The Way Back Machine

Eric Burdon and The Animals

Sausalito Art Fair

September 4th 2005

By Victoria Joyce

In Concert Photo By Victoria Joyce

On their Ed Sullivan TV debut they sang a Nina Simone song about prostitution called “The House of the Rising Sun.” (No one except the very cool knew it was about what it was about.) They followed that with a John Lee Hooker cover “Boom, Boom, Boom (Gonna Shoot You Right Down).” All the time with the Carnaby Street clothes and Vidal Sassoon hair. England swings like a pendulum do.

Lead singer, Eric Burdon, was quite magnetic and a definite rock star. A strong, clear, deep voice that was a natural for bluesy rock and roll. The Animals had a toughness that was irresistible. The band’s name was perfect.

Along with the Beatles and The Stones, The Animals took influence and material from Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters and Sam Cooke. The hits that followed were universal teen anthems that will never loose their punch. “It’s My Life,” “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” and “We Gotta Get Outta This Place,” all address the frustrations of being young, poor and disenfranchised. The anti-establishment direction coupled with the honest interpretation of the African American material at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement and Viet Nam War helped to set a match to an inflamed generation. More so than any other band, except for maybe the Clash. But that was twenty years to come.

Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, the original members were; Eric Burdon (vocals; born May 11, 1941), Chas Chandler (bass; born December 18, 1938), Alan Price (keyboards; born April 19, 1942), John Steel (drums; born February 4, 1941), Hilton Valentine (guitar; born May 22, 1943)

And they stole like crazy. Ripping and ripped off. International copyright laws were a little looser back then and these guys were just kids. When only one name would fit on the record for a song writing credit, it was Alan Price, founder and keyboards who got his name on the their first hit. He also got the royalties, money that is. Do you think the other Animals growled?

Of course this led to disputes and break ups. Eric Burdon left in the late 60’s; turned into a hippy and wrote the famous “San Francisco Nights.” (Warm? No, never.) Burdon was great at writing modern ballads that told tales of meeting Bo Diddley, the Monterey Pop Festival, World War I Pilots and such; hanging out with the likes of Janis and Jim Morrison. And oh, yeah, the bass player, Chas Chandler discovered Jimi Hendrix and was his first manger. Sometimes ya get lucky.

The Animals re-formed briefly in the 70’s but it didn’t stick. Eric has stayed on the scene and still performs and tours. He’s written a few books as well with tall tales of his adventures. Well worth reading.

We caught him at this year’s Sausalito Art Fair, just north of San Francisco, his old stomping grounds. Kinda interesting that as his contemporaries, The Stones, mount a sold out planetary assault; Eric is playing to a smallish handful of aging hippies who sing backup to nearly every one of his songs. “It’s my life and I’ll do what I want!”

His current back up band is pretty good and the songs are solid gold Rock Classics. His voice is still great and he loves to clown on stage and have fun with the crowd.

It was kinda special to hear him sing “House of the Rising Sun” on this particular Sunday. “This is the first time I’m singing this since The House has been re-decorated. This is a Public Service Announcement,” before going into “There is a house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun and it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy and Lord, I know I’m one.”

Books:

I Used to Be an Animal, But I’m All Right Now

by, Burdon, Eric. London: Faber & Faber, 1987.

Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood

by, Burdon, Eric. New York: Thunder’s Mouth Press,

2001.

Animal Tracks - The Story of the Animals: Newcastle’s

Rising Sons

by, Egan, Sean. London: Helter Skelter Publishing,

2001.

“Eric Burdon and Co.: Behaving Like Animals.”

by, Pond, Steve. Rolling Stone (October 27, 1983):

91-95+.