In a wild and rocking holiday concert, Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits blasted off like Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
Run, run, Hermits, Peter’s going to make it to town – as Chuck Berry might say.
Noone, the venerable English ‘60s rocker with the Dorian Gray looks and percolating personality, was in 1965 vintage form Saturday. He played two shows before packed houses in the Savannah Center. Rocky and the Rollers opened, and raised the musical temperature up to the Torrid Zone with a raucous set. My favorite moment was when Al “Wicked Pickett” Morse and the Gerry Seader’s Rollers romped through “Land of 1,000 Dances.”
Watch video of Villages-News.com’s exclusive interview with Noone:
OK, so how cool and off-the-wall was Noone?
Well, his band – dressed as Elves and Santa Claus — did a blistering punk rock version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” as a tribute to Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols.
Then came a pounding cover of “Jumping Jack Flash” with Noone prancing and jumping about the stage like Mick Jagger.
Did we mention Johnny Cash? Noone paid tribute to the country singer with a deep-voice on “Ring of Fire.”
Noone had a little fun with his own music. His band played the famed soft guitar intro to “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” but instead of singing that song to the musical accompaniment, Noone sang “Rudolph…” instead.
After a sing-a-long with the audience, Noone delivered the former No. 1 single from 1965, “Mrs. Brown…” The Hermits had another No. 1 hit that year: “Henry the VIII, I Am.”
This turned into an audience participation number. Noone’s band gave the song a harder rock edge, than the old record.
“OK, now you’ve got to help me,” Noone cracked, as he jumped around stage, waving his arms like a conductor on a runaway train and leading his fans in clapping and singing.
The Villagers responded in strong voice: “I’m Henry the VIII I am, I am.” Then came the famous finish with just about everybody in their seats following Noone, who turned into a rock and roll cheerleader with these words: “H-E-N-R-Y, Henry, Henry, Henry the VIII I am.”
Those in the audience loved it, almost as much as they loved Noone, 68, who still looks remarkably youthful and zestful.
“I saw him when I was a kid and he was just a kid with the Hermits back in the ‘60s,” said Villager Laurie Ullery, who attended the show with her husband, Joe. “I’ve been loyal to him all these years and he has been loyal to his fans. His voice is better than ever.”
Glenda Street agreed.
“He looks the same and he sounds the same, just like back in the old days,” she said. “I have followed this guy since 1964 and I’ll never stop. He has a lot of love for his fans.”
Back in 1965, Noone’s Hermits sold more records than the Beatles. The group had over 20 chart hits and Noone did his best to sing most of them at the concert, which was billed as “An Olde English Christmas.”
Noone kicked off the gig with his first big hit, “I’m Into Something Good,” a pop-flavored, light rocker. It was the kind of sound that made the Hermits so popular.
Watch exclusive video of Noone performing with Herman’s Hermits:
Among the other chestnuts included: “Dandy,” “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat” “Silhouettes” and “A Must to Avoid.”
Noone displayed his versatility on slower numbers like “End of the World,” and “East West.” But the real highlight came when he delivered a gentle but stirring, “Kind of Hush.” That number showcased his vocal skill at selling a song and creating a reflective atmosphere among the people in the seats.
Noone, in many ways, is an English music hall performer. His show is filled with comedy, a little slapstick and lots of fun. He seamlessly moves from vocals to monologues poking fun at himself and those around him.
“When the guys in the band and me were little boys we always dreamed of playing The Villages,” Noone said with a twinkle in his deep blue eyes. “The Villages is the kind of place that always lifts you up.”
Noone also relates to the people living here.
“The people here are in an age group that remember Herman’s Hermits,” Noone said during an interview after the show. “The people here were lucky enough to have lived the last 50 years and they know my songs.”
Back in the ‘60s, did Noone believe he would be singing and people would still be listening to his music 50 years later?
“I always believed our music had a future,” Noone said. “We made good songs and I knew they would stick around.”
Just like Peter Noone