A SINGER in pop group Herman's Hermits has been convicted of assaulting his wife.
Father-of-three Geoffrey Foot, 59, who still tours with the band as a vocalist, punched his wife Wendy in the face before a family meal to celebrate his birthday.
Two of the couple's three teenage children witnessed the attack, Bury magistrates court was told.
Marion Nolan, prosecuting, said an argument erupted after Mrs Foot read a series of text messages on his mobile phone sent to him by another woman.
The court was told Foot grabbed her by the throat and tried to punch her in the face "five or six times" during a struggle to get the phone back.
Shouted
Mrs Foot shouted at him to leave her alone and the children intervened.
She ran in panic to the front door, where Foot punched her once in the face before she managed to close it behind her, the court heard.
Mrs Foot suffered a reddened throat, a swollen right eye and a bruised arm.
The court was told the couple were going through divorce proceedings at the time of the assault, which happened last November.
Foot, of Farringdon Drive, Radcliffe, began his musical career in Manchester and played with a number of local bands, including Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders.
He joined Herman's Hermits in the late 1980s. The band enjoyed more than 23 hit singles and 10 hit albums and have total record sales of more than 75 million.
Philip Thompson, defending, said Foot was punched first by his wife.
He said: "He accepts that he went too far and did cause injuries to Mrs Foot. This was not typical behaviour by any party. There was a degree of provocation."
Foot pleaded guilty to one count of common assault. Magistrates conditionally discharged him for 18 months and ordered him to pay Mrs Foot é250 compensation.
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Hitting a Women? The Coward.
Try it on a man.I think not.
Mr Foot deserves a foot to his head but he was NEVER in the pop band Herman's Hermits!
He may be in a tribute band, but NO member of Herman's Hermits was named Geoff or Foote
I am herman of herman's hermits (peter noone). this man was never in the real herman's hermits. we were peter noone, barry whitwam, karl green, keith hopwood, and the late derek leckenby, and none of us ever beat up girls. we just made hits, not punches.I am upset to have my good name associated with this character. I restate my case. he was never in the real herman's hermits and never appeared on any of our recordings or live performances. thank you peter noone (herman)
He may not have been an original mamber of the band but he's certainly got a better voice than Peter Noone.
Herman? Is that really you? Wicked! Give us your autograph............................
I have been a fan and supported the music of Herman's Hermits for over 40 years. Having read this article, I would like to point out that even if Geoffrey Foot joined a musical group named Herman's Hermits in the 80s, he was never a member of the original Herman's Hermits of 60s fame. I am offended at the connection of this man to their success, as he was not there at any of the original recording sessions and was never a REAL "Hermit". In my opinion, he was not a member of the original group at all.
I was deceived by your headline. Though relieved that I didn't recognize any of the original Herman's Hermits members names in this article, was this gentleman significant enough to warrant being called a Hermit? Isn't that a bit like calling somebody other than John, Paul, George and Ringo a Beatle?
I feel there is more to this news item than meets the eye. The small amount of compensation awarded speaks volumes. I love the way Peter Noone gives his address as Davyhulme. Has he not lived in AMERICA for the last 30 plus years.
As I understand it, after the real Herman left to persue a very unsuccesful film career in america, the hermits had one more hit, she,s a lady, written by Geoff Foot. As the real herman never wrote a thing that the hermits recorded, I think he should realise he was a very lucky man indeed. Dubious talent, poor singing voice, just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. As for listing his address as Davyhulme, I doubt he could find it on a map.
You are incorrect regarding She's a Lady and regarding Peter Noone's career.
She's a Lady was recorded by The Hermits (NOT Herman's Hermits) and was NOT a hit in the UK or the USA. It was written by the wife beater Foote.
As for Peter Noone's career, he is laughing all the way to the bank as he plays to sold out audiences at huge venues. No holiday camps or ferry crossing gigs for Peter Noone!
I suppose there are many things in peoples private lives which may change the publics perception of them, and many things which go on behind "closed doors" which people hope never see the light of day. Mr Foots case was very public, and therefore has attracted some, possibly, unfair comment, perhaps if we knew the hole truth about everybody, they too would be the subject of barbed comment. Perhaps better to let backdoor insults lie.
interesting for me to view the comments of other readers to the recent assault on me by my husband Geoff Foot of the band HERMANS HERMITS. I was also suprised to see this event in the news papers, but, l do feel that people in the public eye, live their lives in public view. if good things happen, we read about it, if bad things happen we should also read about it, thats life. I was the victim in the situation having to walk around with a total black eye + face. It seems to me perfectly fair that he should feel a little shame by having the event recorded in the news papers and his He poses in the 60's sugary-pop band as a loving, happy family man when clearly he is not The band is a shadow of it's original self and still gets asked on every gig why Peter Noone is not present.
he now performs in southport chatting up old ladies!!!
Type your comment here...this sad man now chats up old dears in sunny southport