Background: The Animals

 

After a few action packed years, and some personnel changes (organist Alan Price and drummer John Steel having moved on), the Animals tired of the pop music grind in its original form.

 

July 1, 1966: HIC Arena, Honolulu, HI: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals

This was one of the final tours of the original Animals. 

 

July 2, 1966: Civic Auditorium, San Jose, CA: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals

The band spent some time in San Francisco this week, where, no doubt, Eric enjoyed, among other things, a rare, warm, San Francisco night.  A number of sources assert that the group had become split between three boozers and two acid-heads (Eric and Barry Jenkins).

 

According to the excellent band biography “Animal Tracks” by Sean Egan, The Animals had agreed to break up in late July 1966.   However, they subsequently embarked on a five-week American tour supporting Herman’s Hermits. The Animals indeed broke up for good on September 5, 1966, at the end of that tour. On the tour, bassist Chas Chandler had discovered a spectacular guitarist in Greenwich Village, and gave up his performing career to become Jimi Hendrix’s manager, soon bringing him to England (they arrived in the UK on September 24). Animals’ manager Mike Jefferies also became Hendrix’s co-manager, along with Chandler.

 

July 3, 1966: Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

July 6, 1966: Bear Stadium, Denver University, Denver, CO: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals 

 

July 7, 1966: Coliseum, Lubbock, TX: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

July 9, 1966: Terrace Ballroom, Lagoon, Salt Lake City, UT: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

July 10, 1966: Auditorium Convention Hall, Minneapolis. MN: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals  (afternoon show)

 

July 10, 1966: Memorial Auditorium, Kansas City, MO: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals  (evening show)

 

July 12, 1966: Sioux Falls, SD: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals (afternoon show)

 

July 12, 1966: Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, IA: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals (evening show)

 

July 13, 1966: Pershing Auditorium, Lincoln, NE: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

July 14, 1966: Assembly Center, Tulsa, OK: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals 

 

July 15, 1966: War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR: Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

On what we believe to be August 7, 1966, Eric Burdon visited the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco to hang out with the bands and generally soak up the “vibe”. The show was the Children's Adventure Day Camp Benefit and featured the Grateful Dead, Big Brother and The Holding Company, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Grass Roots, Sunshine, The Committee, SF Mime Troupe, The Jook Savages and the PH Factor Jug Band. As the Calliope Company only presented a couple of shows, they would not have had their own security etc., or in any probability, the capabilities to manage such an event. As such, Bill Graham was on hand to make sure all was well. Burdon's autobiography (I Used To Be An Animal But I Am Alright Now) suggests that Jim Morrison was also hanging out that night and that the Doors had just completed a Canadian tour. This seems to be an error whereby a separate event and discussion had taken place with Morrison – as the Doors were not to play Canada until the following summer. In any case, Burdon had arrived at the Fillmore to be greeted by Janis Joplin. This gave him the opportunity to see the growing San Francisco Scene at first hand – something that would prove very influential for the future.

 

September 16, 1966: “Ready Steady Go” Show, Rediffusion Television: Otis Redding, Eric Burdon, Chris Farlowe

Billed as the “Otis Redding Special”, Burdon performed "Hold on I'm Coming" on his own and then joined Otis Redding and Chris Farlowe for "Shake" and "Land of 1000 Dances".

 

October 7, 1966:: “Ready Steady Go” Show, Rediffusion Television: Rolling Stones, Eric Burdon, Paul & Barry Ryan

Burdon performs “Help Me Girl” which had been released in September 1966.   It went on to reach number 29 on the US charts and number 14 in the UK.

 

In late 1966, MGM released some tracks recorded by the original Animals, as well as with Eric and session men. The US album “Animalization” reached #20 in the US.

 

THE NEW ANIMALS

 

October 15, 1966: “Countdown” Show, Southern Television: The New Animals, David Garrick

In general, with English Television shows, the performances were live (for union reasons), but recorded a few days earlier. In some cases, we have been able to determine which dates shows were recorded versus broadcast.

