Charlotte, NC

Years ago, the Charlotte Coliseum was one of the favorite venues of the Britpop sounds of Herman’s Hermits. Even after the fab Five disbanded and leader Peter Noone went on to front The Tremblers and build a separate career, he never forgot his visits to the Queen City.

Awhile back, I had the chance to interview Noone (aka Herman of the original Hermits [now, there are two groups of HH; more about that at the end of this post]).Here ’tis, in Part I of My Interview with Peter Noone (Part II will follow in the post-after-next. Oh …and he’s in bold print. Just so ya won’t get confused …):

Peter, from your days in the Heartbeats into the Hermits: What/who were your major musical influences?

We were all influenced by Buddy Holly and the Crickets, the Everly Brothers, Sam Cooke, John Cash, Elvis and all the rockabilly stuff.

What, in your opinion, are the major differences in promotional roadwork between the 60s era (pre-Invasion. You had to make a name in Britain prior to breaking into America) and today? Are there more obstacles, other than the proliferation of acts, today and what do you believe they are?

No one really expected the US to open up in the 60s until the Beatles opened the door for every British act, including the really awful ones. We would run into so-called British bands at truck stops on tour who were completely unknown in England but had accents. Once the door was opened … every “quite good” British band had an opportunity to participate in the US market. The Kinks had some INS problem which sadly excluded them from the (invasion) but HH (me) were able to capitalize on the openings … wherever they went. Try to read Nov 2002 Vanity Fair article.

In the States, the music of the “invasion” obviously made a strong sociopolitical impact as well as economic. As it developed in England, did the music (as a growing genre) have any influence on the political climate (there)?

Of course. It was a cultural revolution as well as a social and political revolution. Our dads were the final infantrymen of the 1000 years of serfdom. We were the nouveaux riche and changed all attitudes regarding behaviour. No more would the tie open the door as quickly as a credit card. The Beatles bought Rolls Royce motor cars to flaunt their new riches in the faces of the landed gentry who had controlled us for centuries.

FOR THE GOLFER ON YOUR LIST …

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