Eric Burdon
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Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer-songwriter. He was previously the lead vocalist of R&B and rock band
The Animals The Animals (also billed as Eric Burdon and the Animals) are an English rock band, formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 1960s. The band moved to London upon finding fame in 1964. The Animals were known for their gritty, bluesy sound and ...
and funk band
War War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
. He is regarded as one of the
British Invasion The British Invasion was a cultural phenomenon of the mid-1960s, when rock and pop music acts from the United Kingdom and other aspects of British culture became popular in the United States and significant to the rising "counterculture" on ...
's most distinctive singers with his deep, powerful blues-rock voice. He is also known for his aggressive stage performances. In 2008, he was ranked 57th in ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'''s list of "The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time".


Early life

Eric Burdon was born in 1941 in
Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne Walker is a residential suburb and electoral ward in the south-east of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. History The place-name 'Walker' is first attested in 1242, where it appears as ''Waucre''. This means 'wall-carr', that is to say, 'the marsh b ...
, England. His father, Matt, was originally from
Tyneside Tyneside is a built-up area across the banks of the River Tyne in northern England. Residents of the area are commonly referred to as Geordies. The whole area is surrounded by the North East Green Belt. The population of Tyneside as publishe ...
. His mother, Rene, was originally from Ireland and moved to
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
before settling in Newcastle in the 1930s. He also had a younger sister, Irene. Burdon later recalled that his middle name "Victor" had been chosen after encouragement from the Lord Mayor, who offered new mothers £25 if their new-borns were given a patriotic "war name." Burdon states he often had a divided loyalty in his sense of place and identity. He was born to a
working class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colo ...
family; his father did electrical work in some of the clubs Burdon would later play. Because of his father's line of work in electrical repair, the Burdon family had a TV by the time Eric was 10. In his autobiography, ''Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood'', he recalls the electrifying moment of first seeing Louis Armstrong on TV which began his love for blues music. This led him to take up the trombone. Realizing that he was not that good a player, however, he took up singing and went to Newcastle Art College. In his song "When I Was Young," he states he met his first love at 13, who was very experienced while he was not. He also says he smoked his first cigarette at 10 years old and would skip school with his friends to drink
Newcastle Brown Ale Newcastle Brown Ale is a brown ale, originally brewed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Launched in 1927 by Colonel Jim Porter after three years of development, the 1960 merger of Newcastle Breweries with Scottish Brewers afforded the beer natio ...
. Burdon describes his early school years as a "dark nightmare" that "should've been penned by
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...
." Due to the river pollution and humidity in Newcastle he suffered asthma attacks daily. During primary school, he was "stuck at the rear of the classroom of around 40 to 50 kids and received constant harassment from kids and teachers alike." He goes on to say his primary school was "jammed between a slaughterhouse and a shipyard on the banks of the Tyne. Some teachers were sadistic – others pretended not to notice – and sexual molestation and regular corporal punishment with a leather strap was the order of the day." By the time he got to secondary school, a teacher by the name of Bertie Brown was responsible for getting him into art school and changing his life forever. There he first met
John Steel John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
, the original drummer for the Animals. He also met a lot of other "young rebels" who shared his interest in
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
,
folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Plus or Fo ...
, and movies. Burdon started out his young adult life as one of a group of people who hung out at the local jazz club, The Downbeat. He describes his friends as "like a motorcycle gang ... without the motorcycles" – they were tough, hard-drinking, and listened to American music. Burdon and fellow rocker and guitarist, American Jimi Hendrix, became very close friends in the mid sixties and remained so up until Hendrix's death in 1970; Burdon was in fact the person Hendrix's girlfriend called when she found him overdosed on drugs. Burdon was also a good friend of
the Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...
'
John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...
and was mentioned in one of their songs, "
I Am the Walrus "I Am the Walrus" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 television film ''Magical Mystery Tour''. Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was released as the B-side to the single "Hello, Goodbye" a ...
" as "the eggman." Burdon states, "The nickname stuck after a wild experience I'd had at the time with a Jamaican girlfriend called Sylvia. I was up early one morning cooking breakfast, naked except for my socks, and she slid up beside me and slipped an
amyl nitrite Amyl nitrite is a chemical compound with the formula C5H11ONO. A variety of isomers are known, but they all feature an amyl group attached to the nitrite functional group. The alkyl group is unreactive and the chemical and biological properties ...
capsule under my nose. As the fumes set my brain alight and I slid to the kitchen floor, she reached to the counter and grabbed an egg, which she cracked into the pit of my belly. The white and yellow of the egg ran down my naked front and Sylvia began to show me one Jamaican trick after another. I shared the story with John at a party at a Mayfair flat one night with a handful of others." Lennon, finding the story amusing and hilarious, replied, "Go on, go get it, Eggman," incorporating the incident into his song in tribute to the unique experience.