 

David Dann, in his excellent Mike Bloomfield site has a chronology of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s 1966 English tour. The key details are reproduced below. Although the “official” name of the group was The New Animals, it is likely that local promoters billed the band as “Eric Burdon and The New Animals.”

 

October 20, 1966 : Finsbury Park, London: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

October 21, 1966: Odeon, Birmingham: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

October 22, 1966: Odeon, Leeds: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

October 23, 1966: Gaumont, Doncaster: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

October 25, 1966: Odeon, Manchester: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

October 26, 1966: Odeon, Liverpool: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

October 27, 1966: Gaumont, Sheffield: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

October 28, 1966: Colston Hall, Bristol: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

October 29, 1966: Odeon, Cheltenham: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

October 31, 1966: Gaumont, Southampton: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

November 1, 1966: Odeon, Bolton: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

November 2, 1966: ABC, Carlisle: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

November 3, 1966: Odeon, Glasgow, Scotland Georgie Fame, The New Animals, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

November 4, 1966: Odeon, Newcastle: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

November 5, 1966: Gaumont, Hanley: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

November 6, 1966: Odeon, Leicester: The New Animals, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Farlowe, Eyes of Blue, Geno Washington

 

November 18, 1966: “Crackerjack” Show, BBC-TV The New Animals

 

November 18, 1966: “Ready Steady Go” Show, Rediffusion Television Small Faces, Eric Burdon and The New Animals, The Breakaways, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Donovan, The Four Tops, Kathy McGowan interviewed the Kinks' Pete Quaife and Dave Davies, The RSG! Dancers: Sandy Sarjeant, Georgie Allen and Celia Hetherington

Burdon and The New Animals performed "Jailhouse Rock" and "Help Me Girl".

 

November 19, 1966: “Saturday Club” Show, BBC-TV The New Animals

For reasons that remain murky, after the tour Burdon and manager Mike Jefferies continued to tinker with the line-up. Eventually, the permanent line-up takes shape, along with a realistic admission about how the band’s name would be known in any case.

 

ERIC BURDON AND THE ANIMALS

 

November 25, 1966: Birmingham University, Birmingham: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

November 26, 1966: Ricky Tick, Hounslow, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Jimi Hendrix Experience

 

December 7, 1966: Big Apple Club, Munich, Germany: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 10, 1966 : Leeds University, Leeds: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 13, 1966: Marquee, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Syn

 

December 15, 1966: Pavilion, Worthing: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 17, 1966: Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 23, 1966 “Ready Steady Go!” TV, Rediffusion Television (billed as Ready Steady GOES!): Mick Jagger and Chris Farlowe with excerpts "Satisfaction" and "Out Of Time" played, The Who perfoming "Please Don't Touch" (an Eddie Cochran song that they never issued a studio version of) and "I'm A Boy", Paul Jones possibly performing "Baby Tomorrow", Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich – possibly playing "Save Me", Eric Burdon and The Animals, Alan Price,  Donovan, Lulu, Keith Relf and Paul Samwell-Smith from the Yardbirds, Julie Felix, Cat Stevens, The Merseys, Peter and Gordon, The Small Faces, Spencer Davis Group. 

Some of the guests, such as Relf and Samwell-Smith, just made spoken appearances and did not provide musical performances.  December 23 was the broadcast date of the show, which was the final show of the programme. The Animals performance may have been recorded earlier.

 

December 23, 1966: Starlite Ballroom, Greenford: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 24, 1966: The Upper Cut, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals

The Upper Cut in London’s East End was owned by British Heavyweight boxer Billy Walker. In addition to the Animals, other performers to appear in the opening week were The Who, Easybeats, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, and on December 26, advertised as "Boxing Day For All The Family"!, the Jimmy (sic) Hendrix Experience performed in the afternoon and the Pretty Things in the evening. The December 24 show was advertised as a "Gala Christmas Eve".

