up to me and sing old songs in my face, and I’m never sure how to respond.”
Noone has lived in California since the 1970s and has swiftly adopted the state’s healthy lifestyle.
“I remember going to the house of one of the Moody Blues and it was considered this real den of iniquity,” he claims. “Since none of the females smoked marijuana, I used to hang out with them. I was a fly on the wall.
“I did like to drink — I used to go out with Richard Harris and try to drink more than him,” no one said.
“I used to love the Beatles and the Stones, and I’d always want to hang out with them, even though they were seven years older.
