A Chat with Peter Noone

A CHAT WITH PETER NOONE

When you think of the British beat of the 1960's, what do you come up with? The
Beatles, The Stoned, The Who? But what about Herman's Hermits?
The Hermits don't get the same credit as the previously mentioned groups but did
you know that in 1965 they outsold the Beatles with classic recordings such as
"There' A Kind of Hush", "I'm Into Something Good" and many others.
The front man of this group was the young Peter Noone (Most recently seen on
American Idol) and in 1965 he had the mind-blowing honour of meeting his idol,
Elvis Presley.
Peter joins us at to answer some questions about this
meeting and his career.
EE - You started out in Coronation Street, playing the part of Len
Fairclough's son, do you have many memories of your time there?
PN - "I remember that the actors on Coronation Street were very very professional,
and whenever I forgot my lines on the live TV show in front of millions, and my
School friends, they would pick up my lines for me and make me look like a
pro...which I am most definitely not."
EE - Have you ever been asked to return and if so, would you?
PN - "No they never asked me and yes of course I would return. In the show my
Mum divorced Len and we went to Australia, so I bet I would have a really cool ozzy
accent by now mate."
EE - How did Hermans Hermits come about?
PN - "We were all in different bands that played the club and dance circuit around
Manchester and slowly we evolved. Keith Hopwood, Karl Green and I were all
members of the Heartbeats. Barry and Lek were in a group called that Wailers."
EE - You must have felt great when "I'm Into Something Good" got to the
number one spot?
PN - "It really was a dream come true after 3 years of really fun but hard work."
EE - You had major success in the U.S. with songs that possibly would
have flopped in the U.K. such as "I'm Henry The Eight (I Am)", why do you
think that was?
PN - "I think it was because the Beatles had made everyone think that everything
English was cute, talented and verging on genius."
EE - It was around this time that you got to meet with Elvis on the set of
'Paradise, Hawaiian Style'. How did that meeting come about?
PN - "I was close friends with Tom Moffat who was a DJ at KPOI. He was friendly
with Elvis and the Colonel. So I asked Tom if I could meet them and he arraigned it
and we did an excellent interview. I went to the film set and interviewed Elvis."
EE - Come on what was it like.....Be honest!
PN - "Elvis was absolutely charming and hilarious. I became an even bigger
supporter of him after that. Until I met Elvis, I had thought he was the most
incredible singer in the history of music, as a singer I knew what an incredibly
versatile vocalist and song craftsman he was.
After I met him, I was pleasantly surprised to find that he was also a very funny and
humorous man and that his humour included the self deprecating style which would
be the last thing one would expect from such a brilliant man."
EE - Many people have spoken about their meetings with Elvis and how he
was not the big superstar type. How did you find him?
PN - "I was so nervous, but her was so charming and fun loving that I was instantly
made to feel like one of the boys. Apparently this is what many musicians have said
about him. We were fans of his but not the sweaty, giddy ones, so he was at ease
with us and knew he could trust us because we knew he was a genius and not just
a trophy."
EE - My favourite part of the interview is when you thank him for the
"Doofers" and Elvis is knocked back by the word. I have to ask, what were
the "Doofers" that he gave to you?
PN - The "Doofers" were a huge collection of Elvis memorabilia, which I gave to my
sister in Liverpool and she loaned them to her friend and they were never seen
again...... Expletives...... There were signed albums and singles etc. Remember in
those days, memorabilia was not a generally used word and I was 16 and in awe of
THE MAN."
EE - Tell us your favourite things from each Elvis era!
PN - I love the 50's, 'Milkcow Blues Boogie', 'Blue Moon of Kentucky' I would
struggle to find anything I disliked from the 50's. I like the 'G.I. Blues' soundtrack
from the early 60's because you can hear he was still on top of his game....the very
top.
There's not much from the 70's that I like sadly. Bt I do treasure every one of his
albums because I don't think he ever did any poor quality work, although many
detractors try to find flaws. Even on his worst day, he was a better performer than
anyone I have ever seen. And my favourite films are 'G.I. Blues' and 'Jailhouse
Rock'.
EE - Do you have much of an Elvis collection?
PN - "My Elvis recordings and my outtakes from his sessions are a great source of
pride to me. And also the fact that I am Elvis' most blatant protector and refuse to
let anyone say he was a junkie etc. I see Priscilla sometimes and often run into Joe
(Esposito) and Jerry (Schilling)....we are all protectors of his majesty."
EE - Is there any particular Elvis song you would like to record?
PN - "I would never attempt an Elvis song, even in tribute! No one can sing them
better or as well as Elvis, so why the hell bother? Elvis' recordings are pretty final I
would say. Elvis recorded it and thats the only way it can be done. No one can do
his songs justice so just leave them to the best. The same goes for those
impersonators....they cannot do Elvis justice so stop."
EE - It has been rumoured that when you met Jerry Lee Lewis, you upset
him by saying Elvis was the King....Is this true?
PN - "(laughs) Well, this was not my first run in with Jerry Lee, and I feel that in
retrospect, my protectionist style regarding Elvis only served to protagonist Jerry.
Well, in a conversation over multiple adult beverages, I said that Elvis was the King
of Rock 'N' Roll. Jerry Lee asked me why Elvis was the King and not him? So I said,
not thinking straight, Elvis was the King because he has had 100 phenominal
records and you have had only 3."
"Jerry Lee then turns to me and asks if I would like to eat the bar room table?
Which I respectfully declined...... But over the years the story has evolved into
things like I had a fight with Jerry Lee, which is not true. You just got the true story
from the horses mouth."
EE - Peter Noone, on behalf of the readers at Elvis-Express.com and
indeed myself...... Thank you and we wish you all the best.
PN - Thank you Lee and all the best to you and your great Elvis show.

Originating source : elvis express radio