The Animals (also billed as Eric Burdon and the Animals) are an English rock band, formed 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 ...

in the early 1960s. The band moved to London upon finding fame in 1964. The Animals were known for their gritty,

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the ...

y sound and deep-voiced frontman

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. He is regarded as one of the British Invasion's most distinctive singers with his deep, pow ...

, as exemplified by their

signature song A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a handwritten (and often stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a ...

and transatlantic number-one hit single " The House of the Rising Sun" as well as by hits such as "

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 was ...

", " 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 se ...

", " I'm Crying", "

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 Par ...

" and " Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." The band balanced tough, rock-edged pop singles against rhythm-and-blues-oriented album material and were part 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" o ...

of the US. The Animals underwent numerous personnel changes in the mid-1960s, and suffered from poor business management, leading the original incarnation to split up in 1966. Burdon assembled a mostly new lineup of musicians under the name Eric Burdon and the Animals; the much-changed act moved to California and achieved commercial success as a

psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science o ...

and

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest ha ...

band with hits such as "

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 the ...

", " When I Was Young" and " Sky Pilot" before disbanding at the end of the decade. Altogether, the group had 10 top-20 hits in both the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The original lineup of Burdon,

Alan Price Alan Price (born 19 April 1942) is an English musician. He was the original keyboardist for the British band the Animals before he left to form his own band the Alan Price Set. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a m ...

, Chas Chandler, Hilton Valentine and John Steel reunited for a one-off benefit concert in Newcastle in 1968. They later launched brief comebacks in 1975 and 1983. Several partial regroupings of the original-era members have occurred since then under various names. The Animals were inducted into the

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and ...

in 1994.

History

The Animals (1962–1966)

Formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during 1962 and 1963 when Burdon joined the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, the original lineup was Burdon (vocals), Price (organ and keyboards), Hilton Valentine (guitar), John Steel (drums) and Bryan "Chas" Chandler (bass). They were dubbed "animals" reportedly because of their wild stage act, and the name stuck.Making Time
The Animals. Retrieved 2 November 2007. In a 2013 interview, Burdon denied this, stating that the name was a tribute to a friend known as "Animal" Hogg. In a 2021 interview, Steel affirmed that the name was given them by

Graham Bond Graham John Clifton Bond (28 October 1937 – 8 May 1974) was an English rock/blues musician and vocalist, considered a founding father of the English rhythm and blues boom of the 1960s. Bond was an innovator, described as "an important, un ...

. The Animals' success in their hometown and a connection with Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky motivated them to move to London in 1964 in the immediate wake of

Beatlemania Beatlemania was the fanaticism surrounding the English rock band the Beatles in the 1960s. The group's popularity grew in the United Kingdom throughout 1963, propelled by the singles " Please Please Me", " From Me to You" and " She Loves You" ...

and the beat boom takeover of the popular music scene, just in time to play an important role in the

of the American music charts. The Animals performed fiery versions of the staple rhythm-and-blues repertoire, covering songs by artists such as

Jimmy Reed Mathis James Reed (September 6, 1925 – August 29, 1976) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His particular style of electric blues was popular with blues as well as non-blues audiences. Reed's songs such as "Honest I Do" (1957), " ...

John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1912 or 1917 – June 21, 2001) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The son of a sharecropper, he rose to prominence performing an electric guitar-style adaptation of Delta blues. Hooker often in ...

, Nina Simone. Signed to EMI's

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region i ...

label, their first single was a rocking version of the standard "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" (retitled "

Baby Let Me Take You Home "Baby Let Me Take You Home", a song credited to Bert Russell (a.k.a. Bert Berns) and Wes Farrell, was The Animals' debut single, released in 1964. In the UK, it reached #21 on the pop singles chart. In the U.S. its B-side, "Gonna Send You Back t ...

"). In June 1964, the transatlantic number-one hit " The House of the Rising Sun" was released. Burdon's vocals and the particular arrangement, featuring Price's haunting organ riffs, created perhaps the first folk-rock hit. Debate continues regarding the Animals' inspiration for the arrangement, which has been variously ascribed to prior versions by

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

, folk singer

Dave Van Ronk David Kenneth Ritz Van Ronk (June 30, 1936 – February 10, 2002) was an American folk singer. An important figure in the American folk music revival and New York City's Greenwich Village scene in the 1960s, he was nicknamed the "Mayor of M ...