Career


The Animals

Burdon was lead vocalist of
the Animals The Animals (also billed as Eric Burdon and the Animals) are an English rock band, formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 1960s. The band moved to London upon finding fame in 1964. The Animals were known for their gritty, bluesy sound and ...
, formed during 1962 in
Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...
. The original band was the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, which formed in 1958; they became the Animals shortly after Burdon joined the band. The Animals combined
electric blues Electric blues refers to any type of blues music distinguished by the use of electric amplification for musical instruments. The guitar was the first instrument to be popularly amplified and used by early pioneers T-Bone Walker in the late 1930 ...
with rock; in the US they were considered one of the leading bands of the
British Invasion The British Invasion was a cultural phenomenon of the mid-1960s, when rock and pop music acts from the United Kingdom and other aspects of British culture became popular in the United States and significant to the rising "counterculture" on ...
. Along with
the Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...
,
the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...
,
the Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
,
the Hollies The Hollies are a British pop rock band, formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash founded the band ...
,
the Dave Clark Five The Dave Clark Five, also known as the DC5, were an English rock and roll band formed in 1958 in Tottenham, London. Drummer Dave Clark served as the group's leader, producer and co-songwriter. In January 1964 they had their first UK top ten sin ...
, and
the Kinks The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British rhyt ...
, the group introduced contemporary British music and fashion to American audiences. Burdon's powerful voice can be heard on the Animals' singles "
The House of the Rising Sun "The House of the Rising Sun" is a traditional folk music, folk song, sometimes called "Rising Sun Blues". It tells of a person's life gone wrong in the city of New Orleans. Many versions also urge a sibling or parents and children to avoid th ...
", " Baby Let Me Take You Home", "
I'm Crying "I'm Crying" is a song originally performed by the English rock/ R&B band The Animals. Written by the group's lead vocalist Eric Burdon and organist Alan Price, it was their first original composition released as a single. The song was release ...
", " Boom Boom", "
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is a song written by Bennie Benjamin, Horace Ott and Sol Marcus for the American singer-songwriter and pianist Nina Simone, who recorded the first version in 1964. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" has been co ...
", " Bring It On Home to Me", "
We Gotta Get Out of This Place "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", occasionally written "We've Gotta Get Out of This Place", is a rock song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and recorded as a 1965 hit single by the Animals. It has become an iconic song of its type and wa ...
", " It's My Life", "
Don't Bring Me Down "Don't Bring Me Down" is the ninth and final track on the English rock band the Electric Light Orchestra's 1979 album ''Discovery''. It is their highest-charting hit in the United States to date. History "Don't Bring Me Down" is the band's s ...
", "
See See Rider "See See Rider", also known as "C.C. Rider", "See See Rider Blues" or "Easy Rider", is a popular American 12-bar blues song that became a standard in several genres. Gertrude "Ma" Rainey was the first to record it on October 16, 1924, at Pa ...
", "
Help Me Girl "Help Me Girl" is a song performed by Eric Burdon in 1966. It was billed to Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer. He was previously the lead vocalist of R&B and rock band the Animals and funk band War. ...
", "
Monterey Monterey (; es, Monterrey; Ohlone: ) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under bot ...
", and " Sky Pilot". The Animals' keyboardist Alan Price left the band in May 1965, and drummer John Steel followed in April 1966. Burdon has often attributed the disintegration of the band to conflict with Price, specifically that Price had claimed sole rights and ownership to "House of the Rising Sun". Burdon and drummer
Barry Jenkins Barry Jenkins (born November 19, 1979) is an American filmmaker. After making his filmmaking debut with the short film ''My Josephine'' (2003), he directed his first feature film '' Medicine for Melancholy'' (2008) for which he received an Inde ...
reformed the group as Eric Burdon and the Animals. Their first studio album was ''
Eric Is Here The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...
'', which featured the hit single "
Help Me Girl "Help Me Girl" is a song performed by Eric Burdon in 1966. It was billed to Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer. He was previously the lead vocalist of R&B and rock band the Animals and funk band War. ...
", released in December 1966, in which Burdon and drummer Jenkins teamed up with Animals' keyboardist
Dave Rowberry David Eric Rowberry (4 July 1940 – 6 June 2003) was an English pianist and organist, most known for being a member of the rock and R&B group The Animals in the 1960s. Early career, 1962–1965 Born in Mapperley, Nottinghamshire, Rowberry ...
, Animals' original bassist
Chas Chandler Bryan James "Chas" Chandler (18 December 1938 – 17 July 1996) was an English musician, record producer and manager, best known as the original bassist in The Animals, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He ...
, and Animals' original guitarist
Hilton Valentine Hilton Stewart Paterson Valentine (21 May 1943 – 29 January 2021) was an English skiffle and rock and roll musician who was the original guitarist in The Animals. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and into Hollywoo ...
, and session musicians arranged and conducted by Horace Ott. According to Peter Dunbavan, "Help Me Girl" included Hammond organ and brass with great effect and is too often overlooked today. Then followed a more psychedelic incarnation of the group that featured future
