Lovely concert planned by Herman’s Hermits

Peter Noone

I’ve got my Father’s Day all planned.

I want to spend it with Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits, the innocent survivor of the British music invasion and the chief promoter of all that’s good about pop stars from the past.

Mick Jagger? Not on your life.

Ozzy Osbourne? Might make a fun a cellmate.

No, Peter Noone is the foppish, but likeable star whom fathers would choose for their lovely daughters in a heartbeat.

This Father’s Day, June 16, don’t lock up the women and children, bring them to Chumash Park in Agoura Hills where Noone promises that his famous hit, "Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter," will be a featured song in his 90-minute nostalgia show.

The appearance by Herman’s Hermits kicks off the city’s 2002 summer Concert in the Park series.

Alas, Mrs. Brown’s daughter never existed. Noone said the reference appeared in a stage play that he saw and later adapted to his now famous song. Baby Boomers still whistle the catchy tune to this day.

"The music was always sort of intended for young girls and the parents thought it was safe and it still works in that same way in theory," Noone said. "It’s a nice family outing."

The Hermits––who are mostly younger musicians except for the 54-year-old Noone––play about 150 dates each year and perform in front of audiences from 6 to 60. We spoke by phone last week following a gig in Charlotte, N.C.

Many of the ’60s acts have changed their stripes over the years, but some of the artists who try to remain true to their roots discover that even that approach doesn’t work. Noone, who has enjoyed incredible longevity in the business without resorting to reinventing himself, still takes the stage wearing Beatle boots and all.

"We want the band to look and sound like it was, not some sort of Herman meets Cheap Trick kind of thing, you know what I mean?"

Like the Monkees trying to be psychedelic, he explained.

"We didn’t want to be a psychedelic band … I don’t think Herman’s Hermits could have ever pulled it off. First of all the name was chosen as kind of an odd, lightweight name."

Noone said the band’s fun and frolick image was nothing to be ashamed of. When you think about it, what’s there to apologize for? The group sold 52 million records in its heyday.

"Who would have thought, but I think the stuff still seems to work quite nicely for everybody. What we do is try to keep it fun and up like it was then."

Noone’s plethora of top 20 hits, including "End of the World," "Silhouettes," "Dandy," "Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat," "Just a Little Bit Better," "There’s a Kind of Hush" and "Listen People," speak for themselves.

Noone was only 16 when the Hermits’ first big hit, "I’m Into Something Good," hit the charts in 1964. By all accounts he remained that way––into girls, not drugs, that is.

"While all the other guys were in the other room looking for the meaning of life, I was trying to pick up their girlfriends. The guys in the band were all druggies, but I had a lot of girlfriends––friends who were girls––and to them [drug use] was a turnoff."

In 1973 the Hermits finally broke up. Noone continued a successful career not only in music, but Broadway and television. His four-year stint as host of "My Generation" on VH1 won high ratings for, oddly enough, eschewing the sociological ills of the tumultuous ’60s and looking instead at the world through rose-colored glasses, which is exactly what audiences preferred to see.

Having lots of catchy music to play during the program helped. You can thank Herman’s Hermits in part for that.

"We were designed to do what we did, not anything else. In the end, to be honest and true to yourself takes less effort," Noone said.

Peter Noone has been living with his family in Santa Barbara since 1985.

The Agoura Hills summer concert series includes the Alley Cats on July 7 and Hotel California, A Salute to the Eagles, on July 21. Knight Fever, the popular Canyon Club disco band, will play Aug. 4.

The eight-piece variety group Platinum Groove will break out the memorable jazz, big band and swing numbers for an Aug. 18 appearance.

All shows start at 6 p.m.

"We wanted to offer a wide variety for the summer and this was the combination we came up with," said Dale Sumersille, the concert series director. "We try to get a little something for everybody out there."

Call (818) 597-7361 for complete concert information. The Acorn Newspapers help sponsor the concerts.