Peter Noone was a member of the famous band Herman’s Hermits in the 1960s. With his boyish charm and thick hair, he was often compared to today’s teen idols like Justin Bieber or Harry Styles. But there’s one big difference between Peter and the modern stars: he became a sensation without social media or constant public appearances.
Peter Noone rose to fame as the frontman of Herman’s Hermits while still in his teens. His charming looks and captivating voice made the band popular both in America and Britain. Their first big hit in England was “I’m Into Something Good,” which topped the charts in 1964.
“Herman’s Hermits sold millions of records before anyone even saw us,” Peter said. “I was just a shy boy playing a role on stage.”
In 1965, Herman’s Hermits even outsold the Beatles, with over twenty hit records including “No Milk Today” and “There’s A Kind of Hush (All Over the World).” By the time Peter was seventeen, the band had secured a million-dollar record deal. One of his career highlights came in 1965 when Elvis Presley performed their hit, “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am.”
“Who cares if he was making fun of me?” Peter laughed. “Elvis was there!”
Peter led the typical rocker lifestyle, but he avoided drugs. “I never got into that stuff,” he said. However, he did indulge in other rock ‘n’ roll habits.
“Yes, we stayed up late, went on wild adventures, and still got up early for shows and interviews. It was an amazing experience,” Peter recalled.
Now, at 64, Peter is back on the road with Britain’s Solid Silver 60s Show, touring with other musical icons like Brian Hyland and Brian Poole. “The excitement of touring never gets old,” Peter said. “I’m always surprised when people come up and start singing our old songs to me.”
Since the 1970s, Peter has lived in California, embracing a healthier lifestyle. “I feel very lucky and try to take care of myself. Not many people survived the sixties,” he reflected. “At Mickie Most’s funeral nine years ago, there weren’t many people left. It really makes you think.”
Peter remembered visiting a Moody Blues member’s home, known for its wild parties. “I was like a fly on the wall, just hanging out,” he said with a smile. “I did like to drink, though. I used to go out with Richard Harris and try to keep up with him.”
Despite being younger than the Stones and the Beatles, Peter admired them and loved hanging out with them. “John Lennon would pay for my drinks because he knew I was just 16 and wouldn’t get into trouble.”
Peter grew up in Manchester and drank to fit in with the other musicians. At 19, he attended his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with his father, who was also a heavy drinker. “I wouldn’t call myself an alcoholic, but I realized I needed to cut back for my own good. I haven’t had a drink in about 16 years,” he said. “I wouldn’t stop my wife from drinking, though. That’s her choice.”
Peter has been married to his wife Mireille for 43 years. They met when he was twenty, and despite seeing several women, he was instantly drawn to her. “It was probably lust at first sight,” he admitted. “But as I got to know her, it turned into love.”
Mireille initially resisted Peter’s advances, but he was persistent. “I rented the apartment next to them while she was vacationing in Ibiza with her mother. Her mother liked me because I was polite, and eventually, I won Mireille over.”
Peter left Herman’s Hermits in 1971 at the age of twenty-four. He and Mireille married in 1968 and had a daughter named Nicole. “We were close at first, but eventually, we wanted to do different things,” he said about the band.
After his solo career didn’t take off, Peter turned to stage performances in the 1980s. He hosted the American television music program “My Generation” and appeared in a Broadway version of “Pirates of Penzance.”
He even appeared on American Idol as a voice coach and mentor, where he remarked, “The Beatles would have lost if they competed on TV. Simon Cowell is just a secondhand Mickie Most.”
Reflecting on his career, Peter said, “I was going to work as a clerk at the local NatWest. How lucky am I to be doing this at 64? Now, I know what I’m doing. I’m not the shy boy I was back then.”
Peter Noone never loses his charm and cuteness, regardless of age. Even at 75, he still has a fantastic voice and looks great.
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