 

In December 1966 the New Animals recorded the single “When I Was Young”, with lyrics by Burdon and music by Weider, in Barnes Studio in London, with Tom Wilson producing.  Sessions for their first album were held in January 1967 in London, and also in February 1967 (February 10, 1967, according to one website, meaning the recording was in the US).  Eric Burdon and The Animals left for their first American tour on February 2, 196July

 

January 21, 1967: “Beat Club” German Television: Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Who (recorded)

 

January 28, 1967: “Saturday Club” BBC Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals

Broadcast February 4, 196July

 

February and March 1967:  Performances in New England, Canada and the Midwest.

The tour apparently begins at Northwestern University in Chicago (according to the biography of free lance light show director Tom Mazzeo)

 

February 10, 1967: Hunter College, New York, NY: Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Mydlle Class

A newspaper ad endures. Presumably they recorded in a New York studio during the day (see above) and played a gig at night (Hunter was at 69^th St and Park Avenue).

 

February 17, 1967: [Probably the Gym], Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA: Eric Burdon and The Animals

Photographer Ron Karr took photos at this show.

February 20, 1967: Bambi’s, 1 Casino Terrace, Newport, RI: Eric Burdon and The Animals

This show has been seen advertised as happening on Friday February 10. However, further research has shown that it was rescheduled and occurred on February 20.

March 1 or 2, 1967: Coliseum, Ottawa, Canada: Eric Burdon and The Animals

On one of these dates Eric Burdon and The Animals refuse to come on stage until they are paid, and the fans riot for an hour, but with no money forthcoming the Animals never appear.

 

March 3, 1967: Drew University, Madison, NJ: Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Lords, The Sorts

The venue was probably Baldwin Gym.

 

March 8, 1967: Orpheum Theater, Madison, WI Eric Burdon and The Animals

Two shows 7:00 and 9:30 pm

 

In March, 1967 MGM releases “Eric Is Here”, confusingly credited to Eric Burdon and The Animals, although no Animals besides Eric and Barry Jenkins appear on the album as it had been recorded in September 1966 before the band had been put together. While it is not a bad album, it has been produced to minimize the bluesy, wailing sound that characterized Eric’s performance with the Animals. 

 

Also in March, 1967, Eric Burdon and The Animals record their first album at TTG Studios in Hollywood, with Tom Wilson producing. The album is recorded in two weeks. Egan reports that Music Machine bassist (and future Fleetwood Mac producer) Keith Olsen plays bass on at least two tracks, because McCulloch broke his wrist after being rushed by excited girl fans.  Egan further reports that only one March show required a substitute bassist, Pat Olson (sic) but he does not give the date or location.

 

The limited available chronology suggests that the band was recording in LA in late March while also doing some California dates, and perhaps the substitute bassist only had to fill in the last gig.  McCulloch appeared to have been healthy for the Australian tour that began April 1September

 

Keith Olsen had been the bassist for Garage Band legends The Music Machine, who were managed by Animals road manager Kevin Deverich, and Olsen was (at least informally) working on becoming an engineer and producer, so it makes sense that he was available if there was a one-off gig.

March 19, 1967: Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, CA:  Eric Burdon and The Animals, Oxford Circle, New Breed, Beatables

This show was presented by Sonoma State and KLPS.

 

March 21, 1967 : Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Art Collection

The Art Collection, a San Jose band, featured New Zealand pop star Ray Columbus.  According to Cream Puff War #2, after the Art Collection’s first few numbers, Columbus came out and sang, and the Animals management insisted he leave the stage.  Apparently Columbus and Eric Burdon had had a conflict Down Under some years earlier and Burdon resented his presence.

 

March 22, 23 or 26, 1967 Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, CA: Quicksilver Messenger Service, John Lee Hooker, Miller Blues Band

On March 22, March 23 or March 26 Eric Burdon and The Animals show up at the Avalon Ballroom and play a few numbers on Quicksilver’s equipment.

