Eric Burdon Biography - Artistopia Music

Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May, 1941, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne) is the former lead singer of The Animals and War before becoming a solo artist.

Career

The Animals

Burdon was a founding member and vocalist of The Animals, a rock band formed in Newcastle, England in 1962


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. The Animals, combining electrified blues with rock, were one of the leading bands of the "British Invasion." Along with, among others, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Dave Clark Five, and The Kinks, the group introduced Americans and the world to British music and fashion, its outspokenness and attitude. Burdon's powerful, deep voice is featured on such Animal singles as "The House of the Rising Sun", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", "Bring It On Home to Me", "We've Gotta Get Out of This Place", "Don't Bring Me Down", and "See See Rider".

Eric Burdon & The Animals

By late 1966 the other original members of The Animals, including keyboardist Alan Price had quit, and Burdon and drummer Barry Jenkins reformed the group as Eric Burdon and the Animals. This more psychedelic incarnation of the group featured future Family member John Weider, and had hits such as "When I Was Young", "San Franciscan Nights", "Sky Pilot", and "Monterey". This ensemble lasted until 1969, going through several line-up changes sometimes called itself Eric Burdon and the New Animals.

Burdon is claimed by some to be the "Eggman" in The Beatles song "I Am The Walrus". The reason for this is that Burdon was known as "Eggs" to his friends, from his fondness for breaking eggs over naked girls. Burdon's biography mentions such an affair taking place in the presence of John Lennon, who shouted "Go on, go get it, Eggman ..."

Eric Burdon & War

When the New Animals disbanded, Burdon joined forces with funky California jam band War. The resulting album, Eric Burdon Declares "War" yielded "Spill the Wine" and "Tobacco Road". A second Burdon and War album, a two-disc set, ''The Black-Man's Burdon'', was released later in September 1970. The singles "Paint it Black" and "They Can't Take Away Our Music" charted in 1971.

In 1971, Burdon broke down on the stage due to an asthma attack. War continued the tour without him. In August, he recorded the album Guilty! (later released on CD as Black & White Blues) with the blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon and also featuring Ike White & the San Quentin Prison Band.

1970s

Burdon began a solo career as The Eric Burdon Band, without the members of War, but continuing in with a hard rock/heavy metal/funk style. In 1973 the band performed at the Reading Festival, and in 1974 in New York. At the end of 1974 the band released the album Sun Secrets in 1975 the album Stop. Both had chart success. The Animals in its original line-up also reunited this year, and recorded an album together called Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted. However, this wasn't released until 1977, and then drowned completely in the dawning of punk.

In 1976, after Rhino Records published a compilation album of Burdon & War, Love Is All Around, which featured an unreleased live version of "Paint it Black" and an unreleased jam session called "A Day In The Life".

Burdon then went to Germany and recorded the album Survivor with guitarist Alexis Korner, keyboardist Zoot Money, producer Chandler and several other musicians, including a line-up of four guitarists and three keyboard players. The album is known for its interesting album cover which depicts Burdon screaming. In May 1978 he recorded the album Darkness - Darkness in the Republic of Ireland with a completely different line-up. In January 1979 he changed his band line-up again to jam in Hamburg, Germany and for a gig in Holland. In the following month he changed the line-up once more for a February 4 concert in Cologne. Burdon then had another gig with this line-up on 12 August. He wanted to record with this band and changed the name into "Eric Burdon's Fire Department". The line-up included backing vocalist Jackie Carter, former member of Silver Convention, Bertram Engel of Udo Lindenbergs "Panik Orchester" and Jean-Jaques Kravetz. In the mid of 1980 they recorded the album The Last Drive. The other album recorded in 1978, Darkness Darkness, released that time and featured the track "Darkness, Darkness". With several changes, adding Paul Millns and Louisiana Red, "Fire Department" toured through Europe with special appearances in Spain and Italy, but by December that year they split up.

Comeback

In April 1981, Christine Buschmann began to film Comeback with Burdon starring. 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. When they recorded in Berlin the line-up had another change with the only remaining member being John Sterling. In September they changed another time for the final scenes of Comeback, which were shot in the Metropole in Berlin. This band continued to tour through Australia and North America.

