The 1960s were an exhilarating time for UK music fans. Groups such as the Beatles were topping charts all around the world. If you’re a music buff with a penchant for that decade, then you’ve probably heard of the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits. While never quite reaching the heights of the Beatles, both groups experienced a significant amount of domestic success and international success.
In this article, we’ll explore the similarities between the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits to definitively determine which is the better band.
Location
The Hollies and Herman’s Hermits were both formed in Manchester in the early 1960s. Herman’s Hermits were created in 1963 and were headed by Peter Noone, who was 15 at the time. The Hollies were formed in 1962, originally as a duo with Graham Nash and Allan Clarke, then as a proper band later that same year.
Because they were formed in the same place right around the same time and had similar styles of music (we’ll discuss this more below), both the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits shared fans and venues during their heyday in Manchester. At the start, their careers had similar trajectories, with success largely spurred by the Beatles. The excitement that both groups inspired in fans during the 60s is similar to that of today’s fans of live shows of the sporting, gaming and musical variety.
Style
Both the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits were heavily influenced by the Beatles, who first experienced breakthrough success in both the UK and the US with their song ‘Love Me Do’ towards the end of 1962. While it would be a mistake to say that either group was created as ‘clones’ of the Beatles, their trajectories and styles were certainly quite similar.
With all of that in mind, what kind of music did the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits perform for their fans? Herman’s Hermits were known for their jaunty tunes designed to keep toes tapping. They were a bit more light-hearted than the Hollies, with Noone’s vocal style often veering into tongue in cheek. The Hollies, on the other hand, focused on their harmonies and had a slightly smoother delivery. To highlight their similarities during their active years, the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits both recorded the song ‘Bus Stop’ in the 1960s, though the Hollies ultimately released the successful track.
Domestic success
Herman’s Hermits and the Hollies both experienced significant success in the UK. Beginning in Manchester but quickly expanding across the nation, the bands were sometimes neck-in-neck in terms of chart performance and show attendance. With that said, the Hollies are largely considered the more popular domestic band, with more than 30 charting singles and numerous number-one hits in the UK. Herman’s Hermits, on the other hand, had just one number one in the country and roughly 20 charting hits. Note that many of those charting hits for Herman’s Hermits are well outside of the top 10 and top 20, while the Hollies had significantly more success.
Where the Hollies faltered was overseas, and that’s exactly where Herman’s Hermits thrived.
International success
The Hollies and Herman’s Hermits were both successful in the US, but to varying degrees. In contrast to their domestic popularity, Herman’s Hermits were hands down the more popular group. They had numerous number-one hits in the US, and their success began almost from the formation of the group. ‘I’m Into Something Good’ was the group’s first top 20 hit, and it was quickly followed by ‘Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat’, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Hollies found considerably less mainstream recognition overseas. While they had around seven top 10 hits on the Hot 100, Herman’s Hermits boasted around 11 and had more songs break the top 10 than the Hollies. The latter had more charting hits in the US, but the vast majority of them failed to break the top 20.
None of this is to say that the Hollies had no success in the States – they absolutely did. It just doesn’t compare to the run that Herman’s Hermits had, with the band rivalling the Beatles in popularity at their peak.
With all of this in mind, you might be wondering which group was the ‘better’ band. In the UK, the Hollies are typically considered more popular than Herman’s Hermits. In the US, however, the reverse is true and Herman’s Hermits are often considered the better band. Do you agree with our ranking? Let us know and drop some of your favourite singles below!
