The Animals

The Animals formed in Newcastle in the early 1960s, with Eric Burdon on vocals, Hilton Valentine on guitar, Alan Price on keyboards, Chas Chandler on bass, and John Steel on drums. They started as a skiffle group called The Downbeats before settling on their permanent name. In 1964, their version of 'The House Of The Rising Sun' became a massive hit, though it also brought accusations of plagiarism.

Price left the band in 1964 and was replaced by Dave Rowberry. They recorded songs like 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' and 'We Gotta Get Out of This Place,' which became staples of their catalog. Their debut album 'The Animals' came out in 1964, followed by 'Animalisms' in 1966 and 'Eric Is Here' in 1967.

Burdon's outspoken nature sometimes caused friction with authorities. The band dealt with internal conflicts and lineup changes throughout their active years in the 1960s.