For this project they recorded songs such as "No More Elmore", "It Hurts Me Too", "Who Gives A Fuck", "Crawling King Snake", "The Road", "Sweet Blood Call", "You Can't Kill My Spirit" and re-recorded songs such as "House of the Rising Sun" and "Bird On The Beach".

The Animals reunion

On 28 August, a different line-up of "The Eric Burdon Band" including Red Young (keyboards) performed at the Rockpalast Open Air Concert in Lorelei, Germany. In May 1983 The Animals, in their complete original line-up, reunited. The album, Ark, which was released on 16 June, yielded the singles "The Night" and "Love Is For All Time". The world tour followed and the final concert in the London's Wembley Arena was recorded and published in 1984 as Rip It To Shreds and the concert in April 1984 in the Royal Oak Theatre was completely released in 2008 as Last Live Show. Additional members were Zoot Money, Nippy Noya, Steve Gregory and Steve Grant. Following the reunion, he led a number of groups named Eric Burdon Band or some variation thereof, with constantly changing personnel. From March 1984 to March 1985 he toured through Spain, Germany, Sweden, Canada and Australia.

1986 - 1994

In 1986 he published his autobiography entitled ''I Used To Be An Animal, But I'm Alright Now. In 1988 he put together a band with 15 musicians including Andrew Giddings - Keyboards, Steve Stroud - Bass, Adrian Sheppard - Drums, Jamie Moses - Guitar and 4 backing vocalists to record the album I Used To Be An Animal in Malibu, in the United States. By 1990 he had a small line-up of an Eric Burdon Band featuring Jimmy Zavala (sax and harmonica), Dave Meros(bass), Jeff Naideau (keyboards), Tom Mooney (drums) and John Sterling (guitar) before he began a tour with ex-The Doors-member Robbie Krieger. The concert from the Ventura Beach in California, was released as a DVD on 20 June 2008.

In the same year Eric Burdon's cover version of "Sixteen Tons" was used for the film, Joe Versus the Volcano. The song, which played over the beginning of the film, was also released as a single, and a video shot for MTV. 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).

In 1991, Burdon and Brian Auger formed the "Eric Burdon - Brian Auger Band" with 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).

1995 - 2000

In 1995, after 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 released in 1997. In May that year Larry Wilkins died of cancer. After releasing the compilations Soldier Of Fortune and ''I'm Ready (with recordings from the 1970s and 1980s), a new band was formed in 1998, and billed as "Eric Burdon & The New Animals" featuring Dave Meros on bass, Dean Restum on guitar, Aynsley Dunbar on drums and Neal Morse on keyboards and guitar. The gig from 17 October was released as a Video/DVD, Live At The Coach House. By 1999 they released The Official Live Bootleg #2 and in August 2000, The Official Live Bootleg 2000 released with Martin Gerschwitz on keyboards.

2001 - 2007

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 June 2003, he formed another "Eric Burdon & The Animals" band. This included: Eric Burdon - vocals, Martin Gerschwitz - keyboards, Dave Meros - bass, Dean Restum - guitar, and Bernie Pershey - drums. On 13 April 2004 he released his comeback album My Secret Life, which was his first album with new recordings since nearly 16 years. In 2005, they released another live album Athens Traffic Live with special DVD bonus Material and a studio bonus track. They disbanded in November. On 27 January 2006 he released his blues/R&B album Soul Of A Man. This album was dedicated to Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker. Burdon then formed a new band, with the following members: Red Young (keyboards), Paula O'Rourke (bass), Eric McFadden (guitar) and Wally Ingram (drums). They also performed at the Lugano Festival.

In 2007 he toured as the headlining act of the "Hippiefest" lineup, produced and hosted by Country Joe McDonald.

