Herman's Hermits play Whanganui opera house next week

Herman's Hermits circa 1966 with Barry Whitwam at rear right.

When the 1960s British Invasion hit worldwide, Herman's Hermits were one of the biggest groups out of the UK with their hits, Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter, No Milk Today, I'm Henry VIII, A Kind of Hush, A Must to Avoid and a number of other NZ top 10 hits.

Most of the other British bands scoring bit hits at the time sang with American sounding accents.

Herman's Hermits frontman Peter Noone sang with his Northern English accent, giving the band a distinctive sound.

The band first toured New Zealand in January 1966 with our own Ray Columbus and Welsh powerhouse singer Tom Jones.

It was the same year that the band had a number one NZ hit with A Must to Avoid.

Fifty years later, the band is making a farewell New Zealand tour playing at the Royal Wanganui Opera House next Wednesday night.

Since 1971 and the departure of Peter Noone to pursue a solo music career, the group has never stopped.

Now led by original drummer Barry Whitwam, the band has gone from strength to strength into one of the hardest working acts in the business - they still average more than 200 concerts a year.

The 2017 Hermits line-up with Geoff Foot (left), Barry Whitwam, Tony Hancox and Paul Cornwell.

"It's all about the songs", Whitwam says, "and we were very lucky to have had a lot of hits in the sixties that people still want to hear today. We're very lucky."

The band last toured New Zealand with Gerry and the Pacemakers five years ago and they are back for a farewell 10-date tour of the New Zealand heartland.