Family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
member
John Weider John Weider (born 21 April 1947) is an English rock musician who plays guitar, bass, and violin. He is best known as the guitarist for the Animals from 1966 to 1968. He was also the bass player for Family from 1969 to 1971. Biography Early c ...
and was sometimes called Eric Burdon and the New Animals. Keyboardist
Zoot Money George Bruno Money (born 17 July 1942) is an English vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader. He is best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band. Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles, he was draw ...
joined during 1968 until the band broke up in 1969. This group's hits included the ballad "
San Franciscan Nights "San Franciscan Nights" is a 1967 song performed by Eric Burdon and The Animals. Words and music were composed by the group's members, Eric Burdon, Vic Briggs, John Weider, Barry Jenkins, and Danny McCulloch. A paean to San Francisco, it was th ...
", the grungeheavy metal-pioneering " When I Was Young", "
Monterey Monterey (; es, Monterrey; Ohlone: ) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under bot ...
", the anti-Vietnam anthem " Sky Pilot", "
White Houses White Houses may refer to: *White Houses, Nottinghamshire, England *White Houses (Eric Burdon and The Animals song), "White Houses" (Eric Burdon and The Animals song), recorded by Eric Burdon and the Animals *White Houses (Vanessa Carlton song), "W ...
" and the progressive cover of "
Ring of Fire The Ring of Fire (also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Rim of Fire, the Girdle of Fire or the Circum-Pacific belt) is a region around much of the rim of the Pacific Ocean where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. The Ring o ...
". In 1975, the original Animals reunited and recorded a studio album called ''
Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted ''Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted'' is a 1977 reunion album by the Animals. They are billed on the cover as the Original Animals. History The album marked a reunion of the five original Animals from the group's first incarnation — Eri ...
'', released in 1977. In May 1983, the Animals reunited with their original line-up and released the studio album ''
Ark Ark or ARK may refer to: Biblical narratives and religion Hebrew word ''teva'' * Noah's Ark, a massive vessel said to have been built to save the world's animals from a flood * Ark of bulrushes, the boat of the infant Moses Hebrew ''aron'' * ...
'' on 16 June 1983, along with the singles " The Night" and "Love Is for All Time". A world tour followed, and the concert at
Wembley Arena Wembley Arena (originally the Empire Pool, now known as OVO Arena Wembley for sponsorship reasons) is an indoor arena next to Wembley Stadium in Wembley, London, England, used for music, comedy, family entertainment and sport. The 12,500-s ...
, London, recorded on 31 December 1983, was released in 1984 as '' Greatest Hits Live (Rip It to Shreds)''. Their concert at the Royal Oak Theatre in April 1984 was released in 2008 as ''Last Live Show''; the band members were augmented by
Zoot Money George Bruno Money (born 17 July 1942) is an English vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader. He is best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band. Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles, he was draw ...
, Nippy Noya, Steve Gregory and Steve Grant. The original Animals broke up for the last time at the end of 1984. Although the band Burdon formed in the late 1960s was sometimes called Eric Burdon and the New Animals, it was not until 1998 that the name Eric Burdon and the New Animals was officially adopted. The 1998 band had bassist
Dave Meros Dave Meros (born 8 February 1956), is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard. Meros has also played or recorded with such artists as Gary Myrick, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Simon Phil ...
, guitarist Dean Restum, drummer Aynsley Dunbar and keyboard guitarist
Neal Morse Neal Morse (born August 2, 1960) is an American singer, musician and composer based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1992, he formed the progressive rock band Spock's Beard with his brother Alan and released an album which was moderately successful. ...
. They recorded ''Live at the Coach House'' on 17 October 1998, released on video and DVD in December that year. In 1999 they released ''The Official Live Bootleg No. 2'' and in August 2000 ''The Official Live Bootleg 2000'', with
Martin Gerschwitz Martin Gerschwitz (born 25 June 1952) is a German violinist, keyboardist, singer and composer. Life and career He was born and raised in Solingen, Germany. He began playing piano at the age of five, at the age of twelve he devoted himself exclu ...
on keyboards. In June 2003, he formed another Eric Burdon and the Animals, with keyboardist Martin Gerschwitz, bassist
Dave Meros Dave Meros (born 8 February 1956), is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard. Meros has also played or recorded with such artists as Gary Myrick, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Simon Phil ...
, guitarist Dean Restum, and drummer Bernie Pershey. They broke up in 2005. During 2008 Burdon toured again as Eric Burdon and the Animals with a variable line-up of backing musicians. On 13 December 2008 Burdon lost a three-year legal battle to use the name "the Animals" in the UK, with drummer John Steel owning the rights, in the UK only, as a result. Steel was a member in the band's heyday and left in 1966, before the band broke up three years later; he later played in various reunion versions of the band with Burdon. Burdon still toured as Eric Burdon and the Animals, but was prevented from using the name "the Animals" in Britain while the case was under appeal. On 9 September 2013 Burdon's appeal was allowed, with him then entitled to use the band name in the UK. In 2016, Burdon formed the current line-up of the Animals, including Johnzo West (guitar and vocals), Davey Allen (keyboards and vocals), Dustin Koester (drums and vocals), Justin Andres (bass guitar and vocals), Ruben Salinas (saxophone and flute), and Evan Mackey (trombone).


