Led Zep stars in Herman’s Hermits records

Before they established Led Zeppelin as a legendary classic rock band, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones played as session musicians on several Herman’s Hermits hits, including the British Invasion pop group’s million-selling debut single I’m Into Something Good in 1964.

It wasn’t that Hermits producer Mickie Most had no respect for the abilities of Herman’s backups. Most only wanted to surround Herman with top musicians to assure the quality of the Hermits records because they were serious challengers to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones as England’s No. 1 export to the US in the ’60s.

Most’s deft touch transformed Herman’s Hermits into a hit-making machine that produced 14 US and 15 UK top 20 singles, sales of over 50 million records and a slew of million-sellers including Silhouettes, Can’t You Hear My Heart Beat, Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter, I’m Henry the Eighth I Am, A Must to Avoid, Listen People and There’s a kind of Hush.

In 1966, Herman’s Hermits invaded the Philippines but didn’t perform in Manila. They played in Bacolod, Cebu and Davao while another British group, the Dave Clark 5, performed at the Araneta Coliseum in a simultaneous tour arranged by Beatles manager Brian Epstein as a package with the Fab Four’s own shows in Manila.

After nearly 40 years, Herman’s Hermits are returning and will finally make their Manila debut. They are performing at Araneta Coliseum on March 17 and the Manila Hotel on March 18.

Aside from their million-selling hits, Herman’s Hermits will also sing popular tunes like My Sentimental Friend, Leaning on a Lamp Post, Something’s Happening, Don’t Go Out Into the Rain, No Milk Today, Dandy, Show Me Girl, Wonderful World and Just a Little Bit Better.

Solar Entertainment’s Luke Pasiliao said Herman’s Hermits will relive the glory days of the British Invasion like never before.

"We’re lucky to bring in Herman’s Hermits because they’re in demand for concerts all over the world, all year round," said Pasiliao. "In the ’60s, they were considered second only to the Beatles in the hearts of American teenage girls. They also ranked among the most successful British bands in 1965 and 1966 with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones."

Herman’s Hermits were so popular in their heyday that they were signed to appear in four movies, When the Boys Meet the Girls with Connie Francis, Hold On with Shelly Fabares, Pop Gear and Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter with Sheila White. They were also featured in three Ed Sullivan shows.

It was Most who was credited for Herman’s Hermits ascent to the top of the charts. Most exploited Herman’s boyish charms and English accent to produce hits that catered only to the US market. However, the English fans were never neglected and Herman’s Hermits became phenomenal chart-busters on both sides of the Atlantic.

As for the Led Zeppelin stars, Most recruited Page and Jones to provide Herman with quality backups. "If the Hermits themselves couldn’t really play their instruments, it hardly mattered," wrote Nicholas Schaffner in the "British Invasion." "On stage, they were drowned out by squeals and in the studio, such chores were adeptly handled by the likes of Page and Jones."

Herman (Peter Noone in real life) was the ideal frontman for the Hermits. He remains as charismatic, clean-cut and wholesome as the image he projected in the ’60s.

Not only a singer, Herman has acted on stage, TV and movies. He played the role of Frederic in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance both in Broadway and in the West End.

Herman’s Hermits disbanded in 1970 but Herman continued to perform as a solo artist. Today, he is a much sought-after concert performer with a new band of Hermits, bringing in sellout crowds like a Pied Piper to immortalize the Golden Era of the ’60s in pop music.