Barry Whitman, original drummer with Herman’s Hermits, is marking the band’s golden anniversary by touring all round the UK, including Swindon, with a bunch of old pals.
The drummer enjoys celebrating with friends, but has never topped the madness of his 21st birthday, which he spent with Keith Moon from The Who.
“It was Keith’s 21st too. We were playing in Las Vegas with The Who. Fans were always making us cakes that we were never allowed to eat, in case there were razor blades or something in them. So we ended up at the Holiday Inn with about 100 cakes, and after a few drinks it ended up in a cake fight with mess all over the walls, floor and ceiling, and then, somewhere along the line, a car ended up in the swimming pool,’’ he said.
Barry can’t promise a cake fight on stage at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, but he does promise to be Into Something Good with The Sensational Sixties Experience.
The band take a walk down memory lane to the swinging sixties with songs such as There’s a Kind Of Hush, Henry Vlll, Something Is Happening, I’m Into Something Good and Sunshine Girl.
On Sunday, October 12, Herman’s Hermits will be joined by The Union Gap who shot to the UK number one spot with Young Girl, and number five with Lady Willpower.
The compere for the evening is Alan Mosca from Freddie and The Dreamers, the comedy pop band who brought the world the iconic lyrics I Like It! I Like It!
Also on the bill are classic 1960s bands The Swinging Blue Jeans getting everyone dancing in the aisles to the Hippie Hippie Shake, singer/songwriter Dave Berry who came to fame singing The Crying Game and Memphis Tennessee, and the slick boy band and comedy songsters of their era, The Ivy League, led by original member Perry Ford. They will be performing Funny How Love Can Be and Tossing and Turning.
Herman’s Hermits started in Manchester in 1964 with Peter Noone as lead singer. When he left in 1971, Barry took over as band leader, with Paul Cornwall from Union Gap stepping up for frontman duties.
Barry said: “I still get the same buzz playing live as I did 50 years ago, that excitement when the adrenalin kicks in, and I get nervous when we do a new number.’’ Tickets for the Sensational Sixties Experience. are £26.50 from 01793 524481. - Flicky Harrison
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