MANCHESTER POP TRAIL

THE Top Pop Stars annual of 1965 provides an interesting insight into who remained top of the hit parade at the time.

In Manchester terms, Freddie And The Dreamers, The Hollies and Herman’s Hermits appear to have maintained there popularity enduring the Manchester Beat boom of ‘63 and ‘64.

The book is a real collectors item published by Purnell and features articles on the stars of the day with some great images.

It is evident from the book that Peter Noone with his boyish looks had become a real pin up and a feature on the boy from Davyhulme makes an interesting read 53 years on.

Herman’s Hermits, five lads from Manchester led by Peter (Herman) had only been together three months before their gold disc, I’m Into Something Good, became a number-one seller.

They were the first British group to get a hit with the American ‘surfing’ sound craze.

Their popularity today, particularly in America where they sold over 12 million records in just over a year, is enormous.

They appear to be more popular on the other side of the Atlantic, where their discs seem to sell better. They’ve also appeared in major Hollywood films.

Peter was an actor before he joined the group, which played under the name The Heartbeats.

“I went along to a youth club one night where they were playing,” he said.

“They were short of a singer, so I volunteered and I’ve been singing ever since.”

The personnel of the original group has undergone various changes since its early days.

Although Peter had sung at school, his ambition was to be an actor.

A part in the Knight Errant series called for him to sing.

When he told his father, it was dad who decided that his son ought to have singing as well as drama lessons. Peter attended the Manchester School of Music for both lessons.

He later landed a part in the Coronation Street series in the role of Len Fairclough’s son.

Once he auditioned for a part in Lionel Bart’s, Oliver. “I was reckoned to be too tall and awkward,” he reported. “Besides, I would have had to learn Cockney!”

His career as a pop star has brought him tremendous fame. “I love singing,” he said. If you have any 60s Manchester memorabilia to share or sell please drop me a line at wildecartoons@btinternet.com.