As some popular chart-toppers of the 60s gear up to perform in Fareham once again, excitement is brewing for Herman’s Hermits drummer Barry Whitwam, who is eager to perform.
While dashing off the plane at his home-town Manchester after a brief holiday to Majorca between touring dates, Barry, the original member of the group, said performing with the group for so many years has been a dream come true.
Barry Whitwam from Herman’s Hermits
Herman’s Hermits have notched up more than 23 top 20 singles, 10 hit albums, three major movies and sold 75 million records worldwide since they began in 1964 – when Barry was just 18 years of age.
And Barry himself cherishes many fond memories of his own during the band’s jam-packed career, including playing at the Royal Commemorative Performance at London Palladium, befriending Elvis Presley and the time his drum-kit exploded on stage – a ruse by The Who.
“It was hectic, but we’ve been very lucky,” said the 67–year-old. “I met Elvis Presley in 1965 when I had just turned 19. We’d just finished the tour in Hawaii and he was filming Paradise, Hawaiian Style.
“His director told us he’d be back soon as he’d gone out on a motorbike with his friends. Then we heard this roar coming nearer and nearer on the beach and saw 15 motorbikes in a V-shape with Elvis on the middle bike.
“He had so much charisma, it was amazing. We talked about music and I think he wanted to know how we were selling more records than him. He was this smooth tanned guy and we were scruffy teenagers.
“He was a very nice fella – a gentleman.”
Barry added: “I shared my 21st birthday with Keith Moon from The Who. Cake was brought out with Happy Birthday Keith and Barry on it. We weren’t allowed to eat it though, because razor blades had been put in cake before.
“Keith looked at me and threw a piece at me. Within five minutes the cake was on the ceiling and walls. In the morning we had a $25,000 bill from the hotel. That was also because there was a car found in the swimming pool.
“We don’t know whose it was or how it got there – but I do think it had something to do with Keith.”
So many tricks were played on each other as The Who toured with Herman’s Hermits, with pyrotechnics being a favoured tool of trickery. Barry recalled the moment he became known as the first exploding drummer in 1967.
He said: “The tour ended in Hawaii, again, and we were playing I’m Henry VIII, I Am as the last song and The Who’s roadie crept up under my drum kit and put loose powder and an electrical charge under my stool so that on the last beat of the song it went off.
“It singed all my hair. It was very funny; it was a good laugh. I was the first exploding drummer in 1967. You had to be on your toes if you were touring with The Who.”
Fast-forwarding almost 50 years in his career with Herman’s Hermits (he will be celebrating the 50th anniversary tour next year), Barry is itching to continue performing with new band line up – Paul Cornwell (lead guitar and vocals), Kevin Lingard (keyboard and vocals) and Geoff Foot (bass guitar) – joining him.
“This year is unbelievable,” Barry said. “We’ve done Australia twice, we have another German tour in December. We’ve got 50 shows of the 60s Sensation.
“I’m really excited about it. The other bands are fantastic.
“I love playing to a live audience where everyone gets involved singing, clapping and dancing in the aisles. Everybody knows the songs, so it’s great. It should be fantastic. It always is.”
Expect to hear Silhouettes, I’m Henry VIII, I Am, I’m Into Something Good, and Mrs Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter.
The 60s Sensation event will include The Marmalade, Herman’s Hermits, Chris Farlowe and Steve Ellis’ Love Affair.
Compering the evening at 7.30pm on October 18 at Ferneham Hall, Alan Mosca from Freddie and The Dreamers is sure to get the audience singing and up from their seats dancing.
For your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show just answer the question below.
Deadline for entries is Monday October 14 at 5pm. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted within 24 hours of the deadline of the competition.
Question:
The band Herman’s Hermits was named because it resembled characters in which cartoon?
A – Rocky and Bullwinkle
B – Tom and Jerry
C – Huckleberry Hound
Send your answer with your name, address and phone number to news@wwgazette.co.uk.