Eric Burdon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eric Burdon
Burdon performing at the Audimax in Hamburg, Germany, 1973
Background information
Birth name	Eric Victor Burdon
Born	(1941-05-11) 11 May 1941 (age 84) Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Genres	Rock R&B soul funk blues
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1960–present
Labels	SPV Polydor Universal Sony BMG MGM One Way Repertoire Records Avenue Rhino Line Teldec Flying Eye Sanctuary Columbia EMI Decca Readymade Records Lojinx

Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer and songwriter. He is famous for his deep, powerful voice. Eric was the lead singer for two well-known bands: the Animals and War. Many people think he was one of the most unique singers during the "British Invasion" of music. He is also known for his exciting live shows.

In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time." He was ranked 57th on their list.

Eric Burdon's Early Life

Eric Burdon was born in 1941 in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. His father, Matt, was from Tyneside, and his mother, Rene, was from Ireland. She moved to Newcastle in the 1930s. Eric also had a younger sister named Irene.

Eric's family was not rich, but they had a TV when he was 10. He remembers seeing the jazz legend Louis Armstrong on TV. This moment made him fall in love with blues music. He first tried playing the trombone. When he realized he wasn't very good, he decided to focus on singing. He then went to Newcastle Art College.

At art school, Eric met John Steel, who would become the first drummer for the Animals. He also met other young people who loved jazz, folk, and movies. Eric and his friends often hung out at a local jazz club called The Downbeat. They were tough and loved American music.

Eric Burdon became close friends with American guitarist Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s. They remained friends until Hendrix passed away in 1970. Eric was also friends with the Beatles' John Lennon. Lennon even mentioned Eric in the Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus" as "the eggman."

Eric Burdon's Music Career

Becoming Famous with The Animals

Eric Burdon and the Animals, 1964

Eric Burdon became the lead singer of the Animals in 1962. The band started in Newcastle upon Tyne. They combined electric blues with rock music. In the United States, they were a top band during the British Invasion. This was when British music and fashion became very popular in America. Other famous British Invasion bands included the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Eric's powerful voice is on many of the Animals' hit songs. These include "The House of the Rising Sun", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place".

Over time, some original members of the Animals left the band. In 1965, keyboardist Alan Price left. Drummer John Steel left in 1966. Eric Burdon and drummer Barry Jenkins then formed a new version of the group. They called it Eric Burdon and the Animals.

This new group released their first album, Eric Is Here, in 1967. It included the hit song "Help Me Girl". Later, the band became more focused on psychedelic rock. This version of the band had new members like John Weider and Zoot Money. They had hits like "San Franciscan Nights" and "Sky Pilot". "Sky Pilot" was a song against the Vietnam War. The band broke up in 1969.

Reunions of The Animals

The original Animals reunited in 1975 and recorded an album called Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted. It was released in 1977. In 1983, the original band got back together again. They released the album Ark and went on a world tour. They released a live album from a concert in London called Greatest Hits Live (Rip It to Shreds). The original Animals broke up for the last time in 1984.

Eric Burdon on Dutch TV in 1967

Eric Burdon continued to tour with different groups of musicians. Sometimes these groups were called Eric Burdon and the New Animals. In 1998, this name became official. These bands released live albums and toured.

In 2008, Eric Burdon had a legal battle over who could use the name "the Animals" in the UK. Drummer John Steel had registered the name. Burdon won an appeal in 2013, which allowed him to use the band name in the UK again.

In 2016, Eric Burdon formed the current version of the Animals. This band includes Johnzo West, Davey Allen, Dustin Koester, Justin Andres, Ruben Salinas, and Evan Mackey.

Working with War

In 1969, Eric Burdon moved to San Francisco. He teamed up with a funk rock band called War. In 1970, they released an album called Eric Burdon Declares "War". This album had two hit songs: "Spill the Wine" and "Tobacco Road".

They released another album, The Black-Man's Burdon, later in 1970. During a concert, Eric had an asthma attack and had to leave the tour. War continued without him.

In 2008, Eric Burdon and War reunited for a concert in London. This was their first time performing together in 37 years.

Eric Burdon's Solo Music

After leaving War, Eric Burdon started his solo career in 1971. He formed the Eric Burdon Band. They played a mix of hard rock, heavy metal, and funk. In 1971, he recorded the album Guilty! with blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon.

In 1977, Eric moved to Germany and recorded the album Survivor. This album had a unique album cover showing Eric screaming.

In 1986, Eric Burdon wrote a book about his life called I Used to Be an Animal, but I'm Alright Now.

Burdon at the Audimax in Hamburg, with the Eric Burdon Band, July 1973

In 2004, Eric released a new album called My Secret Life. It was his first album with new songs in 16 years. He dedicated his 2006 album, Soul of a Man, to Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker.

In 2013, Eric Burdon released another album called 'Til Your River Runs Dry. The song "Water" from this album was inspired by a talk he had with Mikhail Gorbachev, a former leader of the Soviet Union.

Other Music Projects

Eric Burdon at the Daffodil Festival in Meriden, Connecticut, 2008

In 1991, Eric Burdon and Brian Auger formed the "Eric Burdon – Brian Auger Band." They released a live album called Access All Areas.

In 1995, Eric sang with the band Bon Jovi at the Hall of Fame. They performed a mix of "It's My Life" and "We Gotta Get out of This Place".

In 2000, Eric recorded the song "Power to the People" with Ringo Starr and Billy Preston. This song was for the movie Steal This Movie!.

On his 60th birthday in 2001, the Animals were honored at the Rock Walk of Fame. In 2003, Eric sang on a song called "Someone Wrote 'Save me' On a Wall" with the Greek rock band Pyx Lax.

Eric Burdon in 2013

In 2001, Eric released his second book, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. It shares stories about the British Invasion and his life as a rock star.

In 2013, Eric Burdon performed with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Wales. They sang "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" together.

Who Owns The Animals Name?

In 2008, there was a legal decision about who owned the name "The Animals" in Britain. It was decided that drummer John Steel owned the rights to the name. Eric Burdon had argued that he was the main reason the band was famous. However, the decision noted that Eric had used "Eric Burdon and the Animals" as early as 1967. This showed he was already separating his own name from the band's.

In 2013, Eric Burdon won an appeal. This made him a joint owner of the Animals name in the UK.

Eric Burdon's Film Roles

Eric Burdon has also acted in movies. He wanted to be in the film Blowup (1966). The director wanted him to play a musician, but Eric turned it down. He later met Jim Morrison of the Doors and decided he wanted to try acting. He even turned down big roles in other movies.

In 1973, Eric formed the Eric Burdon Band and recorded music for his own film project, Mirage. The film was never released, but the soundtrack came out in 2008.

He acted in the TV movie The 11th Victim (1979) and the German film Gibbi Westgermany (1980). In 1982, he starred in another German film called Comeback, where he played a singer. In 1991, he had a small role in the movie The Doors.

In 1998, he played himself in the Greek film My Brother and I. He also had a bigger role in the German film Snow on New Year's Eve (1999). He has also appeared in many documentaries.

Eric Burdon's Family Life

In 1967, Eric Burdon married Angela "Angie" King. She was a model involved in the music scene. They divorced in 1969.

In 1972, Eric married Rose Marks. They had a daughter together. They divorced in 1978.

In 1999, he married Marianna Proestou, who is a lawyer from Greece.

Eric Burdon's Music Albums

Books by Eric Burdon

• I Used to Be an Animal But I'm All Right Now, Faber and Faber, 1986, 978-0571134922

Films Featuring Eric Burdon

See also

In Spanish: Eric Burdon para niños