Peter Noone chats about upcoming shows with Micky Dolenz, New York, California, Manchester, and more

by | Jan 7, 2016 | Coming Up, Culture, Entertainment

Originally hailing from northwestern England, Peter Noone first hit it big as the teenaged frontman of Herman’s Hermits. With over a dozen gold singles and many millions of albums sold, Herman’s Hermits also crossed over into the movie world, appearing in some films for MGM. After the Hermits disbanded in 1971, Peter went forward with a solo career that is still going strong 40-plus years later.

In support of his trio of In Conversation With shows alongside The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz, I had the opportunity to speak with Peter for Downtown. While attendees of the shows in Westbury (Jan. 7), Tarrytown (Jan. 8) and Montclair (Jan. 9) will not be hearing the Herman’s Hermits hits performed live, interesting stories about Peter’s career ought to be expected. And for those looking to hear even more from Peter, he hosts a weekly three-hour show on SiriusXM called Something Good on Saturdays at 5 p.m. EST.

Peter’s next concert in the New York City area has not yet been announced, but concert dates are regular updated at www.peternoone.com.

 

unnamed (2)

You are arguably the first famous singer to come out of Manchester. Manchester later had a musical resurgence with the Factory Records label. Do you remember when you first learned of that scene?

Peter Noone: Well, we were many. My personal favorites were Allan Clarke and The Hollies and Wayne Fontana, and I am pleased that Morrissey and those later singers liked my group Herman’s Hermits. I was not impressed with Oasis but I liked Take That. Our Manchester scene was pure and you did not have to like the other peoples’ music, you just had to like them. I think that scene needs a refill.

When did you and Micky Dolenz first meet?

P: We met at Top Of The Pops in Shepherd’s Bush BBC London. Micky was fun and so was Davy, the other two [Monkees] were feeling too famous to hang with us musicians, two of whom were in The Beatles.

For someone who hasn’t seen you and Micky live together, what should they be expecting from your upcoming New York area shows together? Where did the idea for this Conversation series come from?

P: I think people expect us to start singing, which we will not do. This is conversation only. The “live together” notion is good because we are live….together, but no band, etc. We just talk about each other as in a conversation.

What do you remember about the first gig you ever played in New York?

P: It was a school of music, and I liked it. It was called Academy and the audience were very excited and we didn’t get to tell our story. As Keith Hopwood played the intro to “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” the audience screamed, so I never got to tell the story, as told since its early days at the Cavern [Club] in Liverpool.

In the 1980s, you reinvented yourself with The Tremblers, who sounded like Cheap Trick to my ears. At what point did you make peace with being a 1960s icon?

P: I gave a shot at losing the Herman moniker and being a Trembler, and after a year in The Tremblers, I got offered a Broadway show, Pirates Of Penzance by Joe Papp. After doing the U.S. tour and the New York Broadway for a year and British West End then New Zealand, I felt it was time to be Herman again.

When your daughter Natalie chose to pursue a musical career, was that something you are encouraging of?

P: I always encourage EVERYONE with talent to try to be an entertainer, artist, whatever it is. My daughter Natalie has high expectations and knows that only talented people with a lot of persistence ever get a career, so she is at work.

Do you have a professional accomplishment that you’re most proud of?

P: No.

Is there anything that you haven’t yet accomplished as a performer that you still hope to? Do you have new music in the works?

P: I am working on a project for Broadway, but it is in its infancy and is not ready to be talked about or to.

You still perform over 100 shows a year beyond hosting a show on SiriusXM. When you’re not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?

P: I like music so my spare time is spent with my friends – Buddy Holly, Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Dion, The Rolling Stones…

When did you first move to California? And what specifically drew you to Santa Barbara?

P: I liked California the first time I landed there with the Hermits in 1964. Palm trees, no mosquitoes. Santa Barbara was my wife’s idea. All men live where their wives want to live.
Finally, Peter, any last words for the kids?

P: Hey, kids: eat your veggies.

-by Darren Paltrowitz

Tags:
Spring At The Seaport

Spring At The Seaport

There's something for everyone happening this Spring at The Seaport! All text courtesy of The Seaport. All images by...

Making Waves

Making Waves

Blonde Records’ Founder Rebecca Autumn Sansom (first left) Seeks Inclusivity with Wavy Awards. OCTOBER 23RD, 2021...

Glow Up

Glow Up

SHINE ON The PAC's translucent marble walls will light up from the inside at night. Photography by Luxigon. The...

Downtown Magazine