The Animals are an English rock band founded as Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo in 1962, by Eric Burdon (vocals), Alan Price (keyboards), Hilton Valentine (guitar), John Steel (drums) and Bryan "Chas" Chandler (bass).The Animals Rock andll Hall of Fame, 1994. Retrieved 28 February 2011.The Animals: Biography AllMusic Retrieved 28 February 2011. Two versions of the band currently exist one is led by Steel under the name Animals and Friends and another is led by Burdon under the name Eric Burdon and the Animals, which is also the name the band went by between 1966–1969 after all other original band members had departed.

Steel's version includes Steel (since 1994), guitarist and vocalist Danny Handley (since 2009), keyboardist Barney Williams (since 2022) and bassist and vocalist Norman Helm (since 2023). Burdon's version has been active since 2016 and features Davey Allen (keyboards, vocals), Dustin Koester (drums, vocals), Justin Andres (bass, vocals), Johnzo West (guitar, vocals), Ruben Salinas (saxophone, flute) and Evan Mackey (trombone).

History

1962–1969 Formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during 1962 and 1963 when Burdon joined the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, the original lineup was Burdon (vocals), Price (organ and keyboards), Hilton Valentine (guitar), John Steel (drums) and Bryan "Chas" Chandler (bass),The Animals Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1994. Retrieved 28 February 2011.The Animals: Biography AllMusic Retrieved 28 February 2011. they changed their name to the Animals.

By May 1965, the group was starting to feel internal pressures. Price left because of personal and musical differences, as well as his fear of flying while on tour.Making Time The Animals. Retrieved 2 November 2007. He went on to a successful career as a solo artist and with the Alan Price Set. Mick Gallagher filled in for Price on keyboards for a short time until Dave Rowberry replaced Gallagher.

The Animals assembled a big band to play at the fifth annual British Jazz and Blues Festival in Richmond. The Animals Big Band made their one public appearance on 5 August 1965. In addition to Burdon, Rowberry, Valentine, Chandler and Steel, the band featured a brass/horn section of Ian Carr, Kenny Wheeler and Greg Brown on trumpet and Stan Robinson, Al Gay, Dick Morrissey and Paul Carroll on saxophone.

In February 1966, Steel left and was replaced by Barry Jenkins. Burdon began work on a solo album called Eric Is Here, By this time, the Animals' business affairs "were in a total shambles" according to Chandler (who went on to manage Jimi Hendrix and produce Slade) and the group disbanded.

A group with Burdon, Jenkins and new sidemen John Weider (guitar/violin/bass), Vic Briggs (guitar/piano) and Danny McCulloch (bass) was formed under the name Eric Burdon and Animals (or sometimes Eric Burdon and the New Animals) in December 1966. Zoot Money was added to the lineup in April 1968, initially as organist/pianist only, but upon McCulloch's departure, he also took on bass and occasional lead vocals. In July 1968, Andy Summers (later the guitarist for the Police) replaced Briggs. Both Money and Summers were formerly of British psychedelic outfit Dantalian's Chariot. By December 1968, this incarnation of the Animals had dissolved.

1968– Reunions The original Animals lineup of Burdon, Price, Valentine, Chandler and Steel reunited for a benefit concert in Newcastle in December 1968 and reformed in late 1975 to record again. They embarked on a brief tour in 1976 and shot videos for their new songs such as "Lonely Avenue" and "Please Send Me Someone to Love". They released an album in 1977 that was aptly titled Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted.

On 12 December 1982, Burdon performed with Price and a complete lineup, foreshadowing future events.

All five original band members reunited in 1983 for the album Ark and a world concert tour, supplemented by Zoot Money on keyboards, Nippy Noya on percussion, Steve Gregory on saxophone and Steve Grant on guitar.

In the 1990s, Danny McCulloch, from the later-1960s Animals, released several albums as the Animals. The albums contained covers of some original Animals songs, as well as new ones written by McCulloch.