, blues singer Josh White (who recorded it twice in 1944 and 1949) and singer/pianist Nina Simone (who recorded it in 1962 for '' Nina at the Village Gate''). The arrangement is said to owe much to the band's desire to become the most memorable of the many acts on tour in the UK. The Animals' two-year chart career, with their songs produced by

Mickie Most Michael Peter Hayes (20 June 1938 – 30 May 2003), known as Mickie Most, was an English record producer behind scores of hit singles for acts such as the Animals, Herman's Hermits, the Nashville Teens, Donovan, Lulu, Suzi Quatro, Hot Ch ...

, featured intense, gritty pop-music covers such as

Sam Cooke Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an American singer and songwriter. Considered to be a pioneer and one of the most influential soul music, soul artists of all time, Cooke is common ...

's " Bring It On Home to Me" and the Simone-popularised number " Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." In contrast, their album tracks stayed with rhythm and blues, with John Lee Hooker's " Boom Boom" and

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

' " I Believe to My Soul" as notable examples. In October 1964, the Animals visited New York for concert dates and an appearance on ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television program, television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in Septembe ...

''. They were transported from the airport into Manhattan in a motorcade, chased by shrieking young female fans, consisting of Sunbeam Alpine Series IV top-down convertibles with fashion models riding along. The Animals sang " I'm Crying" and "The House of the Rising Sun" to a packed audience of hysterical girls screaming throughout both performances on Sullivan's show. In December, the MGM film '' Get Yourself a College Girl'' was released, featuring the Animals and

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 (musician), Dave Clark served as the group's leader, producer and co-songwriter. In January 1964 they had thei ...

. The Animals sang the

Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...

song "

Around and Around "Around and Around" is a 1958 rock song written and first recorded by Chuck Berry. It originally appeared under the name "Around & Around" as the B-side to the single "Johnny B. Goode". Cover versions The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones ...

" in the film. By May 1965, the group was starting to feel internal pressures. Price left because of personal and musical differences, as well as his fear of flying while on tour. He went on to a successful career as a solo artist and with

the Alan Price Set Alan Price (born 19 April 1942) is an English musician. He was the original keyboardist for the British band the Animals before he left to form his own band the Alan Price Set. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a m ...

. Mick Gallagher filled in for Price on keyboards for a short time until Dave Rowberry replaced Gallagher. Rowberry was on hand for the hit songs "

" and " It's My Life." The Animals assembled a

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s ...

to play at the fifth annual British Jazz and Blues Festival in

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, Californi ...

. The Animals Big Band made their one public appearance on 5 August 1965. In addition to Burdon, Rowberry, Valentine, Chandler and Steel, the band featured a brass/horn section of Ian Carr, Kenny Wheeler and Greg Brown on trumpet and

Stan Robinson Stan Robinson (13 April 1936 in Salford, Lancashire, England – 9 April 2017) was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and flautist.Carr, Ian; Digby Fairweather, Brian Priestleybr>''The Rough Guide to Jazz'', p. 659. Rough Guides, 2004.''Google ...

, Al Gay, Dick Morrissey and Paul Carroll on saxophone. Many of the Animals' hits originated from Brill Building songwriters recruited by Mickie Most, but the group, and Burdon in particular, felt this to be too creatively restrictive. As 1965 ended, the group signed a new deal with their American label

MGM Records MGM Records was a record label founded by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946 for the purpose of releasing soundtrack recordings (later LP albums) of their musical films. It transitioned into a pop music label that continued into the ...

for the US and Canada and switched to

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American Decca's president. ...

for the rest of the world. They also ended their association with Most and began to work with MGM Records producer Tom Wilson, who allowed them more artistic freedom. In early 1966, MGM collected the band's hits on '' The Best of The Animals'', and it became their best-selling album in the US. In February 1966, Steel left and was replaced by

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 Ind ...

. A leftover rendition of Goffin–

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen regnant, queen, which title is also given to the queen consort, consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contempora ...

