Peter Noone Reviews & Such

Reading, PA Concert Review

By Ed Raineri, Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice

Many wantons have been wanting to see this... Meanwhile, here is a very nice review from one of those extrmely intelligent journalists.Yes the one and not only Ed Raineri.We are not related, and he still likes me. PN.

Ed said: er, wrote:

Okay, youre in your mid-forties or early fifties and a big fan of 60s pop music.

You noticed that Def Leppard and Joan Jett were playing at the First Union Arena in Wilkes-Barre last Saturday but that kind of music has never been your cup of tea. Youd have much preferred the likes of a Mitch Ryder, Eric Burdon or perhaps a group like... Hermans Hermits; 60s pop icons no less. But where would you ever find a show like that these days?

Well, in fact, The Rajah Theatre in Reading, was filled to the rafters with baby boomers last Saturday night as Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Eric Burdon and The New Animals, and Peter Noone & Hermans Hermits played to an enthusiastic sold-out house. The "Salute To The 60s" show had actually been sold out for months.

Mitch Ryder, born William Levise Jr., took the stage first and belted out a multitude of his hits including "Sock It To Me Baby", "Jenny Take A Ride" and a powerful rendition of "Devil With The Blue Dress On". Ryders love for rock n roll and life on the road has left a trail of three former wives in its wake. He doesnt shy away from that fact.

Burdon, whose roots go back to the legendary 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival, followed with a bevy of hits, including "Dont Let Me Be Misunderstood", "Sky Pilot" and "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place". The hits just kept on coming, earmarked by Burdons very distinctive voice and thorough command of the stage. You knew you were somewhere special on this night as you sang along to "House Of The Rising Sun".

But even though Ryder and Burdon put on great performances at The Rajah, it seemed obvious that most of the people in the audience came out to see and hear Peter Noone of Hermans Hermits fame. Noone was the loveable 60s pop star that even the parents of teenagers approved of back then. If your daughter was going to be infatuated with a teen idol, most parents hoped it would be with wholesome looking "Herman" versus those straggly looking guys named Mick and Keith from the Rolling Stones.

Noone and his Hermits sold over 52 million records and had 23 Top 20 hits. In 1965, they even outsold The Beatles. Not too shabby.

Today, Peter Noone still seems just as loved. Members of his fan club, "The Noonatics", like Pam from Danville and Linda from New York City, travel all around the country to see him perform hits like "Im Into Something Good"; "Listen People"; "Silhouettes"; "Dandy"; "Mrs. Brown...

Not only does Noone know how to charm his audience; he also knows something about loyalty to his fans. While Ryder and Burdon were nowhere to be found after the show, Noone stayed at the theatre until every fan that wanted an autograph or requested to be in a photo with him got his or her wish. 52 million records later, Noone hasnt forgotten the people who helped him get there.

Quite honestly, its hard not to like the guy. Even when the hotel he was staying at accidentally locked him out of his room after the show (an ordeal that lasted about 30 minutes), as exhausted as he was and somewhat irritated, he never lost his cool. When the night manager, who was in a frenzy and turning 10 different shades of red, finally resolved the problem, Noones words to him were, "Hey, dont have a heart attack over it... not over something so silly". I know a few rock stars who could take a lesson or two from the man.

Noone states that some 30 years later, women still throw their panties on stage when he performs, but over the years the sizes have gotten larger. The line brings a huge laugh from the audience. Hes got them eating out of the palm of his hand. The show closes with an audience sing-along to "Theres A Kind Of Hush". Not surprisingly, everybody seemed to know the words.

Maybe, just maybe, Peter, all those parents were right.

By the way... I dont know the words to any Def Leppard songs. Sed Ed Raineri.

P.S. I have not changed any of the above article.He said I had them eating out of the palm of my hand, not me.We didn’t show closes as he erroneously stated. I showed them my 27" waist, and they flashed me theirs.After we were released the horrible truth was unmentionables.

I was shocked to think he thought we were in our mid-40’s or early 50’s. Which show was he at? Oh Eric! I see now. PN.

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Reading, PA Concert Review

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