 

March 24, 1967: Selland Arena, Fresno, CA Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

March 25, 1967 : Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Association, Bola Sete Trio, Harbinger Complex, Baytovens, Sly and The Family Stone

The Animals and The Association headline a radio-station sponsored event. Also on the bill was a popular jazz guitarist (Bola Sete) and three popular local bands, one of whom (Sly and The Family Stone) would go onto legendary status. At this time, Sly and The Family Stone were newly formed out of two other local bands (Sly and The Stoners and Freddie And The Stone Souls), and held down a regular residency at a club in San Mateo (on the Peninsula) called Winchester Cathedral.

 

March 28, 1967: Freeborn Hall, UC Davis, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Oxford Circle

March 29, 1967: The Cheetah, Santa Monica, CA:  Eric Burdon and The Animals, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Carl Holmes and The Commanders with Ruthie McFadden.

This is possibly the show in which McCulloch’s bass duties were taken over by Keith Olsen, if this was the last date (pending a more accurate assessment of the Colorado date).

 

April 1, 1967 : City Auditorium, Colorado Springs, CO: Eric Burdon and The Animals

I have seen an ad for a reproduction of a poster on EBay that lists this show as April 1, 1966, but assuming the poster to be authentically reproduced (an unknowable issue) I am somewhat inclined towards this 1967 date, since it says “Eric Burdon and The Animals”, which was not in common use in 1966, although not unheard of. It is impossible to know without further information whether the poster advertises a 1966 or 1967 gig. It would require that the band fly to Colorado from Los Angeles, but that was certainly possible.

 

In April 1967, MGM releases “When I Was Young”, which reaches #15 on the U.S. singles charts and number 45 in the UK. The B side, never released on an album, is called “A Girl Named Sandoz.” Neither song was on the current MGM album “Eric Is Here”.

 

April 19, 1967: Christchurch, New Zealand Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Eric Burdon and The Animals

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich were a lightweight British Invasion-style pop group. Local bands probably filled out the bills.

 

April 20, 1967: Wellington, New Zealand: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

April 21, 1967: Rotorua, New Zealand: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

April 22, 1967: Auckland, New Zealand: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Eric Burdon and The Animals

The band flew to Australia after the Auckland show.

 

April 24, 1967: Sydney, Australia: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

April 25, 1967: Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia: Eric Burdon and The Animals

The Animals performance was broadcast on Australian radio. The brief tape suggests a band still grounded in R&B, but starting to broaden their sound. The band returned to England after these concerts.

 

Around June 1967, MGM releases the album “The Best of Eric Burdon and The Animals, Vol. II”.  Although a collection of singles recorded by different line-ups, none of the songs are available on other albums, so it is like a new album to fans.  Highlights of the record include ‘When I Was Young” (the first recording of the New Animals) and “Don’t Bring Me Down” (one of the last recordings of the previous Animals incarnation).

 

June 1967: Italy

Mike Jefferies does his duty as a manager and gets Eric Burdon and The Animals on the bill at Monterey Pop, as well as in the movie. The Animals finish up some dates in Italy—there may have been other mainland Europe dates as well--and fly into Monterey for the show.

 

June 16-17-18, 1967: Monterey County Fairgrounds Monterey, CA: Pop Festival

 

June 16, 1967: Horse Show Arena, County Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA

Simon & Garfunkel, Eric Burdon and The Animals, Johnny Rivers, Beverly, Lou Rawls, The Paupers, The Association

The Animals perform four songs, “Hey Gyp”, “Gin House Blues”, the live debut of ‘San Franciscan Nights” and “Paint In Black.”  30-minute sets were in fact typical for Monterey Pop performers, with the exception of the headliners.

 

June 17, 1967: Athletic Field, Cypress Community College, Monterey, CA: Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jam

So many people show up without tickets, the Junior College across from the Fairgrounds is used for a campground.  A little stage on the athletic field is commandeered by the Grateful Dead road crew, and a jam session goes on intermittently throughout the weekend. Robert Christgau mentions interviewing a camper who wakes up at 4:00 am to hear Eric Burdon singing “House of The Rising Sun”. Vic Briggs comments (in Egan’s book) that he played as well, and suggests that a number of the Animals joined the jamming.

