Jul 11, 2008

Hippies, Animals unite

Touring festival reprises music of Summer of Love

By Paul Freeman / Entertainment Writer

When this year's edition of Hippiefest arrives at Saratoga's Mountain Winery, the Animals will lead the parade.

Eric Burdon & the Animals join the Turtles, Jack Bruce (Cream), Janis Ian, Joey Molland (Badfinger) and Jonathan Edwards.

During the '60s British Invasion, Burdon's soul-searing vocals led the Animals through such unforgettable hits as "House of the Rising Sun," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "We've Gotta Get Out of This Place." They emerged from Newcastle, England, and conquered the world with their blues-based rock.

Burdon performed at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and immortalized the event with the song "Monterey." He later created a stir with the seminal California funk-jam band War. They earned great success with "Spill the Wine."

As a solo artist and with various incarnations of the Animals, Burdon, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, has never stopped wowing audiences.

He's having fun with the Hippiefest lineup. "There is an unspoken sense of camaraderie with all these guys," he said.

Admirers young and old obsess over Burdon's vintage sounds. As a huge music fan himself, he can relate. "Before I took the microphone in hand, I learned so much about life, dissecting and decoding the lyrics to Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, Little Richard," he said. "My friends and I lived from one 45 rpm release to the next."

Though Burdon continues to develop new material, the Hippiefest focuses on hits. He thought it would be cool to recreate the '67 version of the Animals, which included two guitars and violin. "This time, I have a great violin player again, Bobby Furgo, taking us back to the sound of the psychedelic era."

American blues and rock 'n' roll enthralled Burdon at an early age. "All I can say is, we ate it, played it, slept it, dreamt it," he said.

In the '60s, the Animals sparked enormous excitement. "The fans in my hometown were unreal. ... It scared the s--- out of John Lee Hooker. He said he'd never seen anything like it, including the black juke joints. In fact, he first came up with the the slogan, 'Newcastle, Mississippi.'"

Fan mania could be a distraction. "Back in the day, it was awful, especially in the U.S. - the screaming, the howling of the thousands of teenaged girls was like playing to a jet engine compared to more serious club crowds in the U.K. and Europe," Burdon said. "It's much better these days - they mellowed with age, I guess.

"I heard Tom Jones still has to work up to his neck in female undergarments," Burdon said.

While he and his band mates may not be wading through seas of bras and panties, they are glad to play to the "sing-along crowd." "It's a great compliment that they know the lyrics, sometimes better than me!" he said.

Burdon's raw, honest renditions of traditional tunes prompted many listeners to explore his musical roots.

"Every time I played a song by one of the original originals, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Joe Turner, Jimmy Witherspoon, Jimmy Rushing, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Ray Charles ... I made a point of telling the audience, 'You can get this record on such and such label, by such and such artist.' We made a crusade out of turning people on to the influences we had. I even wore a T-shirt that read 'John Lee Hooker for President.'"

Beyond the music, Burdon reflected the activism and social conscience of the '60s. He reveled in landmark events such as the Monterey Pop Festival.

"It was the gathering of the new tribes, music as a force for change, a new religion, the 'om' of international racial unity, the feeling of naked feet in the mud, brotherhood, sisterhood, the realization that every living thing is connected. Then, tears, when we understood that it was doomed," he said. "Pity it only lasted a day or two."

Unlike some of his contemporaries, Burdon never forsook those peace-and-love ideals. "I still live it, in my own world, my own way," he said. "But I don't mean that I'm not guilty. I can say that, since I was a child, my mind has been bent by the nonstop demonic behavior of humankind. Want to save the planet, stop the war - I mean all wars, for all time? It's impossible, you say? Okay, I accept that. But at least stop the war on animals, children, the environment. ... At least I can dream."

Inspired by blues artists who continued to perform as long as they drew breath, Burdon said in his autobiographical song, "The Road," "I don't live - if I don't play this rock 'n' roll."

The throbbing, vibrant music of the Animals has proven timeless and, following recent Rhino reissues and a reunion concert at London's Albert Hall, the public is rediscovering Burdon's work with War.

He says, "I'm grateful to those who have shown me the way. To quote Buddy Holly, 'Listen to me...'"