Crawdaddy! The Magazine of Rock

Eric Burdon is a living legend, known for his groundbreaking work as lead singer for the Animals and WAR, as well as his deep involvement with the protest and counterculture movements of the 1960s and ’70s. Rolling Stone Brian Jones called Burdon the best blues singer to ever come out of England; he toured with Chuck Berry, partied with Jim Morrison and Keith Richards, rode motorcycles with Steve McQueen, and was one of the last people to see Jimi Hendrix alive. His work has influenced artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen and Nina Simone to the Police, while his words helped shape an entire generation’s ideas on war, race relations, and social justice.

Now 67, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member hasn’t slowed down a bit, touring virtually non-stop and releasing albums at a faster pace than many younger acts. Currently working on a new live album and a follow-up to his 2006 studio release Soul of a Man, Burdon also just finished an extensive US and Canadian tour with Hippiefest, which he has headlined for the last two years, and is now doing a series of additional shows in cities across North America. He took a break from this busy schedule recently for a revealing discussion on his life, his work, and his plans for the future.

Born in working-class Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England during World War II, Burdon says he first fell in love with American blues and rock after a chance encounter with Muddy Waters, who was in Europe on tour with the Chris Barber Jazz Band. “In the heart of my hometown there’s the city hall,” he explains. “It’s the premier performance place in North East England. One summer’s eve, I was coming home from exams to enter art school, and the doors leading to the stage were wide open. From a city block away, I heard this sound that went straight to my inner self—it turned out to be Muddy Waters doing a sound check.”

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