War

In 1969, while living in San Francisco, Burdon joined forces with California
funk rock Funk rock is a fusion genre that mixes elements of funk and rock. James Brown and others declared that Little Richard and his mid-1950s road band, The Upsetters, were the first to put the funk in the rock and roll beat, with a biographer stat ...
band
War War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
. In April 1970, the resulting studio album was titled '' Eric Burdon Declares "War"'' which produced the singles "
Spill the Wine "Spill the Wine" is the debut single by singer Eric Burdon and the band War, released in May 1970. It was backed by the non-album track " Magic Mountain", and was War's first ''Billboard'' chart hit.''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' ...
" and " Tobacco Road". A two-disc set entitled '' The Black-Man's Burdon'' was released in September 1970. The singles from their double album, "
Paint It Black "Paint It Black" is a song recorded in 1966 by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. A product of the songwriting partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, it is a raga rock song with Indian, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European in ...
" and " They Can't Take Away Our Music", had moderate success during 1971. During this time Burdon collapsed on the stage during a concert, caused by an
asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...
attack, and War continued the tour without him. In 1976, a compilation album, ''
Love Is All Around "Love Is All Around" is a song recorded by English rock band the Troggs, featuring a string quartet and a 'tick tock' sound on percussion, in D-major. Released as a single in October 1967, it was a top-ten hit in both the UK and US. "Love I ...
'', released by ABC Records, included recordings of Eric Burdon with War doing a live version of "
Paint It Black "Paint It Black" is a song recorded in 1966 by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. A product of the songwriting partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, it is a raga rock song with Indian, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European in ...
" and a cover of
the Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...
' song " A Day in the Life". The band also featured ex- NFL star
Deacon Jones David D. "Deacon" Jones (December 9, 1938 – June 3, 2013) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and the Washington Redskins. H ...
who coined the term " quarterback sack" and sang on the band's 1975 song " Why Can't We Be Friends?" Eric Burdon and War were reunited for the first time in 37 years, to perform an Eric Burdon & War reunion at the concert at the Royal Albert Hall London on 21 April 2008. The concert coincided with a major reissue campaign by
Rhino Records A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species ...
(UK), which released all the War albums including ''Eric Burdon Declares "War"'' and ''The Black-Man's Burdon''. The version of the band that performed alongside Burdon in 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall was not the original band but a reformed one led by the only original member, keyboardist
Lonnie Jordan Leroy Jordan (born November 21, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter. He is a founding member of the American funk band War. Jordan had a number of roles over the years, acting as vocalist and playing guitar, piano, synthesizer, and percussion ...
. This was due to a court injunction. The remaining surviving members of WAR perform as "The LowRider Band".