's "

" was the group's last hit as the Animals. The next single, "

," was credited to Eric Burdon and the Animals. By September 1966, the original incarnation of the group had split up. Their last batch of recordings was released on the album '' Animalism'' in November 1966. Burdon began work on a solo album called ''

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 also featured his UK number-14 solo hit single "Help Me, Girl," which he heavily promoted on TV shows such as ''

Ready Steady Go! ''Ready Steady Go!'' (or ''RSG!'') was a British rock/pop music television programme broadcast every Friday evening from 9 August 1963 until 23 December 1966. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan wanted a light ente ...

'' and ''

Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British Record chart, music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show ...

'' in late 1966. ''Eric Is Here'' was Burdon's final release for Decca Records. By this time, the Animals' business affairs "were in a total shambles" according to Chandler (who went on to manage

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...

and produce Slade) and the group disbanded. Even by the standards of the day, when artists tended to be financially naïve, the Animals made very little money, eventually claiming mismanagement and theft on the part of their manager Michael Jeffery.

Eric Burdon and the Animals (1966–1968)

A group with Burdon, Jenkins and new sidemen John Weider (guitar/violin/bass), Vic Briggs (guitar/piano) and Danny McCulloch (bass) was formed under the name Eric Burdon and Animals (or sometimes Eric Burdon and the New Animals) in December 1966, and changed direction. The hard-driving blues sound was transformed into Burdon's version of psychedelia as the former heavy-drinking

Geordie Geordie () is a nickname for a person from the Tyneside area of North East England, and the dialect used by its inhabitants, also known in linguistics as Tyneside English or Newcastle English. There are different definitions of what constitute ...

(who later said he could never get used to Newcastle "where the rain comes at you sideways") relocated to California and became a spokesman for the Love Generation. Early performances by this group did not include any of the hits for which the original group had become known. Some of the new Animals' hits included "

," " Monterey" (a tribute to the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival) and " Sky Pilot." Their sound was much heavier than that of the original group, with Burdon screaming more and louder on live versions of " Paint It Black" and " Hey Gyp." By 1968, they had developed a more experimental sound on songs such as " We Love You Lil" and the 19-minute "New York 1963–America 1968" from the album '' Every One of Us''.

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 ...

was added to the lineup in April 1968, initially as organist/pianist only, but upon McCulloch's departure, he also took on bass and occasional lead vocals. In July 1968, Andy Summers (later the guitarist for

the Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Polic ...

) replaced Briggs. Both Money and Summers were formerly of British psychedelic outfit Dantalian's Chariot, and much of this new lineup's set was composed of Dantalian's Chariot songs, which caught Burdon's interest. Because of Money's multi-instrumental load, in live settings, bass was played alternately by Weider and Summers.Sutcliffe, Phil & Fielder, Hugh (1981). ''L'Historia Bandido''. London and New York: Proteus Books. . Page 47–48. By December 1968, this incarnation of the Animals had dissolved, but their double album '' Love Is'' was released internationally, featuring the singles "

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 ...

" and "

River Deep – Mountain High "River Deep – Mountain High" is a song by Ike & Tina Turner released as the title track to their 1966 studio album on Philles Records. Produced by Phil Spector and written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. ''Rolling Stone'' ranke ...

". Numerous reasons have been cited for the breakup, the most famous of which involved an aborted Japanese tour. The tour had been scheduled for September 1968 but was delayed until November after difficulty obtaining visas. Only a few dates into the tour, the promoters (whom the band did not know were ''

yakuza , also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the ter ...

'') kidnapped the band's manager and threatened him at gunpoint to write an IOU for $25,000 to cover losses incurred by the tour's delay. Correctly surmising that his captors could not read English, he added a note to the IOU that it was written under duress. The ''yakuza'' released him, but warned that he and the band would have to leave Japan the next day or be killed. The Animals promptly fled the country, leaving all of their tour equipment behind. Money and Summers each pursued solo careers, Weider signed up with

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 ...

and Burdon joined forces with a funk/r&b/rock group from

Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California. Incorporate ...

called War.

Reunions of the Animals

The original Animals lineup of Burdon, Price, Valentine, Chandler and Steel reunited for a benefit concert in Newcastle in December 1968 and reformed in late 1975 to record again. Burdon later said that nobody understood why they had agreed to this short reunion. They embarked on a brief tour in 1976 and shot

videos Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) system ...

for their new songs such as "

Lonely Avenue "Lonely Avenue" is a popular song written by Doc Pomus that was a No. 6 rhythm and blues hit for Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as ...