Current work

On 7 February 2008 Burdon announced: "I also plan to put together a video of "Slow Moving Train" from Soul of a Man this spring to coincide with the sad 40th anniversary of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy." A day later an announcement was made about Burdon and War reuniting for the first time in 37 years, to perform a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on 21 April 2008. See Eric Burdon & War reunion at the Royal Albert Hall. The concert coincided with a major reissue campaign courtesy of the UK division of Rhino Records, who will be releasing all of War's albums including Eric Burdon Declares "War" and ''The Black-Man's Burdon.

On 7 June 2008, Burdon performed at the memorial service of Bo Diddley in Gainesville, Florida and stated, "Bo's one of the guys who invented rock 'n' roll, He took two cultures...country and western and the kind of blues that used to be known as 'race music' -- and put them together".

Since 11 July 2008, Burdon has been touring as the headlining act of the "Hippiefest" lineup. On 19 July Burdon was interviewed by Mark Simone on WABC where he said he may have two albums released this year. He is currently touring as "Eric Burdon & The Animals" with a variable lineup of backing musicians consisting of the following:

Eric Burdon - vocals, percussion
Red Young - keyboards, vocals
Hilton Valentine - guitar, vocals
Paula O'Rourke - bass, vocals
Billy Watts - lead guitar
Steve Conte - lead guitar
Tony Braunagel - drums
Herman Matthews - drums
Steve Murphy - drums
Bobby Furgo - violin

On 9 August 2008, Burdon announced at the concert in Clearwater, Florida, that they will release a "Hippiefest" CD next year.

His concert in Oklahoma on September 21 was cancelled due health problems. On September 25 he was guest star on the British ITV1 show Soundtrack to my Life

On October 2 an announcement was made about that he is joining War for a tour in summer 2009. They are also nominated for being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On November 12, Rolling Stone ranked him #57 on the list of the 100 Greatest Singers of all Time.

On December 13, Burdon lost the battle to win the rights of the name "The Animals". Drummer John Steel now has the rights.

Album discography

The Animals

1964: The Animals
1965: Animals Tracks
1965: In the Beginning (Live)
1965: The Animals on Tour
1966: Animalisms
1966: The Best of The Animals (Compilation)
1966: Animalization
1966: Animalism
1973: The Animals with Sonny Boy Williamson (Live)
1973: Best of The Animals (Compilation)
1977: Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted
1983: Ark
1984: Rip it to Shreds: Greatest Hits Alive (Live)
1988: The Best of The Animals (Compilation)
1990: The Complete Animals (Compilation)
1997: [[The Best of The Animals (1997 album)|

The Best of The Animals]] (Compilation)

2008: Last Live Show (Live)

Eric Burdon and The (New) Animals

1967: Winds of Change
1967: The Best of Eric Burdon & The Animals, Vol. II (Compilation)
1968: The Twain Shall Meet
1968: Every One of Us
1969: Love Is
1969: The Greatest Hits of Eric Burdon and The Animals (Compilation)
1990: Roadrunners! (Live)
1991: The Greatest Hits of Eric Burdon & The Animals 1966–1968 (Compilation)
2003: Absolute Animals 1964–1968 (Compilation)
2004: Gratefully Dead 1964–1968 (Compilation)
2004: Retrospective (Compilation)

Eric Burdon and War

1970: Eric Burdon Declares "War"
1971: ''The Black-Man's Burdon
1976: Love Is All Around
1996: The Best of Eric Burdon & War (Compilation)

Others

1967: Eric Is Here (as Eric Burdon & The Animals)
1971: Guilty
1974: Sun Secrets (The Eric Burdon Band)
1975: Stop (The Eric Burdon Band)
1977: Survivor
1980: Darkness Darkness
1980: The Last Drive
1982: Comeback
1983: Power Company
1988: I Used To Be An Animal
1988: Wicked Man (Compilation)
1992: ''That's Live (Live, from 1985)
1993: Access All Areas
1994: ''Sings the Animals' Greatest Hits
1996: Eric Burdon Live
1997: Soldier of Fortune (Compilation)
1998: Live at the Roxy (Live)
1999: Absolutely the Best (Compilation)
2000: The Official Live Bootleg #1 (Live)
2000: The Official Live Bootleg #2 (Live)
2001: The Official Live Bootleg 2000 (Live)
2001: The Night (Compilation)
2004: My Secret Life
2005: Athens Traffic Live (Live)
2006: Soul of a Man
2006: Wild & Wicked (Compilation)
2008: Mirage (Unreleased Project)
2008: Ultimate Rarities Vol. 1 (Unreleased Songs)
2008: Ultimate Rarities Vol. 2 (Unreleased Songs)