Solo career

Burdon began a solo career in 1971 with the Eric Burdon Band, continuing with a hard rockheavy metal–funk style. In August 1971, he recorded the studio album '' Guilty!'', which featured the
blues shouter A blues shouter is a blues singer, often male, capable of singing unamplified with a band. Notable blues shouters include: *Piney Brown * Walter Brown, of the Jay McShann orchestra *H-Bomb Ferguson *Wynonie Harris *Screamin' Jay Hawkins *Duke Hende ...
Jimmy Witherspoon James Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues singer. Early life, family and education Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. His father was a railroad worker who sang in local choirs, and his mot ...
and Ike White of the
San Quentin Prison San Quentin State Prison (SQ) is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men, located north of San Francisco in the unincorporated place of San Quentin in Marin County. Opened in July 1852, San Quentin is the ...
Band. In 1973, the band performed at the
Reading Festival The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend. The Reading Festiv ...
. At the end of 1974, the band released the album ''Sun Secrets'' followed by the album ''Stop'' in 1975. Burdon moved to Germany in 1977 and recorded the album ''Survivor'' with a line-up including guitarist
Alexis Korner Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner (19 April 1928 – 1 January 1984), known professionally as Alexis Korner, was a British blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a founding father of British blues". A major in ...
and keyboardist
Zoot Money George Bruno Money (born 17 July 1942) is an English vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader. He is best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band. Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles, he was draw ...
; the album also had a line-up of four guitarists and three keyboardists and is known for its interesting album cover, which depicts Burdon screaming. The album was produced by former Animals bassist Chas Chandler. The original release included a booklet of illustrated lyrics done in ink by Burdon himself. In May 1978, he recorded the studio album ''
Darkness Darkness ''Darkness Darkness'' is an album by the former vocalist from The Animals, Eric Burdon. It was recorded in May 1978 at Roundwood House, County Laois in Ireland, using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio. The album was released by Polydor in 1980. Th ...
'' at the Roundwood House in County Laois, Ireland, using
Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio, also known as LMS (Lane Mobile Studio), is a mobile recording studio originally owned by Ronnie Lane. History Lane acquired the studio in 1972. It was one of the first ever mobile recording studios, and consisted of ...
and featuring guitarist and vocalist
Bobby Tench Robert Tench (born 21 September 1944) is a British vocalist, guitarist, sideman, songwriter and arranger. Tench is best known for his work with Freddie King and Van Morrison, as well as being a member of The Jeff Beck Group, Humble Pie, Street ...
from
the Jeff Beck Group The Jeff Beck Group was a British rock band formed in London in January 1967 by former Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck. Their innovative approach to heavy-sounding blues, rhythm and blues and rock was a major influence on popular music. Firs ...
, who had left Streetwalkers a few months before. The album was eventually released in 1980. During January 1979, Burdon changed his band for a tour taking in
Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...
, Germany and the Netherlands. On 28 August 1982, the "Eric Burdon Band" including Red Young (keyboards) performed at the
Rockpalast ''Rockpalast'' (''Rock Palace'') is a German music television show that broadcasts live on German television station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). ''Rockpalast'' started in 1974 and continues to this day. Hundreds of rock, heavy metal and jazz ...
Open Air Concert at the
Lorelei The Lorelei ( ; ), spelled Loreley in German, is a , steep slate rock on the right bank of the River Rhine in the Rhine Gorge (or Middle Rhine) at Sankt Goarshausen in Germany, part of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site. Th ...
, Germany. Following this Burdon toured heavily with his solo project from March 1984 to March 1985, taking in UK, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Canada and Australia. In 1986, Burdon published his autobiography titled ''I Used to Be an Animal, but I'm Alright Now''. In March 1979, he played a concert in
Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and 3.6 millio ...
and changed the band's name to Eric Burdon's Fire Department, whose line-up included backing vocalist Jackie Carter of
Silver Convention Silver Convention were a German Euro disco recording act of the 1970s. The group was originally named Silver Bird Convention or Silver Bird. Career The group was initiated in Munich by producers and songwriters Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze. ...
, Bertram Engel of
Udo Lindenberg Udo Lindenberg (born 17 May 1946) is a German singer, drummer, and composer. Career Lindenberg started his musical career as a drummer. In 1969, he founded his first band Free Orbit, and also appeared as a studio and guest musician (with Micha ...
's "Panik Orchester" and Jean-Jaques Kravetz. In mid 1980, they recorded the album ''The Last Drive''. "Eric Burdon's Fire Department" toured Europe with this line-up and Paul Millns and
Louisiana Red Iverson Minter (March 23, 1932 – February 25, 2012), known as Louisiana Red, was an American blues guitarist, harmonica player, and singer, who recorded more than 50 albums. He was best known for his song "Sweet Blood Call". Biography Born ...
made special appearances in Spain and Italy. By December 1980, the band had broken up. In April 1981, Christel Buschmann began to film '' Comeback'' with Burdon as the star. They created a new Eric Burdon Band whose line-up included
Louisiana Red Iverson Minter (March 23, 1932 – February 25, 2012), known as Louisiana Red, was an American blues guitarist, harmonica player, and singer, who recorded more than 50 albums. He was best known for his song "Sweet Blood Call". Biography Born ...
, Tony Braunagle, John Sterling and
Snuffy Walden William Garrett Walden, known as W. G. Snuffy Walden (born February 13, 1950), is an American musician and composer of film and television soundtracks. Walden is an Emmy Award winner for the theme music to ''The West Wing'' (NBC), has been nomin ...
. This band recorded live tracks in Los Angeles. They also recorded in Berlin with another line-up, the only remaining member being John Sterling. In September 1981, the final scenes of ''Comeback'' were shot in the Berlin Metropole and Burdon and his band continued to tour through Australia and North America. A studio album titled '' Comeback'' was released in 1982. The 1983 album ''
Power Company An electric utility is a company in the electric power industry (often a public utility) that engages in electricity generation and distribution of electricity for sale generally in a regulated market. The electrical utility industry is a major pr ...
'' also included songs recorded during the ''Comeback'' project. In 1988, he put together a band with 15 musicians including
Andrew Giddings Andrew Giddings (born 10 July 1963) is an English musician. He primarily plays keyboard instruments and is best known as a former member of British rock group Jethro Tull, for whom he was the longest serving keyboardist. Early life Giddings ...
– keyboards, Steve Stroud – bass, Adrian Sheppard – drums, Jamie Moses – guitar and four backing vocalists to record the studio album ''
I Used to Be an Animal ''I Used to Be an Animal'' is a studio album by English singer Eric Burdon, released in 1988 by Metronome Records. It was his first studio album in almost four years. It was recorded at Indigo Ranch in Malibu, California. Following his autobio ...
'' in Malibu, in the United States. In 1990, Eric Burdon's
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of "
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" was used for the film '' Joe Versus the Volcano''. The song, which played at the beginning of the film, was also released as a single. He also recorded the singles "We Gotta Get out of this Place" with Katrina and the Waves and "No Man's Land" with
Tony Carey Anthony Lawrence Carey (born October 16, 1953, Watsonville, California) is an American-born, European-based musician, composer, producer, and singer/songwriter. One of his earliest musical experiences was as a keyboardist for Rainbow. After his ...
and
Anne Haigis Anne Haigis (born 9 December 1955) is a German musician, singer and songwriter. Through the 1980s, she gained commercial success with rock songs, blues and ballads sung in German with her native Swabian accent. In the 1990s she incorporated Eng ...
. Later in 1990, he had a small line-up of an ''Eric Burdon Band'' featuring Jimmy Zavala (saxophone and harmonica),
Dave Meros Dave Meros (born 8 February 1956), is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard. Meros has also played or recorded with such artists as Gary Myrick, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Simon Phil ...
(bass guitar), Jeff Naideau (keyboards), Thom Mooney (drums) and John Sterling (guitar) before he began a tour with the Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and they appeared at a concert from Ventura, California, Ventura Beach, California, which was released as a DVD on 20 June 2008. On 13 April 2004, he released a "comeback" album, ''My Secret Life (Eric Burdon album), My Secret Life'', which was his first album with new recordings for 16 years. When John Lee Hooker died in 2001, Burdon had written the song "Can't Kill the Boogieman" the co-writers of the songs, on the album, were Tony Braunagel and Marcelo Nova. In 2005, they released a live album, ''Athens Traffic Live'', with special DVD bonus material and a bonus studio track and disbanded in November 2005. He began a short touring as the "Blues Knights". On 27 January 2006, he released his blues–R&B album ''Soul of a Man (Eric Burdon album), Soul of a Man''. This album was dedicated to Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker. The cover of the album was a picture which was sent to Burdon a few years before. Burdon then formed a new band, with the following members: Red Young (keyboards), Paula O'Rourke (bass), Eric McFadden (guitar), Carl Carlton (guitar) and Wally Ingram (drums). They also performed at the Lugano Festival and in 2007 he toured as the headlining act of the "Hippiefest" line-up, produced and hosted by Country Joe McDonald. Burdon, at 71, recorded an EP with Cincinnati garage band the Greenhornes called, simply, ''Eric Burdon & the Greenhornes''. The album was recorded at an all-analogue recording studio, and released on 23 November 2012 as part of Record Store Day's "Black Friday". In 2013, Eric Burdon came out with a new album called, ''Til Your River Runs Dry''. The lead single off the album was called "Water" and was inspired by a conversation he had with former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.