" and "Please Send Me Someone to Love." They released an album in 1977 that was aptly titled ''

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 ...

''. The album received critical praise. Burdon and Valentine also recorded some demos at that time that were never released. On 12 December 1982, Burdon performed with Price and a complete lineup, foreshadowing future events. All five original band members reunited in 1983 for the 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'' * ...

'' and a world concert tour, supplemented by Zoot Money on keyboards,

Nippy Noya Nippy Noya (born 27 February 1946) is an Indonesian, Netherlands-based percussionist and songwriter, specialising in congas, kalimba, bongos, campana, güiro, cabasa, shekere, caxixi, triangle and the berimbau. History Son of Japanese Taiko dr ...

on percussion,

Steve Gregory Stephen 'Steve' Gregory (born 1945) is an English jazz saxophonist and composer. He plays tenor, alto, soprano and baritone saxophone as well as the flute. Biography and career Gregory was born in London. At St. Paul's School he learned guit ...

on saxophone and Steve Grant on guitar. The first single, " The Night," reached number 48 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. The band released a second single called "Love Is for All Time," which did not chart. Songs performed on the ''Ark'' tour included some from the 1960s, but most were from the band's contemporary repertoire, such as "Heart Attack", "No More Elmore" (both released a year earlier by Burdon), "Oh Lucky Man" (from the 1973 soundtrack album to ''O Lucky Man!'' by Price), "It's Too Late", "Tango" and "Young Girls" (later released on Burdon's compilation album ''The Night''). Their

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- ...

concert on 31 December 1983 (supporting the Police) was released on the '' Rip it To Shreds'' live album in 1984 after the Animals had disbanded again. Their 29 November 1983 concert at the Royal Oak Theatre in Royal Oak, Michigan was released on 27 February 2008 as ''Last Live Show''. A film about the reunion tour was shot but never released. Chandler died from an

aneurysm An aneurysm is an outward bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also be a nidus ( ...

in 1996, putting an end to any possibility of another reunion of the full original lineup.

Later incarnations

During the 1990s and 2000s, several groups have called themselves the Animals in part: *In the 1990s, Danny McCulloch, from the later-1960s Animals, released several albums as the Animals. The albums contained covers of some original Animals songs, as well as new ones written by McCulloch. *In 1992, Barry Jenkins joined a reconstituted version of the Animals, including "New Animals" members Vic Briggs and Danny McCulloch along with new percussionist Jack McCulloch and Phil Ryan instead of Eric Burdon on lead vocals. The band played the first rock concert held in Red Square, Moscow, as part of a benefit concert for the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. *In 1993, Valentine formed the Animals II and was joined by Steel in 1994 and Rowberry in 1999. Other members of this version of the band include Steve Hutchinson, Steve Dawson and Martin Bland. From 1999 until Valentine's departure in 2001, the band toured as the Animals. This version featured Tony Liddle on lead vocals backed by Valentine, Steel, Rowberry and Jim Rodford. Chris Allen substituted for Rodford, who was busy with Argent, on bass and backing vocals. Steve Farrell contributed backing vocals and hand percussion. *After Valentine left these Animals in 2001, Steel and Rowberry continued as Animals and Friends with Peter Barton, Rodford, and John E. Williamson. When Rowberry died in 2003, he was replaced by Mick Gallagher (who had briefly replaced Price in 1965). Danny Handley joined the band in 2009, initially as lead guitarist, but replaced Barton on lead vocals when Barton retired in 2012. Scott Whitley had a brief tenure in the band before Roberto "Bobby" Ruiz took over on bass. This successful lineup continues to tour the world with guests such as

Steve Cropper Steven Lee Cropper (born October 21, 1941), sometimes known as "The Colonel", is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, which backed artists such as ...

and Spencer Davis. *Burdon formed a new backing band in 1998 that was billed as Eric Burdon and the New Animals. This was actually just a renaming of an existing band with whom he had been touring in various forms since 1990. Members of this new group included Dean Restum,

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 ...

