Herman's Hermits?

[jps]

Really, I didn't know this!

[kiramdear]

How cool, Jeff! I remember watching that on AB or one of those music shows when I was about 8.
At eight years old I loved that song and thought he was cute.

Now we know how he got that sound. The fabulous legendary tea-towel mute effect. Only a Rick could endure such humiliation and come up sounding great.

[johnallg]

Geez, what is he, 15 or 16 there?!

Neat - I didn't realize it was a Rick with the mute. All these years....

[manta]

I'll take his RIC and he can keep the rag, er, tea towel!

Timbo

[lennon211]

They also played it live with a Gibson. I'm guessing that on the studio recording that it's Jimmy Page with his Gretsch and the mute up, as I've heard that in the studio for a while he was using a Country Gent.

[beatlefreak]

Very cool vid. Thanks for finding that.

[iamthebassman]

Karl Green is the lefty bassist playing an Epi Rivoli in that video. When we opened for Herman's Hermits I took my Epi Rivoli for Peter "Herman" Noone to sign.

[lennon211]

Karl Green is the lefty bassist playing an Epi Rivoli in that video. When we opened for Herman's Hermits I took my Epi Rivoli for Peter "Herman" Noone to sign.

Peter Noone is one very cool, friendly guy to meet. He signs most stuff as "Herman" unless it's a real piece like a record in which case he signs as himself.

[Scastles]

Karl Green is the lefty bassist playing an Epi Rivoli in that video. When we opened for Herman's Hermits I took my Epi Rivoli for Peter "Herman" Noone to sign.

Still a great shot, Ronn, but I've only seen it on the forum a dozen times.

[rickosound]

We will come to the defense of these guys.
Wikipedia is by no means and infallible source, but it indicates this band played more of their studio recordings than has been reported. It specifically states Keith Hopwood, the rhythm guitar player, played Mrs. Brown in the studio, on a Country Gent. It goes on to say that Derek Leckenby, their lead guitar player, was an underrated musician.
Only a few people can know what happened in the studio, but here are two obviously live videos where the band sounds pretty tight, in the 60's sense. Both of these songs were written by Graham Gouldman, and were not easy to play.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM4nNNzV2ag (We apologize for Phyllis Diller, although she was a concert pianist.)

Matthew and Tom

[shamustwin]

No Milk Today! What a cool clip. Great song, only live video I've seen of them
Peter even manages a "whoo" at about 1:32.
Peter doesn't smile as much singing live as he does lip-synching, now does he?

They did go out on tours those days, so they must have had some level of proficiency.
I'm tired of the mind-set that pop bands weren't/aren't made up of good musicians.
I'm going to sue everyone who says it.

I've seen a video of Mrs. Brown where the guitarist actually stuffs the hankie under his strings, in a camera close up, before the songs starts.

[lennon211]

There's a really good performance of Mrs. Brown in the Hullaballoo DVDs where it shows the hankerchief stuffing under the Ric's strings. I've always liked Herman's Hermits as they've always been very fun music from that era. Also, they partied with the Who at Keith's infamous birthday bash on the '66 (or '67...can't recall) tour.

[iamthebassman]

Still a great shot, Ronn, but I've only seen it on the forum a dozen times.

Your wonderfully positive input was very helpful to the discussion.
We haven't all been a member here as long as you have, perhaps there's some who are newer and might find the photo of some interest.
It's comments like yours that tell me I need to be done with this forum.

[firstbassman]

Now we know how he got that sound. The fabulous legendary tea-towel mute effect. Only a Rick could endure such humiliation and come up sounding great.

There was another video posted many months ago of Pete Townshend I think with some material thing stuffed into the sound hole of his RIC.

Ring a bell?

[manta]

I went to a concert im Omaha in the mid-60s and The WHO were the back-up band for Herman's Hermits. We thought we'd be cool and walk out after The WHO played. So I never did see them live.

Timbo