This one hits way, way too close to home.
In the earliest days of Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People, one of the primary goals was to seek out and interview in depth the artists whose work had the most enduring impact on our own mission statement. As a result, the first few years of publication were blessed with once in a lifetime exchages with Rick Nelson, Jan And Dean, the Monkees, Sam And Dave, Hank Williams Junior, Del Shannon, Roky Erickson, the Belmonts, Solomon Burke, the Stooges, Mitch Ryder, Danny And The Juniors, the New Colony Six, Millie Jackson, the Beach Boys, Paul Revere And The Raiders, the Woolies, Roy Brown, Jefferson Airplane's Jack Casady, Country Joe McDonald, Mary Wells, the Beau Brummels, Freddy Cannon, Question Mark And The Mysterians, Lou Christie, the Seeds, Fever Tree, Archie Bell, the Royal Guardsmen and Sandy Nelson, to name but a few.
Front and center among that most treasured list was the veteran Manchester band, Herman's Hermits. During their long and productive tenure with the MGM label in the United States, the band was comprised of Karl Green (bass), Keith Hopwood (rhythm guitar), Derek "Lek" Leckenby (lead guitar), Peter Noone (lead vocals) and Barry Whitwam (drums).
But throughout the 1970s, Herman's Hermits underwent a series of key personnel changes. Noone was the first to opt out in the early 1970s for a solo career with Philips and Casablanca. He was succeeded by the late Peter Cowap, with whom Herman's Hermits recorded the groundbreaking country rock album, Whale Of A Tale for RCA Victor.
Hopwood was next; tendering his resignation in 1972 to pursue a long and fruitful career in studio work. Cowap also opted for a solo career around the same time, with renowned Gospel vocalist John Gaughan coming on board to front the band for the lone 45, You've Gotta Love Me Baby / Motorway City.
But by the mid-1970s, Herman's Hermits had solidified their line up with a vengeance. With Karl Green on bass and lead vocals, Derek Leckenby on lead guitar, Barry Whitwam on drums and Frank Renshaw as rhythm guitarist, the band recorded and toured relentlessly, refining their mission statement and on stage persona to the point that by decade's end, they were arguably the best live band on the planet, bar none.
By the time he had come on board with Herman's Hermits, Renshaw had already established a most impressive curriculum vitae of his own. As a founding member of the Toggery Five, Renshaw demonstrated from the onset his formidable skills as both a vocalist and guitarist. The band's 1965 signature single, I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys has been widely hailed as one of the hallmark releases of the so-called British Invasion. Selected Toggery Five cuts were released in the United States on the Tower label.
Renshaw had also worked upon occasion in a post-Toggery Five capacity with bandmate Paul Young as Young And Renshaw. Their album and quartet of singles for the Bell label were hailed as a breath of fresh air amidst the protracted aesthetic slump of the early 1970s.
By the time Renshaw joined forces with Herman's Hermits in the mid-1970s, the band hit the ground running. Larry Uttal's Private Stock label immediately signed them, releasing the magnificent Ginny Go Softly / Blond Haired Blue Eyed Boy single in the process. The band was soon after recruited by Buddah Records, where in 1976-1977 they released two career highlight 45s, the utterly stupendous (I'm In A) Lonely Situation and their impassioned cover of Leo Sayer's Train, backed with an amped up remake of Ride On The Water from the Whale Of A Tale album.
But the best was yet to come.
One of the most prolific and impacting visionaries in all of rock and roll was the great Morris Levy, head of the vaunted Roulette family of labels. An early major influence on Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People, Levy's 20 Original Winners and Golden Goodies compilation albums for Roulette are widely hailed as among the best such compilations chronicling the most crucial developments and releases of rock and roll's formative years.
By 1978, Herman's Hermits' successes at Private Stock and Buddah had caught Levy's attention, as did their essential and often reissued Twenty Greatest Hits collection, in which Green, Leckenby, Renshaw and Whitwam revisited the band's best known MGM era tracks. Levy reached out accordingly, and Herman's Hermits found themselves with a one off single deal with Roulette.
Duly inspired in the wake of both Levy's and Blitz Magazine's encouragement, Herman's Hermits returned to the studio and produced what was arguably the finest moment of their career. The resultant single, Heart Get Ready For Love was a slice of pure euphoric bliss, with Green's impassioned lead vocals and Leckenby's viruoso guitar work soaring far above the herd.