, Neal Morse and

Aynsley Dunbar Aynsley Thomas Dunbar (born 10 January 1946) is an English drummer. He has worked with John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Journey, Jefferson Starship, Nils Lofgren, Eric Burdon, Shuggie Otis, Ian Hunter, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Mick Ronso ...

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 excl ...

replaced Morse in 1999 after Ryo Okumoto's brief three-week stint, and Dunbar was replaced by

Bernie Pershey Bernard Pershey (born in Joliet, Illinois) is an American drummer and record producer. Biography Pershey began playing drums at the age of 8. In his early years he was part of many psychedelic rock and hard rock bands such as Trilogy, White ...

in 2001. In 2003, the band started touring as Eric Burdon and the Animals. After the lineup changed in 2006, original guitarist Valentine joined the group for its 2007 and 2008 tours. The group also included Red Young, Paula O'Rourke and Tony Braunagle. After Burdon lost the rights to the name, he formed a new band with different musicians. *In 2016, Burdon formed the current lineup of the Animals, including Johnzo West (guitar/vocals), Davey Allen (keys/vocals), Dustin Koester (drums/vocals), Justin Andres (bass guitar/vocals), Ruben Salinas (sax/flute) and Evan Mackey (trombone).

Dispute over ownership of band name

In 2008, an adjudicator determined that original Animals drummer John Steel owned "the Animals" name in the UK because of a trademark registration that Steel had filed. Eric Burdon had objected to the trademark registration, arguing that he personally embodied any goodwill associated with "the Animals" name. Burdon's argument was rejected, in part because 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. On 9 September 2013, Burdon's appeal was allowed, and he is now permitted to use the name "the Animals."

Legacy

The original Animals were inducted into the

in 1994, although Burdon did not attend and the band did not perform.The Animals

, 1994. Retrieved 28 February 2011. In 2003, the band's version of "The House of the Rising Sun" ranked number 123 on ''

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''

500 Greatest Songs of All Time "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" is a recurring survey compiled by the American magazine '' Rolling Stone''. It is based on weighted votes from selected musicians, critics, and industry figures. The first list was published in December 2004 i ...

list. Their 1965 hit single "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" was ranked number 233 on the same list. Both songs are included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. On 15 March 2012, in a keynote speech to an audience at the

South by Southwest South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, ...

music festival,

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originato ...

discussed the Animals' influence on his music at length, stating, "To me, the Animals were a revelation. They were the first records with full-blown class consciousness that I'd ever heard." Of "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" (written by two New York songwriters,

Barry Mann Barry Mann (born Barry Imberman; February 9, 1939) is an American songwriter and musician, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil. He has written or co-written 53 hits in the UK and 98 in the US. Early li ...

and

Cynthia Weil Cynthia Weil (born October 18, 1940) is an American songwriter who wrote many songs together with her husband Barry Mann. Life and career Weil was born in New York City, and was raised in a Conservative Jewish family. Her father was Morris Weil ...

), Springsteen said: "That's every song I've ever written ... That's ' Born to Run,' ' Born in the U.S.A.,' everything I've done for the past 40 years including all the new ones. That struck me so deep. It was the first time I felt I heard something come across the radio that mirrored my home life, my childhood." Saying that his album ''

Darkness on the Edge of Town ''Darkness on the Edge of Town'' is the fourth studio album by American rock singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on June 2, 1978, by Columbia Records. The album marked the end of a three-year gap between albums brought on by contract ...

'' was "filled with Animals," Springsteen played the opening riffs to "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and his own "

Badlands Badlands are a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded."Badlands" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 47. They are characterized by steep slopes, mi ...

" back to back, then said, "Listen up, youngsters! This is how successful theft is accomplished!" Tony Banks, keyboardist of British

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. I ...

band

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

, drew influence from Alan Price, whom he regarded as " e first person who made me aware of the organ in a rock context."Genesis' Banks — A Current Account
". Beat Instrumental, April 1976. Retrieved 23 March 2007.

Awards and nominations

{, class=wikitable , - ! Year !! Awards !! Work !! Category !! Result , - , 1964 , NME Awards , " The House of the Rising Sun" , British Disc of the Year ,

Discography

*'' The Animals'' (1964; US)/'' The Animals'' (1964; UK) *'' The Animals on Tour'' (1965; US) *''

Animal Tracks __notoc__ An animal track is an imprint left behind in soil, snow, or mud, or on some other ground surface, by an animal walking across it. Animal tracks are used by hunters in tracking their prey and by naturalists to identify animals livin ...