Other associations

In 1991, Burdon and Brian Auger formed the "Eric Burdon – Brian Auger Band" with the following line-up: Eric Burdon – vocals, Brian Auger – keyboards, vocals,
Dave Meros Dave Meros (born 8 February 1956), is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard. Meros has also played or recorded with such artists as Gary Myrick, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Simon Phil ...
– bass guitar, vocals, Don Kirkpatrick – guitar, vocals and Paul Crowder (filmmaker), Paul Crowder – drums, vocals. By 1992, Larry Wilkins replaced Kirkpatrick and Karma Auger (Brian's son) replaced Crowder and in 1993 they added Richard Reguria (percussion). The live album ''Access All Areas (Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band album), Access All Areas'' was then released. In 1994 the "Eric Burdon – Brian Auger Band" disbanded. Burdon then formed the "Eric Burdon's i Band". The line-up included Larry Wilkins, Dean Restum (guitar), Dave Meros (bass) and Mark Craney (drums). In 1995, Burdon made a guest appearance with Bon Jovi, singing "It's My Life"/"We Gotta Get out of This Place" medley at the Hall of Fame. He also released the album ''Lost Within the Halls of Fame'', with past tracks and re-recordings of some songs from ''I Used to Be an Animal''. In October 1996, Aynsley Dunbar replaced Craney on drums. ''The Official Live Bootleg'' was recorded in 1997 and in May that year Larry Wilkins died of cancer. He also released the compilation albums ''Soldier of Fortune'' and ''I'm Ready'' which featured recordings from the 1970s and 1980s. In 1996, the lead singer of Brazilian rock band Camisa de Vênus, the vocalist Marcelo Nova worked in partnership with the former lead singer of the Animals. Burdon and Nova composed the song "Black & White World" and sang in a duet on "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" on the Camisa de Venus album :pt:Quem É Você? (álbum), ''Quem É Você?'', produced by Burdon. In 2000, he recorded the song "Power to the People (song), Power to the People" together with Ringo Starr and Billy Preston for the motion picture ''Steal This Movie!''. On 11 May 2001, the Animals were inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame on Burdon's 60th birthday. On 3 March 2002, the live album ''Live in Seattle'' was recorded. Ex-War member Lee Oskar made a guest appearance on the album. In 2003 he made a guest appearance on the album ''Joyous in the City of Fools'' by the Greeks, Greek rock band Pyx Lax, singing lead vocals on "Someone Wrote 'Save me' On a Wall". In 2001, his second critically acclaimed memoir, ''Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood'', written with author and filmmaker J. Marshall Craig, was released in the US, followed by editions in Greece, Germany and Australia; it covers the British Invasion, moving to Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and various anecdotes about Rock and Roll stardom. In 2004, in his studio album My Secret Life (Eric Burdon album), My Secret Life, besides presenting the song composed in partnership with the Brazilian rocker Marcelo Nova "Black & White World", Eric Burdon shed to the English and re-recorded two songs of Marcelo Nova: "A Garota da Motocicleta" turned "Motorcycle Girl" while "Coração Satânico" became "Devil's Slide". On 7 June 2008, Burdon performed at the memorial service of Bo Diddley in Gainesville, Florida. During July and August 2008, Burdon appeared as the headline act of the "Hippiefest". He also recorded the single "For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield song), For What It's Worth" with Carl Carlton and Max Buskohl. In 2008, ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' ranked Eric Burdon No. 57 on the list of the 100 Greatest Singers of all Time. On 22 January 2009 he first performed with his new band, including keyboardist Red Young, guitarist Rick Hirsch, bassist Jack Bryant and drummer Ed Friedland. For a few months he was sick and did not perform except in the United States. On 26 June, he began his European tour. The band included Red Young (keyboards), Billy Watts (guitar), Terry Wilson (bass), Brannen Temple (drums) and Georgia Dagaki (cretan lyra). On 28 January 2013, Burdon performed on ''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'', backed by the Roots. Fallon hyped Burdon's current album, ''Til Your River Runs Dry''. On 23 July 2013, he guested onstage with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Cardiff Millennium Stadium, performing "We Gotta Get Out of This Place". In August 2013, he toured with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. On 29 September 2021, Burdon performed on the Greek TV show ''Mousiko kouti'' hosted by Nikos Portokaloglou and Rena Morfi.


