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Industry News
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Eric Burdon & The New Animals
The popularity of these varied projects, and his ever-present live gigs, gave rise to the semi-autobiographical film Comeback - which he starred in and performed the entire soundtrack for director Christel Buschmann. His numerous other acting forays include everything from television appearances on shows such as China Beach, to made-for-television movies like The Eleventh Victim. Burdon’s ongoing interest in film has also resulted in roles in major motion pictures such as Gibbi West Germany and The Doors. Most recently he can be found in two very well-received film-festival outings, namely the 1999 Greek film My Brother and I by Antonis Kokkinos -which was singled out at the Cannes and Karlovy Vary Film Festivals- and the recent 2000-release by Thorsten Schmidt, Snow Fall on New Year’s Eve. Burdon’s soundtrack work has appeared in more than two-dozen projects ranging from the television program The Wonder Years, to the documentary films The London Scene & The Big Pink, to the cult films Going to War & The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart, to major motion picture productions including Joe vs. The Volcano, American Me, Hamburger Hill, Casino, and Boogie Nights. Burdon’s lengthy recording career began in Newcastle, England, where he first covered songs by his idols, such greats as Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Josh White, Brownie McGhee, John Lee Hooker, and Jimmie Reed. He and The Animals quickly gained notoriety as England’s best R&B band, and they were selected by the pirate station Radio Caroline as the feature for the first broadcast to the U.S. They were a part of the first live R&B recording in the U.K., when they joined Sonny Boy Williamson for the now famous 1963 New Year’s Eve concerts. This raw performance was followed by a more polished outing when The Animals appeared with Jerry Lee Lewis & Gene Vincent on renegade Granada TV in 1964, for the Whole Lotta Shakin’ concert feature (released on film as Don’t Knock the Rock); the film showcased their rendition of Talkin’ Bout You. Shortly thereafter, The Animals took the music world by storm when they recorded and released an electrified version of the traditional folk number, The House of the Rising Sun. In short fare they followed with such classics as Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, We Gotta Get Out of This Place, It’s My Life, I’m Crying, Inside Looking Out, The Story of Bo Didley, Bring It On Home to Me, and See See Rider. | ||||||||