Peter Noone
Peter Noone |
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Peter Noone (born Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone, 5 November 1947, Davyhulme, Manchester) is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and actor, best known as "Herman" of the successful 1960s rock group Herman's Hermits.
Early life
The son of an accountant, Noone attended Wellacre Primary School in Flixton, Urmston and Stretford Grammar School near Manchester. He played a number of acting roles on television, including that of Stanley Fairclough in the soap opera Coronation Street.[1] Noone studied voice and drama at St Bede's College, Manchester and Manchester School of Music, where he won the Outstanding Young Musician Award. He also got head butted by Dave Royle whilst attending a school in Salford, losing his 2 front teeth in the process.[citation needed]
Career
Herman's Hermits
Early in his career, he used the stage name Peter Novak. At the age of 15, he became the lead singer, spokesman, and frontman of Herman's Hermits. As "Herman", the photogenic Noone appeared on the cover of many international publications, including the Time Magazine's cover collage showing new faces in popular music.[2]
Solo work
After leaving Herman's Hermits, Noone recorded four singles for UK RAK Records, one single for UK and US Philips, and several singles for the small UK record label, Bus Stop Records. His first RAK single, "Oh! You Pretty Things", peaked at #12 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] It was written by David Bowie, who also played piano on the track. In 1974 Noone scored a #15 US AC and #101 US Bubbling Under success with "Meet Me On The Corner Down At Joe's Cafe" on the Casablanca Records label. In 1989 he had a #19 US AC hit with his solo recording of "I'm Into Something Good" from the movie The Naked Gun.
Family
Noone has a brother Damon Noone who is also a musician and a parliamentary candidate for United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). Peter Noone is married to Mireille (née Strasser), a Strasbourg-born Frenchwoman two years his senior.[4] They were married on 5 November 1968,[5] Noone′'s 21st birthday.[6] Because Strasser was Jewish, the Catholic Noone needed a special dispensation for the couple to be married at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in London′s Mayfair.[6] They have a daughter, Natalie. Peter Noone sings a song penned by his daughter, “I′d Rather Be Lonely.”[7]
Film, television, and stage
During the 1970s, Noone also starred in various stage, TV and film productions, including ABC's musical version of The Canterville Ghost, the lead in Pinocchio, (1968 TV programme) and Hallmark Hall of Fame's presentation of Pinocchio). He starred in three films for MGM: Mrs Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter, Hold On! and When the Boys Meet the Girls. He received favourable reviews in the lead role of Frederic in several Broadway theatre productions of The Pirates of Penzance during the 1980s. Also in the 1980s, Noone fronted a new-wave band called the Tremblers, and released a solo album, One of the Glory Boys.
He was the host of VH1's My Generation from 1989 to 1993, and in 2001 he was voted 'VH1's Sexiest Artist. The Viewers' Choice award'. He now lives in Santa Barbara, California, United States. One of his neighbors is Dennis Miller, and Noone occasionally appears on his radio programme.
Recent
He still tours with a group called 'Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone'. Noone appeared on the televised singing show American Idol on 20 March 2007 as a mentor for male contestants on the show. He performed "There's a Kind of Hush" on American Idol on 21 March 2007.
References
- ^ Nown, Graham ed.(1985). Coronation Street 1960-1985: 25 years, CBC Enterprises, 1986. ISBN 0-88794-231-8 photo with brief description of 1961 cameo role p209.
- ^ "Time Magazine Cover". Time. May 21, 1965. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 397. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Toner, Barbara (June 1971). "Peter Noone and his wife, Mireille". Herman's Hermits. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- ^ James, Dawn (January 1969). "Herman and how it feels to be married!". Rave. p. 3. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "Peter Noone: Noone Wedding Pics". Photoplay. 1968. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- ^ Noone, Peter. "I′d Rather Be Lonely - Peter Noone". YouTube.
External links
- Official website
- Peter Noone singing his daughter′s song "I′d Rather Be Lonely" on YouTube.com