Barry Whitwam
THIS week we talk to Barry Whitwam of Herman’s Hermits, who will be performing in Wrexham as part of the group’s 55th anniversary tour.
Q
Tell us about your family
A
Married 32 years to Pat. My children from my first marriage are Emma, 50 and Richard, 45. Emma has three boys and Richard has a girl and a boy. My stepson Jonathan is also 45 and has a son. Emma is a teacher in Lincolnshire; Richard is a Senior Youth Worker in Stockport and Jonathan is an IT manager locally.
Q
Tell us something about yourself
A
I was never academically minded and decided I wanted to play the drums at 12 when I was offered a place in a local group – providing I had a drum kit. After much persuasion, my mother agreed to lend me £40 and took me to a friend of the family who
How old are you? 73
Where are you from? Didsbury, Manchester What are your worst habits? The worst habits I had were smoking and biting my nails. I stopped both a long time ago.
owned Stock & Chapman’s – a large music store in Manchester.
Within 12 months I had taken lessons and the group were also practising and we were soon booked in local youth clubs and working men’s clubs for an average of £5 a night – split between four and two drivers – my dad and the lead guitarist’s dad.
I left school at 15 and as my parents were sure it would merely be a temporary hobby, they insisted I learnt a trade.
My mother paid for a crash course in ladies’ hairdressing and after six months I became a professional in Eccles with a fairly large clientele, earning about £4.50 plus tips at 16.
Reluctantly, I had to finish my hairdressing career after about 12 months of working during the day and playing four nights a week, which paid a lot more.
In April 1964 myself, Derek Leckenby, Karl Green, Keith Hopwood and Peter Noone formed Herman’s Hermits, and were quickly signed up by Mickie Most to record ‘I’m into Something Good’ which went to Number One in September the same year.
By 1965 we started touring the USA and the world extensively, making two major films in America in between and by the end of 1966 we had sold more records than anybody else in the world, including the Beatles.
To date, our record sales amount to over 80 million records worldwide.
For the last 55 years, we have continued non-stop, touring the world with various personnel changes over the years.
Q
How would you describe your music?
A
Our music is about love and happiness. Our music is known by everyone, and you can sing along to it.
Q
What are you best known for?
A
For playing more shows than anybody else in the UK and having more hit records in the USA than most other ’60s groups, apart from the Beatles.
QWhat can people expect from your gigs?
Herman’s Hermits (including Barry Whitwam 2nd left) will be at William Aston Hall on February 23
AWe can expect a lot of people who grew up in the ’60s and will have some younger people in the audience who are interested in the sixties music.
Q
Tell us five things which make your set great. A
1. We play all the old hits as they should be played
2. We sing in tune and great harmonies. 3. I play a drum solo. 4. We dress very smart, like we did in the ’60s. 5. We have audience participation. Q
Tell us what’s good about the venue
A
I have never played the William Aston Hall before.
Q
Whose music are you listening to?
A
British and American music from the ’50s and ’60s.
Q
What are you most proud of, musically? A
Meeting Elvis Presley on the set of Paradise Hawaiian-style, on the beach in Hawaii in 1965, Being asked to play at the White House for Lyndon Johnson’s family and appearing in a Royal Command Performance. Mostly, however, I am proudest of being the sole surviving member having played non-stop with Herman’s Hermits for the last 55 years.