But it is the flip side of that Roulette 45, Truck Stop Momma that also enabled Frank Renshaw to shine for the first time on record with the band. Relentless touring through the American south in the second half of the 1970s strengthend his love for the work of such Americana greats as Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and Lynyrd Skynyrd exponentially. That inspiration is borne out sublimely in Truck Stop Momma. Ultimately, that 45 was hailed by Blitz Magazine in 1980 as the Best Single of the Decade of the 1970s.
To be certain, Roulette was one hundred percent behind their newest signing. Upon learning of its impending release, Blitz Magazine phoned Roulette's offices in New York City. Two days later, a package arrived from Morris Levy himself, containing a generous thirteen copies of the Heart Get Ready For Love single in both the commercial and promotional configurations, including a French pressing with the picture sleeve. The band featured both sides of the single prominently in their high energy live shows, amidst a generous helping of their MGM era classics and a few well chosen covers that included decidedly Hermitized versions of the Eagles' Life In The Fast Lane, Elvis Presley's Party and Merle Haggard's Honky Tonk Night Time Man.
Renshaw most capably handled the lead vocals on the latter two covers. Little did he know at the time how well those moments in the spotlight would prepare him for what was to come.
Despite Blitz Magazine's unwavering support (including a record one dozen interviews with the band published within a five year period), Roulette's enthusiasm for Heart Get Ready For Love and the resultant adoration that awaited them at each stop of their tours, a change was inevitable. Sixteen years on the road nonstop had taken a tremedous toll on bassist and front man Karl Green, who annouced his retirement from the band in early 1980.
With that, Leckenby and Whitwam began out of necessity a search for a new lead vocalist. Thankfully, their search was brief.
"I'll do it!", said Renshaw.
To be certain, Frank's years on the road with the band found him immersing himself in the band's MGM era catalog to the point that he could pull it off with tremendous conviction (and indeed, it has been argued that his rendition of the band's interpretation of Skeeter Davis' high drama signature single, The End Of The World is the definitive one). Long story short, long time British Invasion colleague Dave Barrow was recruited to handle responsibilities on the bass, with Frank Renshaw assuming the lead vocalist role with a vengeance.
All of which led to one of the most treasured and memorable weekends in the history of Blitz Magazine.
In early 1981, the Renshaw, Leckenby, Whitwam and Barrow line up of Herman's Hermits was contracted to headline at the Orange County, California theme park, Knott's Berry Farm. Sharing the bill with pioneering rock and roll giant Rick Nelson (who was ultimately hailed by Blitz Magazine as Best Solo Artist of the Twentieth Century, in a dead heat tie with Hank Williams Senior), Herman's Hemits' multiple shows that weekend were witnessed by an estimated crowd of more than thirty thousand. Several of the shows were recorded, with Blitz Magazine Editor/Publisher Michael McDowell serving as engineer.
It was at that point that Herman's Hermits extraordinary gift for humor availed itself in a most unlikely way.
During a break between shows, Derek Leckenby and Blitz's Michael McDowell decided to walk across the park and take in one of Rick Nelson's appearances. Blitz Magazine had already interviewed Nelson twice at that point, and he had graciously arranged for front row center seating for us during that performance.
Surprisingly, it was Lek's first opportunity to witness a Rick Nelson concert. To say that he was enthralled would be considerable understatement. To that effect, during a band meeting later that evening, Lek went over the highlights of Nelson's show in great detail with Frank, Barry and Dave, making suggestions as to how some of those highlights might well serve as inspiration for their own live set.
Meanwhile, as Nelson's performance was drawing to a conclusion, Lek looked at his watch.
"We're on soon", he said.
"We'd better get back".
After a brief exchange with Nelson, we immediately headed back to Herman's Hermits' Knott's Berry Farm headquarters.
"We'd better walk a little faster", Lek said, ever conscious of the time.
Meanwhile, the remaining three Hermits had opted to parktake of the many rides that the amusement park had to offer. One particular ride, Montezuma's Revenge, was a particularly challenging one, with signs posted at its entrance which cautioned that it was most assuredly not for the faint hearted.
As we approached Hermits headquarters, Barry, Dave and Frank were there to meet us. Barry and Dave spoke highly of the great time that they had partaking of the various rides. However, it initially appeared that Frank did not share their enthusiasm.
Nonetheless, the band took to the stage on time, with Blitz Magazine again engineering the event for posterity. The band had no sooner finished their first number, when Frank (who by that time appeared to be in a bit of physical distress) suddenly excused himself from the microphone for a few seconds. Moments later, he returned to center stage, appearing as healthy as ever and tearing through the remainder of the set with his trademark 150 percent effort.
