Eric Burdon

Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer-songwriter best known as a member and vocalist of rock
band the Animals and thefunk band War[2] and for his aggressive stage performance. He was ranked 57th in Rolling
Stone's list The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.[3]
Contents
[hide]

1Career
o

1.1The Animals

1.2War

1.3Solo career

1.4Other associations

2Influence

3Film career

4Discography

5Filmography

6References

7Further reading

8External links

Career[edit]

The Animals[edit]
Burdon was lead singer of the Animals, formed during 1962 in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. The original band was
the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, which formed in 1958;[4] they became the Animals shortly after Burdon joined
the band. The Animals combined electric blues with rock and in the USA were one of the leading bands of the British
Invasion.[5] Along with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Hollies, the Dave Clark Five, and the Kinks, the
group introduced British music and fashion. Burdon's powerful voice can be heard on the Animals' singles "The House
of the Rising Sun", "Sky Pilot", "Monterey", "I'm Crying", "Boom Boom", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", "Bring It On
Home to Me", "Baby Let Me Take You Home", "It's My Life", "We Gotta Get out of This Place", "Don't Bring Me Down"
and "See See Rider".

Eric Burdon and the Animals

By late 1966, the other original members, including keyboardist Alan Price and drummer John Steel, had left.[6] 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".[7] Burdon and drummer Barry Jenkins reformed the group as Eric Burdon
and the Animals. This more psychedelic incarnation featured future Family member John Weider and was sometimes
called Eric Burdon and the New Animals. Keyboardist Zoot Money joined during 1968 until the band split up in 1969.
[8]

This group's hits included the ballad "San Franciscan Nights", the grungeheavy metal-pioneering "When I Was

Young", "Monterey", the anti-Vietnam anthem "Sky Pilot", "White Houses" and the progressive cover of "Ring of Fire".
In 1975, the original Animals reunited and recorded an album called Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted, released
in 1977[9] and overlooked due to the dawning of punk. In May 1983, the Animals reunited with their original line-up and
released the album Ark 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, London, recorded on 31 December 1983, was released in 1984 as 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, 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 wasn't
until 1998 that the name Eric Burdon and the New Animals was officially adopted. The 1998 band had bassist Dave
Meros, guitarist Dean Restum, drummer Aynsley Dunbar and keyboard guitarist Neal Morse. 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 on keyboards.
In June 2003, he formed another Eric Burdon and the Animals, with keyboardist Martin Gerschwitz, bassist Dave
Meros, guitarist Dean Restum, and drummer Bernie Pershey. They disbanded in 2005. During 2008 Burdon toured
again as Eric Burdon and the Animals with a variable line-up of backing musicians.[10]
On 13 December 2008, Burdon lost a three-year legal battle to win the name "the Animals" in the UK. Since then
drummer John Steel owned the rights in the UK only. Burdon still tours as Eric Burdon and the Animals, but was
prevented from using the name "the Animals" in Britain while the case was under appeal. Steel was a member in its
heyday and left in 1966, before the band split up 3 years later in 1969. Steel later played in various reunion versions of
the band with Burdon.[11] On 9 September 2013 Burdon's appeal was allowed. [12] Eric Burdon is now entitled to use the
name "The Animals" in the UK.

2008 Reunion flyer

War[edit]
In 1969, while living in San Francisco, Burdon joined forces with Californian funk rock band War. In April 1970, the
resulting album created as a result of this association was entitled Eric Burdon Declares "War" which produced the
singles "Spill the Wine" and "Tobacco Road". A two-disc set entitledThe Black-Man's Burdon, was released later in
September 1970. The singles from the double album, "Paint It, Black" 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 attack, and War continued the tour without him.
In 1976, a compilation album, Love Is All Around, released by ABC Records, included recordings of Eric Burdon with
War doing a live version of "Paint it, Black" and a cover of the Beatles' song "A Day in the Life." The band also featured
ex-NFL star Deacon Jones 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 HallLondon on 21 April 2008. The concert coincided with a major reissue campaign by Rhino
Records (UK), which released all the War albums includingEric Burdon Declares "War" and The Black-Man's Burdon.