In 1992, Barry Jenkins joined a reconstituted version of the Animals, including "New Animals" members Vic Briggs and Danny McCulloch along with new percussionist Jack McCulloch and Phil Ryan instead of Eric Burdon on lead vocals. The band played the first rock concert held in Red Square, Moscow, as part of a benefit concert for the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Also in 1992, Hilton Valentine formed the Animals II from a local North East band he was playing with called The Alligators, and was joined by Steel in 1994 and Rowberry in 1999. Other members of this version of the band include Robert Kane (now vocalist with Dr. Feelgood), Steve Hutchinson, Steve Dawson (now guitarist with Geordie) and Martin Bland.

From 1999 until Valentine's departure in 2001, the band toured under the name the Animals. This version featured Tony Liddle on lead vocals backed by Valentine, Steel, Rowberry and Jim Rodford. Chris Allen occasionally substituted for Rodford (while he was playing with The Zombies). Steve Farrell contributed backing vocals and hand percussion.

After Valentine left this line up in Summer 2001, Steel and Rowberry continued with Steve Dawson, who returned to replace Valentine until the Winter of 2002. The band then morphed into Animals and Friends, with Peter Barton on vocals, Rodford, and John E. Williamson on guitar. When Rowberry died in 2003, he was replaced by Mick Gallagher (who had briefly replaced Price in 1965). Danny Handley joined the band in 2009, initially as lead guitarist, but replaced Barton on lead vocals when Barton retired in 2012. Scott Whitley had a brief tenure in the band before Roberto "Bobby" Ruiz took over on bass. This successful lineup continues to tour the world with guests such as Steve Cropper and Spencer Davis. In 2022, Barney Williams replaced Gallagher due to the latter's ill health.

In 2016, Burdon formed the current lineup of Eric Burdon and the Animals, including Johnzo West (guitar/vocals), Davey Allen (keys/vocals), Dustin Koester (drums/vocals), Justin Andres (bass guitar/vocals), Ruben Salinas (sax/flute) and Evan Mackey (trombone).

Members

Original band ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsEric Burdon vocals All Animals releasesHilton Valentine Chas ChandlerJohn Steel drums Alan Price All Animals releases except Animalisms (1966; UK), Animalization (1966; US) and Animalism (1966; US)Mick Gallagher 1965noneDave Rowberry 1965–1966 Barry Jenkins1966 drumsZoot Money 1983 keyboardsSteve Grant1983Steve Gregorysaxophones Nippy Noya percussion

Current members Animals and Friends ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJohn Steel 1994–presentdrums noneDanny Handley2009–presentBarney Williams2022–presentNorman Helm2023–present Eric Burdon and The Animals ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsEric Burdon vocals all releasesDavey Allen 2016–presentnoneDustin Koester Justin Andres Johnzo West Ruben SalinasEvan Mackeytrombone

Former members Animals and Friends/Animals II/Valentine's Animals ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsHilton Valentine 1992–2001 guitar noneRobert Kane1992–1999vocals Joss Elliott1992–1994bass George Fearonguitar Dave Dodsworthdrums Steve Hutchinson1994–1999keyboards Fred Hill1994–1995bass Dave Whiffin guitar Steve DawsonMartin Bland 1995–1999bass Steve 'ih' Farrell 1999Tony Liddlevocals Eamon Cronin 2001Jim Rodford1999–2003 bass Dave Rowberry1999–2003 keyboards Pete Barton 2001–2011John E. Williamson 2001–2009Mick Gallagher2003–2022Scott Whitley2011–2012Roberto Ruiz2012–2023 Eric Burdon and The Animals ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsBarry Jenkins 1966–1968 all Eric Burdon and The Animals releasesJohn Weider 1966–1968 Vic Briggs1966–1968 Danny McCulloch 1966–1968 Zoot Money 1968 Andy Summers 1968

