Eric's social background was that of the working class. He was, and still is, a Geordie through and through. For those of you who don't know what a Geordie is...well, its someone who hails from Newcastle. They are the cockney's of the North. A loud, raucous bunch, Eric was a member of this social distinction, in fact he epitomized it.

To understand Eric, one must understand where and what he came from.

Eric was born May 11, 1941 in Walker-upon-Tyne, England on a night German bombs rained down on the city of Newcastle. He was raised in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, an industrial city whose main export was coal. Eric grew up at 31 Marondale Avenue with both parents, Irene and Matthew, and his sister, Irene. Eric's father was employed as an electrical engineer during the Second World War, working in the Naval Yard several miles from their home. As a young boy, Eric was fascinated by weapons of war, a fascination which is apparent in his art.

At fifteen, Eric enrolled in Clayton Road Art College to pursue a career in set design. It would be here that he would grow the roots of his musical tastes in the form of the American Blues. While at Clayton Road Art College Eric began what would become an illustrious musical career.

It was while Eric attended Art College that he became friends with a wild local gang who called themselves the Squatters. The Squatters were a wild and capricious bunch who fought, drank and lived hard. It was not an easy life but it was an exciting one. It was a time when music was reaching new bounds and breaking old barriers, with the new and exciting sounds of Jazz, the Blues, R&B and the early chords of Rock falling on the impressionable ears of Northumbria's youth.

Eric Burdon. That short, manic, blues shouter had enough charisma and confidence to carry his own not to mention a band whose reputation in Newcastle was one of being fun, rowdy and altogether naughty. That’s why we love them is it not? They had the unique ability to outshine and out jam such rock legends as the Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds. No other group but the Animals could perform with such profound passion.

Eric’s roots in rock stemmed from the poor, black and working-class America. That is the form of life he identified with and formed his musical interests accordingly. He met Johnny Steel at the Clayton Road Art College in Newcastle and formed a long and lasting friendship that has endured through many long and difficult years. They found a mutual interest in jazz and formed a band called The Pagan Jazzmen. This venture lasted until they discovered American R&B. They dropped 'Jazzmen' from the name of the band and came to be known as The Pagans. They soon began playing in numerous clubs in Newcastle and found that they had formed quite a following.

During his time at Art College a young and impressionable Eric met and became engaged to a young, black woman whose name was Doreen Caulker. But the Smoke called and Eric soon lit off for the London scene. So he packed up his bags and said goodbye to Newcastle, the Pagans and Doreen. Her name would later be immortalized in a song he wrote called "For Miss Caulker".

While Eric experienced the music scene down in the Smoke, jamming with such future rock personalities as Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart, Johnny Steel and Alan Price formed what would come to be known as the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo. Alan sang and played the organ/piano and Johnny played the drums.

In September of 1963, Eric came back to Newcastle and rejoined the band along with two more musicians, guitarist Hilton Valentine from the Wild Cats and bassist Chas Chandler from the Kontours. Local club owner, Mike Jeffries became their manager and they realized that they needed a new name, one that bespoke their roots.

One evening they sat with a group of friends in a Newcastle Pub throwing about a number of names they could call themselves, many of which were completely absurd. Eric suggested Animal Hogg and the Squatters after the most engaging character of the local gang many of them were associated with.

Alan Price suggested a shortened version, The Animals, and a legend was born.

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