"Montezuma's Revenge", he joked after the second number. Nonetheless, it was Frank Renshaw who had the last laugh.
During another Southern California appearance in April 1983, Herman's Hermits again showcased their ability to turn adversity into triumph. Blitz Magazine picked the band up at Los Angeles International Airport. It was while en route to their hotel that the tragic news broke on the car radio of the suicide of Danny Rapp, founder and lead vocalist of the beloved pioneering vocal quartet, Danny And The Juniors.
Derek Leckenby took that news particularly hard. Herman's Hermits had toured extensively with Danny And The Juniors throughout the 1970s. Lek had befriended Rapp during their times on the road, and indeed provided occasional support, encouragement and a sympathetic ear to Rapp between performances.
Not wanting their beloved bandmate to be consumed by the sadness of the occasion, Frank, Barry and Dave agreed that a diversion was in order. At the time, the Southern California musical scene was enjoying the benefits of the so-called Paisley Underground movement. Several of its foremost exponents were performing in various Hollywood-area venues that evening. Blitz Magazine suggested that a bit of club hopping might be in order, and off we went.
Ever the musically discerning, the band did not want to venture forth into any such live performances unprepared. As such, en route to a concert that evening by the Rain Parade and others, the Hermits and Blitz Magazine stopped into the Tower Records outlet on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, where Derek Leckenby (who was also the steward of the band's turntable while on the road) at Blitz Magazine's suggestion stocked up on all available releases by the various bands in question.
Following those performances, the Hermits (whose own show was not scheduled until the following evening) suggested that the night was still young, and that perhaps a bit of sightseeing was in order. Thankfully, long time BFF, brother and one time high school classmate Dennis Russell was also on hand. He offered his station wagon for that purpose, and in short order, Blitz Magazine and Herman's Hermits found themselves cruising up and down the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.
Shortly into that adventure, we came to a stop at the intersection of Sunset and Doheny. A car load of presumed fans pulled up at the light next to us.
"I recognize you guys", one of the passengers in that vehicle said.
"Aren't you.....".
Before she could finish the sentence, Frank Renshaw shot back, "Right! We're the Four Seasons!"
We enjoyed a collective laugh at the look on her face in response to Frank's comment. But minutes later, history repeated itself.
"You look familiar", said the driver of yet another car load of "fans", about a mile down Sunset Boulevard.
Once again, Frank Renshaw didn't miss a beat:
"Yeah, luv. We're Sam And Dave!"
By then, it was time to call it a night. Suffice to say that Herman's Hermits' live appearances during that Southern California stop went extraordinarily well.
However, change was once again on the horizon. After a most successful run fronting Herman's Hermits, Frank Renshaw and Dave Barrow both opted to move on to other ventures. Meanwhile, Barry Whitwam and Derek Leckenby persevered into the 1990s with a variety of new members, earning themselves along the way (among other things) a coveted spot on the Monkees' tour in the late 1980s. Their momentum continued unabated until tragedy struck on 04 June 1994 with the horrific passing of Leckenby after a protracted battle against non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Barry Whitwam leads Herman's Hermits to the present day with an entirely new line up.
Meanwhile, Frank Renshaw persevered with a vengeance. He relocated to Spain, where he operated a night club in which he was the primary entertainment. He also married Jayne at the time, with our long time mutual friend, Glyn "Wayne Fontana" Ellis (with who Frank had worked with for a season in the early 1970s as a member of the Mindbenders) by all accounts livening up the proceedings of their wedding ceremony with his unique trademark sense of humor.
An extraordinary human being in every sense of the term, Fontana had taken it upon himself to look after Derek Leckenby's needs during his last tour with Herman's Hermits in 1994, and was also a tremendous source of comfort in the wake of the sudden passing of my beloved wife Audrey in October 2014, reaching out several times per week with offers to assist and with words of encouragement.
During his time in Spain, Frank had also become an avid record collector. We stayed in touch regularly, comparing notes and celebrating various finds. Frank also provided some much needed insight for Blitz Magazine during the research and development stage of an article that we published in the wake of the tragic passing of former Rhino Records Senior Vice-President, Gary Stewart. Therein, parellels were drawn between Stewart's passing and that of the beloved composer, vocalist and visionary Michael Holliday by his own hand in October 1963.
"A big star in the UK when I was growing up", Frank said.
"My older sisters bought all those records, so I'm well versed in his songs. I'm going to brush up on some of them. His Starry Eyed single is to you what Ken Dodd's Tears is to me".
But it was on 18 November 2015 that Frank Renshaw first shared with Blitz Magazine some news that would impact the remainder of his life.
