He lives in California and acts in many American TV shows but is now performing as part of The Solid Silver 60s tour along with Dave Berry, Brian Hyland, The Merseybeats and The New Amen Corner.
The tour will travel around the UK, playing Glasgow’s Concert Hall on April 19th, Edinburgh Usher Hall on the 20th, and Dundee’s Caird Hall on the 21st.
The secret of your hit records?
Back then, every musician wanted approval for clever music, but we were just boys making simple records for girls like my sister. Other bands looked down on us.
Biggest mistake you’ve made?
In 1971 I left the band for Broadway, thinking anyone famous and rich could do it. I didn’t realise you needed talent. It took me 10 years to learn.
What brought you back to the Hermits?
A Canadian guy offered me money for a one-off gig. Every time I said No, the money went up. I did it and had a revelation, almost spiritual. This was who I am.
Best and worst pop songs ever written?
Best is You’ve Got Your Troubles by The Fortunes. Worst? That would be Show Me Girl by, er, Herman’s Hermits.
Peter Noone was made for acting or singing?
Acting. At 68, when I sing now, I have to think back and act out those songs I performed as a kid.
I’m into something good or no milk today?
Something Good because I was 15 and in charge. On No Milk Today none of the Hermits actually play on it. Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones was the bass player.
Ever rebelled?
I forged my dad’s signature on a letter to leave school. It was ages before he knew. One of the Hermits was in his last year of a degree and we made him pack that in too. We were dedicated to music.
How do you guard against boredom on stage?
I decide what we’ll play as we go along and shout it out to the band, otherwise our heads would be halfway to the pub.
Who do you owe your success to?
Harvey Lisberg. He was exotic, Jewish like Brian Epstein, wanted to be our manager and he got us our record deal. I still have his letters from Liverpool’s Cavern club booking us.
You have 24 hours to live. How do you spend the time?
My daughter heard first hand from her great Uncle Max about life in a concentration camp. She saw his number tattooed on his arm, and she’ll keep his story alive. So I’d sit telling granddad tales. The story must go on.
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