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Eric Burdon

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Eric Burdon was born in 1941 in Walker, a working-class district of Newcastle upon Tyne. His school years were hard, but a teacher helped him get to art college, where he studied graphic design and photography. There he met the drummer John Steel. With his friends he hung around the jazz club The Downbeat and listened to American music. In 1962 he joined the band of the organist Alan Price as singer, and shortly afterwards it became known as The Animals.

Music and breakthrough

The Animals mixed electric blues with rock and became one of the most important bands of the British Invasion in America, alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Burdon's powerful voice can be heard on The House of the Rising Sun, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, We Gotta Get Out of This Place, It's My Life and Don't Bring Me Down. After Price and the others left, he continued in California as Eric Burdon and the Animals, with psychedelic hits such as San Franciscan Nights, Monterey and Sky Pilot, a song against the war in Vietnam.

Influence

In 1969 Burdon joined a funk band in San Francisco that came to be called Eric Burdon and War, with the hit Spill the Wine. Burdon is regarded as one of the most striking singers of the British Invasion, with a deep, raw blues voice and fierce performances. He was friends with Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. In 2008 Rolling Stone placed him at number 57 on its list of the greatest singers of all time.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals and follow Eric Burdon's vocals. Hear how he begins quietly and sings with growing fierceness, until the song reaches its climax towards the end.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists