Who’s Still Alive From the Original Lineup of Herman’s Hermits?
Herman’s Hermits was one of the most beloved bands of the British Invasion, and by 1965, they captured the hearts of fans around the world. Formed in Manchester, England, in 1963, the band officially came together with its classic lineup consisting of Peter Noone on lead vocals, Keith Hopwood on rhythm guitar and vocals, Karl Green on bass and vocals, Derek Leckenby on lead guitar, and Barry Whitwam on drums. Their debut album, simply titled Herman’s Hermits, debuted on Feb. 12, 1965. The U.S. version, sometimes known as Introducing Herman’s Hermits, was completely different in track listing than the U.K. version, as was common at the time, though both contained the hit “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.”
While Noone was the youthful and charismatic face of the group, the entire band played a vital role in shaping their sound. Originally discovered by producer Mickie Most, Herman’s Hermits quickly became chart-toppers, scoring hits like “I’m Into Something Good,” “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat” and “Listen People.” Their ability to craft catchy tunes with a wholesome image made them a favorite among teen audiences of the time period.
Throughout the mid-to-late ’60s, Herman’s Hermits dominated the charts, particularly in the U.S., where they were among the top-selling artists of the British Invasion era. They also made appearances in films such as Hold On! and Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter, further cementing their place in pop culture history.
Who’s still alive from the original lineup of Herman’s Hermits?
Peter Noone (77)
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for IEBA
Peter Noone remains active in the music industry and continues to tour under the name Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone. In 1971, Noone embarked on a solo career, achieving moderate success with hits like “Oh You Pretty Thing,” written by David Bowie. His musical journey continued throughout the decades, marked by stints in various musical projects, including the short-lived but memorable band the Tremblers, also featuring Greg Inhofer (keyboards), Robert Williams (drums), George Conner (lead guitar) and Mark Browne (bass).
Noone ventured into television and Broadway, starring in productions like The Pirates of Penzance and Romance/Romance while hosting shows like My Generation on VH1. In the 1990s, Noone transitioned to hosting a three-hour program on SiriusXM’s ’60s Gold station, where he continued to share his love for 1960s music with a new generation of fans. Through the years, Noone has maintained his place in the spotlight, earning accolades such as the 2019 “Entertainer of the Year” award at the Casino Entertainment Awards in Las Vegas. Peter Noone is on tour in 2025, so keep an eye on his website to see if he will be playing near you.
Barry Whitwam (78)
He still performs with his own version of Herman’s Hermits as well, primarily touring in Europe. Whitwam once opened up about meeting Elvis Presley and shared, “Another time we were in Hawaii finishing a U.S. tour and we got a call from Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley’s manager, inviting us to meet him on a local film set, and Peter and I spent two memorable hours with this true Southern gentleman. I still have a framed photograph of the meeting on a wall in my house and it’s a really proud memory.”
Keith Hopwood (78)
After leaving Herman’s Hermits in 1972, Hopwood’s career took a turn toward composing and producing music for television and film. He cowrote the theme tune for the Wind in the Willows adaptation and worked on several Cosgrove Hall productions, including Soul Music and The BFG. Additionally, Hopwood cofounded Pluto Music in 1968, a company specializing in composing musical scores for commercials, films and animated series.
Pluto Music found great success, working with acts like the Clash, while Hopwood continued his work in television, particularly on animated shows such as Bob the Builder. In 2022, Hopwood released his first solo album, Never Too Late, which featured 11 original tracks and marked a new chapter in his storied career. He followed it up with Freedom Calls — Chapter 1 & 2 and released a memoir called A Hermit’s Tale in 2024. Beyond music, Hopwood has built a legacy by mentoring new talent, including his granddaughter Izzy Hopwood.
Karl Green (77)
This is the band I have now, The Karl Green Band. featuring myself, Gina Knight, and Michael Bruccoleri pic.twitter.com/0B7y8WrecA
— Karl Green (@karlgreen_hh) December 30, 2015
He stepped away from performing full time but has occasionally revisited music with his Karl Green Band, while also pursuing business ventures. Not much is known about his current whereabouts.
Sadly, Derek “Lek” Leckenby passed away on June 4, 1994.
1965
February 2025
Flashback to 1965 and celebrate the very best of TV, Movies, Music, Fashion & more!
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