The Animals: Blues-Driven Rebels of the British Invasion

I. Formation and Early Background

The Animals formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in 1962, emerging from the local jazz and blues scene. Their name came from their wild stage presence and gritty sound, which contrasted with the more polished pop of other early British Invasion acts.

Original classic lineup:

• Eric Burdon – Vocals
• Alan Price – Keyboards
• Hilton Valentine – Guitar
• Chas Chandler – Bass
• John Steel – Drums

They were part of the British blues revival, deeply inspired by Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, and Bo Diddley, but stood out with a rawer, more visceral sound than their contemporaries.

II. Breakthrough and Global Fame (1964–1966)

✦ The House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Their signature hit, a haunting traditional folk song reworked into a blues-rock epic.

• First UK band after The Beatles to top the U.S. charts with a #1 single
• Alan Price’s eerie organ and Burdon’s anguished vocals made it iconic

Other major early hits:

• “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
• “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” – Became an unofficial anthem of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam
• “It’s My Life”
• “Boom Boom” (John Lee Hooker cover)

Their music was gritty, rebellious, and rooted in working-class frustration, giving them a different identity compared to the Beatles or Stones.

III. Lineup Changes and Transition (1966–1968)

Internal tensions (especially over royalties and artistic control) led to multiple lineup changes:

• Alan Price left in 1965, replaced by Dave Rowberry
• Chas Chandler would later discover and manage Jimi Hendrix

✦ Eric Burdon & The Animals (1966–1968)

Burdon rebranded the band with a more psychedelic and experimental sound. This era, often considered separate from the original Animals, reflected late-1960s counterculture themes.

Key tracks:

• “San Franciscan Nights”
• “Monterey” – A tribute to the Monterey Pop Festival
• “Sky Pilot” – An anti-war mini-epic with orchestral flourishes

This incarnation was less bluesy and more psychedelic and political, but still successful.

IV. Disbandment and Reunions

The band split in 1968, and Burdon briefly collaborated with War, releasing “Spill the Wine” in 1970.

The Animals reunited in various forms:

• 1975 – Original lineup for Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted
• 1983 – Ark, with a synth-driven update to their sound
• Occasional live tours, especially with Burdon leading newer versions of the band

Hilton Valentine, Chas Chandler, and Alan Price later moved into production, management, or solo work.

V. Legacy and Influence

The Animals are known for:

• Bringing American R&B and blues to a white, global audience
• Fusing soulful vocals with a garage-rock attitude
• Influencing acts like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, The Doors, and The Clash

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

VI. Interesting Facts

• Bob Dylan was inspired by their version of “House of the Rising Sun” to go electric.
• Chas Chandler managed Jimi Hendrix, helping launch his career in London.
• “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” was adopted as a Vietnam War protest anthem.
• Eric Burdon became a notable voice in countercultural rock and anti-establishment music.