Timeline

Line-ups PeriodMembersReleases1963 – May 1965 The Animals Eric Burdon – vocals Chas Chandler – bass, backing vocals Alan Price – keyboards, backing vocals John Steel – drums Hilton Valentine – guitar, backing vocals The Animals (1964; US) / The Animals (1964; UK) The Animals on Tour (1965; US) Animal Tracks (1965; UK) Animal Tracks (1965; US) The Best of The Animals (1966)May 1965 Eric Burdon – vocals Chas Chandler – bass, backing vocals John Steel – drums Hilton Valentine – guitar, backing vocals Mick Gallagher – keyboardsMay 1965 – February 1966 Eric Burdon – vocals Chas Chandler – bass, vocals John Steel – drums Hilton Valentine – guitar, backing vocals Dave Rowberry – keyboards Animal Tracks (1965; US) The Best of The Animals (1966) Animalization (1966; US) Animalisms (1966; UK)February–September 1966 Eric Burdon – vocals Chas Chandler – bass, vocals Hilton Valentine – guitar, backing vocals Dave Rowberry – keyboards Barry Jenkins – drums Animalization (1966; US) Animalism (1966; US) Animalisms (1966; UK) December 1966 – April 1968 Eric Burdon and the Animals Eric Burdon – vocals Barry Jenkins – drums Vic Briggs – guitar, piano Danny McCulloch – bass, vocals John Weider – guitar, violin, bass Animalism (1966; US) Winds of Change (1967) The Twain Shall Meet (1968) The Greatest Hits of Eric Burdon and The Animals (1969)April–July 1968 Eric Burdon – vocals Barry Jenkins – drums Vic Briggs – guitar, piano, bass Danny McCulloch – bass, vocals, guitar John Weider – guitar, violin, celeste Zoot Money – keyboards, vocals Every One of Us (1968; US) The Greatest Hits of Eric Burdon and The Animals (1969)July–December 1968 Eric Burdon – vocals Barry Jenkins – drums, backing vocals John Weider – guitar, bass , violin, backing vocals Zoot Money – keyboards, bass , vocals Andy Summers – bass , guitar, backing vocals Love Is (1968) The Greatest Hits of Eric Burdon and The Animals (1969)December 1968 – 1975Disbanded1975 – 1976 The Animals Eric Burdon – vocals Chas Chandler – bass Alan Price – keyboards John Steel – drums Hilton Valentine – guitar Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted (1977)1976–1983DisbandedSeptember–December 1983 Eric Burdon – vocals Chas Chandler – bass, backing vocals Alan Price – keyboards, backing vocals John Steel – drums Hilton Valentine– guitar Steve Grant – guitar, synthesiser, backing vocals Steve Gregory – saxophones Zoot Money – keyboards Nippy Noya – percussionArk (1983)1983–1992Disbanded1992 Valentine's Animals Hilton Valentine – guitar Robert Kane – vocals Joss Elliott – bass George Fearon – guitar Dave Dodsworth – drumsnone1994–1995 Animals II Hilton Valentine – guitar Robert Kane – vocals Steve Hutchinson – keyboards Dave Whiffin – guitar Fred Hill – bass John Steel – drums1995–1999 Hilton Valentine – guitar Robert Kane – vocals Steve Hutchinson– keyboards John Steel – drums Steve Dawson – guitar Martin Bland – bass1999 Hilton Valentine – guitar Robert Kane – vocals Steve Hutchinson– keyboards John Steel – drums Steve Dawson – guitar Martin Bland – bass

Steve 'ih' Farrell – backing vocals live1999–2001 The Animals Hilton Valentine – guitar John Steel – drums Tony Liddle – vocals Jim Rodford – bass Dave Rowberry – keyboards2001 Hilton Valentine – guitar John Steel – drums Jim Rodford – bass Dave Rowberry – keyboards Eamon Cronin – vocals2001–2002 Steve Dawson – guitar John Steel – drums Jim Rodford – bass Dave Rowberry – keyboards Tony Liddle – vocals2001–2003 Animals and Friends John Steel – drums Jim Rodford – bass Dave Rowberry – keyboards Pete Barton – vocals, guitar John E. Williams – guitar, vocals2003–2009 Animals and Friends John Steel – drums Pete Barton – bass, vocals John E. Williams – guitar, vocals Mick Gallagher – keyboards2009–2011 Animals and Friends John Steel – drums Pete Barton – bass, vocals Mick Gallagher – keyboards