'' (1965; UK)/''

'' (1965; US) *''

Animalisms ''Animalisms'' is the third studio album by British R&B/blues rock band the Animals, and was released in the United Kingdom in May 1966 on Decca Records. It was the first Animals album to be produced by Tom Wilson as well as the first to feat ...

'' (1966; UK)/''

Animalization ''Animalization'' is the fourth American album by British rock group The Animals, and was released in August 1966 on MGM Records. It has a track listing somewhat similar to the British album ''Animalisms''. The album, which reached #20 on the U ...

'' (1966; US) *'' Animalism'' (1966; US) ;As Eric Burdon and the Animals *''

'' (1967; US) *'' Winds of Change'' (1967) *'' The Twain Shall Meet'' (1968) *'' Every One of Us'' (1968; US) *'' Love Is'' (1968) ;As the Animals *''

'' (1977) . Reissue from Secret Records Limited 2020 *''

'' (1983)

Personnel

Members

– vocals * Hilton Valentine – guitar, backing vocals * Chas Chandler – bass, vocals *

– keyboards, backing vocals * John Steel – drums * Mick Gallagher – keyboards * Dave Rowberry – keyboards, vocals *

– drums * John Weider – guitar, bass, violin * Vic Briggs – guitar, piano * Danny McCulloch – bass *

– keyboards, bass, vocals * Andy Summers – bass, guitar *Steve Grant – guitar, synthesiser, backing vocals *

– saxophones *

– percussion

Spin off band members

Current members

Animals and Friends/Animals II/Valentine's Animals * John Steel – drums * Danny Handley – guitar, vocals * Roberto Ruiz – bass, vocals * Barney Williams – keyboards Eric Burdon and The Animals *

Former members

Animals and Friends/Animals II/Valentine's Animals * Hilton Valentine – guitar * Joss Elliott – bass * George Fearson – guitar * Robert Robinson – vocals * The Dod – drums * Steve Hutchinson – keyboards * Martin Bland – bass * Steve Dawson – guitar * Robert Kane – vocals * Steve 'ih' Farrell – live backing vocals * Tony Liddle – vocals * Jim Rodford – bass * Dave Rowberry – keyboards * Eamon Cronin – vocals * Pete Barton – vocals, bass, guitar * John E. Williamson – guitar, vocals * Mick Gallagher – keyboards * Scott Whitley – bass, vocals

Line-ups

{, class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="float:width:375px; margin:0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #e2e2e2; width:99%;" , - ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 1963 – May 1965
The Animals ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , May 1965 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , May 1965 – February 1966 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , February–September 1966 , - , valign="top" , *

– vocals * Chas Chandler – bass, backing vocals *

– keyboards, backing vocals * John Steel – drums * Hilton Valentine – guitar, backing vocals , valign="top" , *

– vocals * Chas Chandler – bass, backing vocals * Mick Gallagher – keyboards * John Steel – drums * Hilton Valentine – guitar, backing vocals , valign="top" , *

– vocals * Chas Chandler – bass, vocals * Dave Rowberry – keyboards * John Steel – drums * Hilton Valentine – guitar, backing vocals , valign="top" , *

– vocals * Chas Chandler – bass, vocals * Hilton Valentine – guitar, backing vocals * Dave Rowberry – keyboards *

– drums , - ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , December 1966 – April 1968
Eric Burdon and the Animals ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , April–July 1968 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , July–December 1968 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , December 1968 – 1975 , - , valign="top" , *

– vocals *

– drums * Vic Briggs – guitar, piano * Danny McCulloch – bass, vocals * John Weider – guitar, violin, bass , valign="top" , *

– vocals *

– drums * Vic Briggs – guitar, piano, bass * Danny McCulloch – bass, vocals, guitar * John Weider – guitar, violin, celeste *

– keyboards , valign="top" , *

– vocals *

– drums, backing vocals * John Weider – guitar, bass (live), violin, backing vocals *

– keyboards, bass (studio), vocals * Andy Summers – bass (live), guitar, backing vocals , valign="top" , Disbanded , - ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 1975–1976
The Animals ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 1976–1983 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , September–December 1983 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 1983–1992 , - , valign="top" , *

