Peter Noone, the former teen heartthrob and member of the popular 60s band Herman’s Hermits, captured the hearts of millions with his adorable face and equally adorable voice. With his thick head of hair and boyish charm, he can be compared to today’s heartthrobs like Justin Bieber or Harry Styles. However, there is one distinct difference between Peter Noone and the heartthrobs of today – his incredible journey from teenage stardom to rock ‘n’ roll legend.
In the 1960s, Herman’s Hermits toured both in America and Britain and quickly became iconic. They achieved their first number one hit in England with “I’m Into Something Good” in 1964. Noone reflects on their success, saying, “We sold millions of records before anyone even saw us, which just doesn’t happen now.” Noone’s stage persona was that of a shy little boy, which wasn’t far from reality.
Herman’s Hermits had more than 20 hit records and even outsold the Beatles in 1965. Some of their biggest hits included “I’m Into Something Good,” “No Milk Today,” and “There’s a Kind of Hush (All Over the World).” The highlight of Noone’s career was when Elvis Presley performed one of their hits, “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am,” on stage in 1965. Despite Elvis making fun of him during the performance, Noone cherishes the moment, saying, “It was Elvis!”
At a young age, Noone lived the quintessential rocker lifestyle, although without the drugs. He and the band would stay up all night, go on rampages, and still manage to do interviews and perform the next morning. It was a brilliant and exciting time for Noone.
Now, at 64 years old, Noone is still on the road as part of Britain’s Solid Silver 60s Show. While his fellow Hermits veterans won’t be joining him, other musical stars from the era will be, including Brian Poole of The Tremeloes and Brian Hyland. Noone admits he never gets tired of the buzz of touring and is amazed that they can still attract an audience after all these years. He chuckles when people come up to him and sing the old songs to his face, unsure of how to respond to their enthusiasm.
Noone has been living in California since the 70s and has adopted a healthy lifestyle. He considers himself lucky to have survived the debauchery of the 60s and reflects on the passing of many others from that era. It serves as a reminder for him to take care of himself and appreciate the present.
Looking back on his younger days, Noone recalls hanging out with icons like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Despite being much younger than them, he would go to clubs with them and enjoy their company. John Lennon even bought him drinks, knowing that Noone was too young to get drunk and cause any trouble. Noone enjoyed drinking and even tried to outdrink Richard Harris, but he never got involved in drugs.
At the age of 19, Noone decided to attend his first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting with his father, who was also an avid drinker. Although he didn’t consider himself an alcoholic, he wanted to be sensitive to the feelings of others and be able to perform on stage. Since then, Noone has cut down on drinking and hasn’t touched a drop in about 16 years. He still allows his wife to drink if she wants to, understanding that it’s a personal choice.
Noone married his wife, Mireille, in 1968, after spending time with various women. He admits that it was probably lust at first sight with her, but after getting to know her, he fell in love. They have been married for 43 years and have one daughter, Nicole. Noone left the band in 1971 at the age of 24 because they wanted to pursue different paths.
Noone’s solo career had its ups and downs, but he found success in the 80s with performances in shows like “Pirates of Penzance” on Broadway and as a host on the US television music show “My Generation.” He even appeared as a mentor and voice coach on American Idol a few years ago.
Despite all his success and experiences, Noone remains humble and grateful for his journey. At the age of 75, he still exudes charisma and cuteness, and his voice continues to amaze audiences. He considers himself fortunate to still be able to do what he loves and reflects on how he has grown from that shy little boy into the rock ‘n’ roll legend he is today.