Filmography

1964: Get yourself a College Girl
1964: Whole Lotta Shakin
1965: Pop Gear
1965: The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood
1967: ''It's a Bikini World
1967: ''Tonite Let's Make All Love in London
1968: All my Loving
1968: Monterey Pop
1973: Mirage (never filmed)
1979: 11th Victim
1980: Gibbi - Westgermany
1982: Comeback
1991: The Doors
1999: ''Snow on New Year's Eve
2001: Plaster Caster
2001: ''Screamin' Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell on Me
2007: The Blue Hour

Concert films

1964: Live at Wembley
1973: Rock Concert (TV-performance)
1976: Live at Rockpalast
1982: Live at Rockpalast, Loreley (bootleg)
1991: Live in Baden Baden (bootleg)
1991: Live in Tokyo (bootleg)
1991: Finally... Eric Burdon & The Animals (Documentary)
1996: TVE (TV-performance)
1999: Live at the Coach House
2000: The Eric Burdon Band Live
2001: The British Invasion Returns (Various Artists)
2003: Yes, You Can Go Home
2004: Live at Rockpalast (TV-broadcast)
2004: Live at San Sebastian
2006: Live at the Lugano Jazz Festival
2008: Live At The Ventura Beach California (with Robby Krieger & Friends)

Bootlegs

''Live at Olympia Stadium '64 '65 '66, Paris
The Deluxe BBC Files
Live at the Marquee Club 1967
Ultimate Live Rarities 1965 - 68 (3CD)
''Live at Ronnie Scott's 17.09 - 1970'' (Jimi Hendrix' last live performance ever)
Live at Offenbach, January 1971, Germany
Live at Frost Amphitheatre, Palo Alto, 28 April 1971
Live at Denver 1973
When I Was Young 1974
New York City 1975
Rockpalast 1976
Live in Holland 1978/79
''Live at Vienna's first open air festival 1980
Live at Rockpalast, Loreley 1982 (CD and DVD/VHS)
Live at the Canary Club
Rarest Masters (2CD)
Rare Masters vol. 1
Rare Masters vol. 2
Live in Sevilla 1984
Unreleased Project #2
Unreleased Project #3
Unreleased Project #4
Unreleased Masters and Alternative Takes
Searching for a Brand New Day
Live at San Diego Street Scene
1990 Detroit Tapes
Live at the Caravan of Dreams
Live at the Waters Club 1991 (with Brian Auger & Robbie Krieger)
Live in Cheiming, Germany
Live at der Filharmoniehalle, Darmstadt, April 1995
Pasadena Live
Live at Abensberg 1996
Live in Warszaw
Live in Baltimore
Live at Robin Two, Wolverhampton
Live at the Jazz Cafè 2005
Live at the Jazz Cafè 2006
Live at the Royal Albert Hall April 2008
Live at Grand Prairie July 2008
Live at Clearwater August 2008
Festivals
1965: The Richmond Jazz Festival (with The Yardbirds, The Animals Big Band, The Who,...)
1967: The Windsor Jazz Festival of the Flower Power Children
1967: Monterey Pop Festival
1968: ''Newport Pop Festival '68
1969: ''Newport Pop Festival '69 (with Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles, Lee Oskar,...)
1994: Sziget
2006: Lugano Jazz Festival
2008: Hippiefest
Books
Burdon, Eric. ''I Used to Be an Animal, but I'm All Right Now. Faber and Faber, 1986. ISBN 0-571-13492-0.
Burdon, Eric (with J. Marshall Craig). ''Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood: A Memoir''. Thunder's Mouth Press, 2001. ISBN 1-56025-330-4.

Copyright Citations
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Eric Burdon