Ownership of Animals name

In 2008, an adjudicator determined that John Steel owned "The Animals" name in Britain, by virtue of a trademark registration Steel had made in relation to the name. Eric Burdon had objected to the trademark registration, arguing that Burdon personally embodied any goodwill associated with the Animals name. Burdon's argument was rejected, in part based on the fact that he had billed himself as Eric Burdon and the Animals as early as 1967, thus separating the goodwill associated with his own name from that of the band. In 2013 Burdon won an appeal, making him the owner of the Animals name.


Film career

Burdon wanted to act in the film ''Blowup'' (1966). Director Michelangelo Antonioni wanted to use him as a musician in a club scene, but Burdon turned the role down because he had acted in films before in which he sang songs. He disbanded the Animals and went to California, where he met Jim Morrison of the Doors and decided he wanted to go into acting. Later, he turned down major roles in ''Zabriskie Point (film), Zabriskie Point'' and ''Performance (film), Performance'' (both 1970). In 1973, he formed the Eric Burdon Band and recorded the soundtrack for his own film project, ''Mirage''. He spent much money to make this film, produced as a film for Atlantic. The film and the soundtrack were to be released in July 1974, but somehow they never were. The soundtrack was released in 2008. In 1979, he acted in the TV film ''The 11th Victim'', then in the German film ''Gibbi Westgermany'' (1980). In 1982, he starred in another German film, '' Comeback'', again as a singer. In 1991, he made a cameo appearance in ''The Doors (film), The Doors''. In 1998, he played himself in the Greek film ''My Brother and I'', followed by a bigger role in the German film ''Snow on New Year's Eve'' (1999). In the following years, he was credited in many documentaries and in an independent film called ''Fabulous Shiksa in Distress'' (2003), along with Ned Romero and Ted Markland. In 2007, he performed the traditional "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" in the drama festival film ''The Blue Hour (2007 film), The Blue Hour'' and in a documentary about Joshua Tree, California, Joshua Tree, called ''Nowhere Now'' (2008).


Personal life

In 1967 Burdon married Angela "Angie" King, an Anglo-Indian people, Anglo-Indian hippie and model connected to the music scene. The next year she left him for Jimi Hendrix, and she and Burdon divorced in 1969. She was murdered in 1992 by an estranged boyfriend. In 1972 Burdon married Rose Marks, with whom he has a daughter, Alex. They divorced in 1978. In 1999, he married Marianna Proestou, a Greek lawyer.