Eric Burdon at the Daffodil Festival in Pierce County, Washington, in 2008

Solo career[edit]
Burdon began a solo career in 1971 with the Eric Burdon Band, continuing with a hard rockheavy metalfunk style. In
August 1971, he recorded the album Guilty! which featured the blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon, and also Ike White
of the San Quentin Prison Band. In 1973, the band performed at the Reading Festival and in 1974 they travelled to New

York City. At the end of 1974, the band released the album Sun Secrets and this was 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
Kornerand keyboardist Zoot Money; the album also had a line-up of four guitarists and three keyboard players and is
known for its interesting album cover, which depicts Burdon screaming. The album was produced by former Animal's
bassist Chas Chandler. The original release included a booklet of illustrated lyrics done in ink by Burdon himself.
In May 1978, he recorded the album Darkness Darkness at the Roundwood House in County Laois, Ireland,
using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio and featuring guitarist and vocalist Bobby Tench from the Jeff Beck Group, who had
left Streetwalkers a few months before. The album was eventually released in 1980.[13] During January 1979, Burdon
changed his band for a tour taking in Hamburg, Germany and the Netherlands.
On 28 August 1982, the "Eric Burdon Band" including Red Young (keyboards) performed at the Rockpalast Open Air
Concert in Lorelei, 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 entitled I
Used To Be An Animal, But I'm Alright Now.[14]
In March 1979, he played a concert in Cologne and changed the band's name to "Eric Burdon's Fire Department",
[15]

whose line-up included backing vocalist Jackie Carter of Silver Convention, Bertram Engel of Udo Lindenberg'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 Millins and Louisiana Red made special appearances in Spain
and Italy. By December 1980, the band had broken up.
In April 1981, Christine Buschmann began to film Comeback with Burdon as the star. They created a new "Eric Burdon
Band" whose line-up included Louisiana Red, Tony Braunagle, John Sterling and Snuffy Walden. 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 also included songs recorded during the Comeback project.
In 1988, he put together a band with 15 musicians including Andrew Giddings keyboards, Steve Stroud bass,
Adrian Sheppard drums, Jamie Moses guitar and four backing vocalists to record the album I Used To Be An
Animal in Malibu, in the United States. In 1990, Eric Burdon's cover version of "Sixteen Tons" 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 & the Waves and "No Man's Land" with Tony
Carey and Anne Haigis. Later in 1990, he had a small line-up of an Eric Burdon Band featuring Jimmy Zavala (sax and
harmonica), Dave Meros(bass), 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 Beach, California,
which was released as a DVD on 20 June 2008.
On 13 April 2004, he released a "comeback" 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 bluesR&B 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) andWally 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 E.P. with Cincinnati garage band the Greenhornes called, simply, Eric Burdon & the
Greenhornes. The album was recorded at an all-analogue recording studio,[16]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 Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev.[17]

Other associations[edit]
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 bass, vocals,Don Kirkpatrick guitar, vocals and 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 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 rerecordings 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 compilations Soldier of Fortune and I'm Ready which featured recordings from the 1970s and 1980s.
In 2000, he recorded the 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 Greek rock band Pyx Lax, singing lead vocal on "Someone Wrote 'Save me' On a Wall".
In 2001, his second critically acclaimed memoir, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," written with author/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.[18]
On 7 June 2008, Burdon performed at the memorial service of Bo Diddley in Gainesville, Florida.[19] During July and
August 2008, Burdon appeared as the headline act of the "Hippiefest". He also recorded the single "For What It's
Worth" with Carl Carlton and Max Buskohl.
On 12 November 2008, Rolling Stone 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, bass
player 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 includes Red Young (keyboards), Billy Watts (guitar), Terry
Wilson (bass), Brannen Temple (drums) and Georgia Dagaki (cretan lyra). On 7 August, the tour ended.
On Monday 28 January 2013, Eric Burdon made a rare appearance performing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,
backed by the Roots. Fallon hyped Burdon's current album, 'Til Your River Runs Dry.

On Tuesday 23 July 2013, he guested on stage 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.

Influence[edit]
The sound of the Animals influenced many Britpop, alternative rock and power pop groups as well as the bands Deep
Purple, the Black Crowes, the Hives, Grand Funk Railroad, MC5, the White Stripes[20] and his voice has been highly
respected by many singers such as Jim Morrison, Robert Plant, Tom Petty, David Johansen, Joe Cocker, Bruce
Springsteen,[21] Ian Hunter,Ryan Adams, Julian Thome, Jack White, John Mellencamp and Dan Zanes.[22]