– vocals * Chas Chandler – bass *

– keyboards * John Steel – drums * Hilton Valentine – guitar , valign="top" , Disbanded , valign="top" , *

– vocals * Chas Chandler – bass, backing vocals *

– keyboards, backing vocals * John Steel – drums * Hilton Valentine– guitar *Steve Grant – guitar, synthesiser, backing vocals *

– saxophones *

– keyboards *

– percussion , valign="top" , Disbanded , - ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 1992
Valentine's Animals ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 1992–1994
Animals II ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 1994–1999 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 1999 , - , valign="top" , * Hilton Valentine – guitar *Joss Elliott – bass *George Fearson – guitar *Robert Robinson – vocals *The Dod – drums , valign="top" , * Hilton Valentine – guitar *Joss Elliott – bass *George Fearson – guitar *Robert Robinson – vocals *Steve Hutchinson – keyboards * John Steel – drums , valign="top" , * Hilton Valentine – guitar *Steve Hutchinson– keyboards * John Steel – drums * Martin Bland – bass *Steve Dawson – guitar *Robert Kane – vocals , valign="top" , * Hilton Valentine – guitar *Steve Hutchinson– keyboards * John Steel – drums * Martin Bland – bass *Steve Dawson – guitar *Robert Kane – vocals *Steve 'ih' Farrell – backing vocals live , - ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 1999–2001
The Animals ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 2001 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 2001–2003
Animals and Friends ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 2003–2009
Animals and Friends , - , valign="top" , * Hilton Valentine – guitar * John Steel – drums * Tony Liddle – vocals * Jim Rodford – bass * Dave Rowberry – keyboards , valign="top" , * Hilton Valentine – guitar * John Steel – drums * Jim Rodford – bass * Dave Rowberry – keyboards *Eamon Cronin – vocals , valign="top" , * John Steel – drums * Jim Rodford – bass * Dave Rowberry – keyboards *Pete Barton – vocals, guitar *John E. Williamson – guitar, vocals , valign="top" , * John Steel – drums *Pete Barton – vocals, bass *John E. Williamson – guitar, vocals * Mick Gallagher – keyboards , - ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 2009–2011
Animals and Friends ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 2011–2012
Animals and Friends ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 2012–2022
Animals and Friends ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 2016–present
Eric Burdon and The Animals , - , valign="top" , * John Steel – drums *Pete Barton – vocals, bass * Mick Gallagher – keyboards *Danny Handley – guitar, vocals , valign="top" , * John Steel – drums * Mick Gallagher – keyboards *Danny Handley – guitar, vocals *Scott Whitley – bass, vocals , valign="top" , * John Steel – drums * Mick Gallagher – keyboards *Danny Handley – guitar, vocals *Roberto Ruiz – bass, vocals , valign="top" , *

– vocals *Davey Allen – keyboards, vocals *Dustin Koester – drums, vocals *Justin Andres – bass, vocals *Johnzo West – guitar, vocals *Ruben Salinas – saxophone, flute *Evan Mackey – trombone , - ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , 2022–present
Animals and Friends ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;" , , - , valign="top" , * John Steel – drums *Danny Handley – guitar, vocals *Roberto Ruiz – bass, vocals *Barney Williams – keyboards , valign="top" , , valign="top" , , valign="top" ,

Timeline

References

External links

Soul of a Man: The Story of Eric Burdon
– January 2009 interview with Eric Burdon
The Animals in NY
by Sally Kempton for the

Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the cr ...

17 September 1964 * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Animals, The Beat groups British Invasion artists British rhythm and blues musical groups British rhythm and blues boom musicians Charly Records artists Columbia Graphophone Company artists MGM Records artists English rock music groups English blues musical groups Musical groups from Newcastle upon Tyne Musical groups established in 1962 Musical quintets 1962 establishments in England

History

The Animals (1962–1966)

Eric Burdon and the Animals (1966–1968)

Reunions of the Animals

Later incarnations

Dispute over ownership of band name

Legacy

Awards and nominations

Discography

Personnel

Members

Spin off band members

Current members

Former members

Line-ups

Timeline

See also

References

Further reading

External links