The Animals

The Animals on a Ready Steady Go! New Year's Eve Broadcast, December 1965
Eric Burdon: vocal
b. Eric Victor Burdon; 11 May 1941; Newcastle-on-Tyne
Bryan "Chas" Chandler: bass
b. Bryan James Chandler; 18 December 38; Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne; d. 1998, London
John Steel: drums
b. 4 February 1941, Gateshead, County Durham
Barry Jenkins: drums [beginning March 1966]
b. 22 December 1943, Leicester
Hilton Valentine: guitar
b. Hilton Stuart Patterson Valentine; 22 May 1943; North Shields, Northumberland
Alan Price: organ/piano
b. 19 April 1942, Fatfield, Co., Durham
Dave Rowberry: keyboards [beginning October 1965]
b. 27 December 1943, Newcastle
   
1960   [Price 18; Chandler 22]
Alan Price Combo (Price, Chandler, Steel, Valentine) form in Newcastle (Stong 1995: 19).
 
1962   [Burdon 21]
Eric Burdon joins the ensemble and they find a regular engagement performing at the Downbeat Club (Joynson 1995: 21).
In addition to their solo club work, they also accompany Sonny Boy Williamson and John Lee Hooker during their UK tours (Stong 1995).
 
1963   []
They become the Animals (after their local nickname) and move to Club a-Go-Go.
When a tour featuring the Everly Brothers with the Rolling Stones and Mickie Most as support acts arrives in town, they hear the Animals and are impressed. Georgio Gomelsky invites them to perform at the Crawdaddy Club in London.
 
1964   []
January. They move to London to take advantage of the interest of interest in beat groups. Mickie Most becomes their producer for a contract with EMI Columbia.
16 April. "Baby Let Me Take You Home" / "Gonna Send You Back to Walker" [Columbia DB 7247; UK #21]
9 May. Begin 21-date UK tour with Chuck Berry as second billing on a lineup that included The Swinging Blue Jeans, Carl Perkins, Kingsize Taylor, The Nashville Teens, and The Other Two.
25 June. "House of the Rising Sun" / "Talkin' bout You" [Columbia DB 4022; UK #1]
17 September. "I'm Crying" / "Take It Easy" [Columbia DB 7354; UK #8]
November. The Animals [UK LP #6]
December. "Boom Boom" / "Blue Feeling" [US release]
 
1965   []
4 February. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" / "Club a Go-Go" [Columbia DB 7445; UK #3]
8 April. "Bring It on Home" / "For Miss Caulker" [Columbia DB 7539; UK #7]
May. Animal Tracks [UK LP #6]
15 July. "We Gotta Get Out of this Place" / "I Can't Believe It" [Columbia DB 7639; UK #2]
28 October. "It's My Life" / "I'm Gonna Change the World" [Columbia DB 7741; UK #7]
——. Alan Price leaves the band and they replace him with Dave Rowberry (from Mike Cotton Sound).
 
1966   []
January. Burdon and the Animals refuse to re-sign with Mickie Most and Columbia, insisting on more artistic control. They sign with Decca and begin working with Tom Wilson as a producer.
17 February. "Inside - Looking Out" / "Outcast" [Decca F 12332; UK #12]
March. John Steel leaves. The band replaces him with Barry Jenkins (formerly of the Nashville Teens).
May. Animalism [UK LP #4]
2 June. "Don't Bring Me Down" / "Cheating" [Decca F 12407; UK #6]
Summer. The remaining Animals disband. Burdon continues as "Eric Burdon and the Animals," performing with a different set of musicians.
Hilton Valentine's Website Eric Burdon's Website Alan Price's Website
British Blues Schedule Them
  29-feb-12