"I wanted to let you know personally, because of what you had been through", he said.
"I have been diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, which is in the pharynx. A small tumour at the base of my tongue, which requires chemotherapy, starting at the end of December.
"Thankfully not affecting my vocal chords. It's seven weeks of treatment. The prognosis is good, so we're confident."
So much so that as the decade of the 2010s progressed, Frank was able to at least maintain a balance between those health concerns and day to day living.
"I know you'll pray for me and wish me all the luck for a full recovery", he said.
By the first week of January 2016, Frank was happy to report that treatments appeared to be proceeding according to plan.
"Feeling okay at the moment", he said.
"My mouth is a little dry and my taste buds are not what they used to be. I hope it's all worth it in the end".
By October 2016, it appeared that all was indeed well. Frank once again reached out with an encouraging bit of record collecting information. A relative in Indiana had inherited a record collection, and was seeking to pay it forward.
"Singles and albums, most of them unplayed", Frank said.
Meanwhile, Frank found himself in early 2017 as the subject of a tribute by former band mate Karl Green. He had found a long lost track recorded by Herman's Hermits while on tour, called The Renshaw Shuffle. Green included it on his debut solo album.
"I don't remember Lek or Karl recording this!", Frank said at the time.
"Quite flattering, though for them to do it!"
Things again took a turn for the dramatic in August 2020, when Frank reached out with another bit of sad news.
"Wayne passed away this afternoon", he said.
"He was in a nursing home. He was in a bad way. He had refused cancer treatment, and just wanted to go".
True to form, Frank opted to remember our beloved friend in a humorous light.
"Wayne was best man at my wedding", he said.
"He came in a bit worse for wear. The vicar's name was Pickles, which set him off and most of the congregation with sporadic laughter. That was Glyn!"
Meanwhile, as the 2020s progressed, so did Frank's own health concerns.
"I had a knee replacement last week", he said in October 2022.
"Still battered and bruised. Ouch! It's all a part of getting old, I suppose."
Meanwhile, Frank continued to pursue his record collecting interests with considerable fervor. One item of particular concern to him was his original copy of the Big Three's Some Other Guy single, which had apparently gone missing.
"I asked my son, Lee", Frank said in April 2023.
"He remembered the box that I had my collection in. But since I left the UK, he hasn't seen it.
"I had a full collection of Lonnie Donegan 78s and Gene Vincent 78s, plus miscellaneous ones that I got from a record store that was going closing down. Another one was Flying Saucers Rock And Roll by Billy Lee Riley. The Billy Lee Riley one was a 78. The UK manufactured the 45 a bit later than it was in the U.S."
Some months later, Frank reached out again about his intentions to attend a forthcoming major record convention to be held in the Netherlands. He had planned to attend, and asked if I would be interested in joining him. Sadly, the necessary arrangements could not be made in time.
"Maybe next time", he said.
Most tragically, there was no next time. Blitz Magazine reached out to Frank Renshaw one final time just a week ago. A review of a collection of heretofore unreleased 1966 live recordings by the legendary Sister Rosetta Tharpe was in the works. Frank had attended several of her performances in Europe in the mid-1960s, and was an avid fan of her work. It was hoped that he would be able to share some of his insights of that experience. But by that time, he was facing one final bout against the various health concerns that had plagued him for more than a decade.
Then on the morning of 16 July came the horrific news that Frank Renshaw had at last succumbed to his illnesses. Tributes to this beloved giant of rock and roll began pouring in immediately.
"I roomed with him on the road for years in the seventies", said Karl Green.
"I got to love the guy for his straight forward, no nonsense attitude to life. He sang and played with a mastery and verve that I will always remember. Rock on, Frank. My condolences to all his family. RIP Frank, my dear friend".
Barry Whitwam most assuredly echoed Karl Green's sentiments.
"We had a lot of good times together", he said.
"He was a fabulous singer and a great guitarist and he will be missed. RIP, Frank. Say hello to Lek when you see him".
Indeed, at a time when Blitz Magazine was just getting off of the ground and trying to find its footing in what was a very crowded field during the best of times, Derek Leckenby, Karl Green, Barry Whitwam and Frank Renshaw availed themselves far above and beyond the call of duty. In the process, they became more than favorite musicians. They became brothers. And heroes. Of the many landmark moments that came as the result of decades of publishing Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People, the time spent with them remains among the absolute highlights of that experience.
Frank Renshaw's survivors include his wife, Jayne and son Lee. Memorial services are pending.