Discography

The Animals * ''The Animals (American album), The Animals'' (1964; US)/''The Animals (British album), The Animals'' (1964; UK) * ''The Animals on Tour'' (1965; US) * ''Animal Tracks (UK album), Animal Tracks'' (1965; UK)/''Animal Tracks (American album), Animal Tracks'' (1965; US) * ''Animalisms'' (1966; UK)/''Animalization'' (1966; US) * ''Animalism (album), Animalism'' (1966; US) * ''
Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted ''Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted'' is a 1977 reunion album by the Animals. They are billed on the cover as the Original Animals. History The album marked a reunion of the five original Animals from the group's first incarnation — Eri ...
'' (1977; as The Animals, the Original Animals) * ''
Ark Ark or ARK may refer to: Biblical narratives and religion Hebrew word ''teva'' * Noah's Ark, a massive vessel said to have been built to save the world's animals from a flood * Ark of bulrushes, the boat of the infant Moses Hebrew ''aron'' * ...
'' (1983) * '' Greatest Hits Live (Rip It to Shreds)'' (1984) Eric Burdon & the Animals * ''
Eric Is Here The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...
'' (1967; US) * ''Winds of Change (Eric Burdon & The Animals album), Winds of Change'' (1967) * ''The Twain Shall Meet'' (1968) * ''Every One of Us'' (1968; US) * ''Love Is (The Animals album), Love Is'' (1968) Eric Burdon and War * '' Eric Burdon Declares "War"'' (1970) * '' The Black-Man's Burdon'' (1970) * ''
Love Is All Around "Love Is All Around" is a song recorded by English rock band the Troggs, featuring a string quartet and a 'tick tock' sound on percussion, in D-major. Released as a single in October 1967, it was a top-ten hit in both the UK and US. "Love I ...
'' (1976) Solo * '' Guilty!'' (1971) * ''Survivor (Eric Burdon album), Survivor'' (1977) * ''
Darkness Darkness ''Darkness Darkness'' is an album by the former vocalist from The Animals, Eric Burdon. It was recorded in May 1978 at Roundwood House, County Laois in Ireland, using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio. The album was released by Polydor in 1980. Th ...
'' (1980) * '' Comeback'' (1982) * ''
I Used to Be an Animal ''I Used to Be an Animal'' is a studio album by English singer Eric Burdon, released in 1988 by Metronome Records. It was his first studio album in almost four years. It was recorded at Indigo Ranch in Malibu, California. Following his autobio ...
'' (1988) * ''Lost Within the Halls of Fame'' (1995) * ''My Secret Life (Eric Burdon album), My Secret Life'' (2004) * ''Soul of a Man (Eric Burdon album), Soul of a Man'' (2006) * ''Mirage (Eric Burdon album), Mirage'' (2008) * ''Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes'' (2012) * '''Til Your River Runs Dry'' (2013) Eric Burdon Band * ''Sun Secrets'' (1974) * ''Stop (Eric Burdon Band album), Stop'' (1975) * ''
Power Company An electric utility is a company in the electric power industry (often a public utility) that engages in electricity generation and distribution of electricity for sale generally in a regulated market. The electrical utility industry is a major pr ...
'' (1983) * ''That's Live'' (1985) Eric Burdon's Fire Dept. * ''Last Drive'' (1980)


Filmography

* 1964: ''Get Yourself a College Girl'' * 1964: ''Whole Lotta Shakin * 1965: ''Pop Gear'' * 1965: ''The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood'' * 1967: ''World of the Animals'' * 1967: ''The War'' (short)''"Eric Burdon, Actor"'' by Ken Stoddard. Rolling Stone Vol.1 No.2, 23 November 1967 * 1967: ''It's a Bikini World'' * 1967: ''Tonite Let’s All Make Love in London (film), Tonite Let's All Make Love in London'' * 1968: ''All My Loving'' * 1968: ''Monterey Pop'' * 1973: ''Mirage'' (never filmed) * 1975: ''Hu-Man'' (French) * 1979: ''11th Victim'' * 1980: ' * 1982: '' Comeback'' * 1991: ''The Doors (film), The Doors'' * 1999: ''Snow on New Year's Eve'' * 2001: ''Plaster Caster'' * 2001: ''Screamin' Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell on Me'' * 2003: ''Fabulous Shiksa in Distress'' * 2003: ''Yes, You Can Go Home'' * 2007: ''The Blue Hour'' * 2008: ''Nowhere Now: The Ballad of Joshua Tree'' * 2010: ''Remembering Nigel'' * 2010: ''Forever Young: How Rock 'n' Roll Grew Up'' (BBC Documentary) * 2020: ''Eric Burdon: Rock ‘n’ Roll – Animal'' (BBC Documentary)


References


Further reading

* * * * *


External links


Eric Burdon
website * * *

Eric Burdon Interview from 2009 *
Eric Burdon Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2017) {{DEFAULTSORT:Burdon, Eric 1941 births Living people 20th-century English male singers 20th-century English singers 21st-century English male singers 21st-century English singers Blues rock musicians British blues (genre) musicians British rhythm and blues boom musicians Columbia Records artists Decca Records artists English blues singers English rhythm and blues singers English rock singers English people of Irish descent English male singer-songwriters English soul singers Lojinx artists Musicians from Newcastle upon Tyne Polydor Records artists The Animals members The Party Boys members War (American band) members