 

June 17, 1967: Monterey Peninsula College Parking Lot, Monterey, CA: Jam with Country Joe and the Fish

Members of Country Joe and The Fish recall jamming with the Animals in the Junior College parking lot. Whether this is the same, related to or separate from the Dead, Quicksilver jam is unclear. Suffice to say, members of the Animals spent the weekend jamming with the San Francisco bands.

 

June 27-28-29-30, July 1-2, 1967: Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA: Chuck Berry, Eric Burdon and The Animals, Steve Miller Blues Band

While playing at The Fillmore, the group hangs out with The Grateful Dead and others in San Francisco. The still relatively new Steve Miller Blues Band backed Chuck Berry for his sets, and parts of their performances were released on a Chuck Berry album.

 

July 2, 1967: Mt. Tamalpais Outdoor Amphitheatre, Mill Valley, CA: Thunderheaven Presents the “Festival of Growing Things” with Big Brother and The Holding Company, Country Joe and The Fish, Sandy Bull, Congress of Wonders, Charlatans , Wildflowers, Mt Rushmore, Phoenix, Ace of Cups

According to Ace of Cups bassist Mary Gannon, she does not recall Big Brother playing, and Quicksilver played both days instead.  Also, according to her, Eric Burdon and the Animals appeared on one of the days. This seems a likely occurrence, since the Animals were hanging out with the San Francisco bands.

 

July 5-6-7-8, 1967 : Whisky A-Go-Go, West Hollywood, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals

The Whisky was a prestige gig in Hollywood. Bands were paid union scale, but all of the cool people in Hollywood and the record industry came out to see what’s happening. The Animals subsequently return to London.

July 21, 1967: Orchid Ballroom, Croydon, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

July 29, 1967: Alexandra Palace, London:, Eric Burdon and The Animals, Pink Floyd, Brian Auger with Julie Driscoll and The Trinity, Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Creation, Tomorrow, Blossom Toes, The Nervous System, Apostolic Intervention, Sam Gopal’s Dream, Ginger Johnson [International Love-In Festival]

This was a true “underground” event. The Animals headline over Pink Floyd, who at the time are just an underground sensation (as were Creation and Tomorrow).

 

In August 1967, MGM releases “San Franciscan Nights”, which reaches #9 on the US singles charts.  The English single, released in October (which reaches #7) features another b-side only song, “Gratefully Dead.”

 

August 8, 1967: Marquee Club, London: - Eric Burdon and The Animal, Timebox

The Animals spent August and September in London, but I do not know if there was extensive touring.

August 11, 1967: The National Jazz, Pop, Ballads and Blues Festival, Windsor:  Eric Burdon and The New Animals, The Nite People,  Syn, Tomorrow, The Marmalade, The Move , The Small Faces

The Animals play a 30 minute set beginning at 9:45pm.

 

August 26, 1967: “The Saturday Club” BBC Television Session, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

August 26, 1967: Pink Flamingo Club, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Paper Blitz Tissue

 

August 27, 1967: Woburn Abbey, Woburn: Festival of The Flower Children with the Small Faces, The Move, Eric Burdon (appearing with but advertised without The Animals), Jeff Beck Group, Denny Laine, Alan Price Set, Zoot Money & Dantalian’s Chariot, Marmalade, Tomorrow,  The Gass, Tangerine Peel, Tiles Big Band, The Dream

This was a three day festival (August 26-28, 1967), and the headline acts were spread out over three days. The Small Faces headlined on Saturday (August 26) and  The Animals headlined Sunday (August 27)) The Animals set was filmed, and the song “Hey Gyp” appears in an obscure film called “Rock City”, which features assorted rock clips from 1964 to 1973. For photos and memories of this show, see a great page here.

 

August 29, 1967: “Dee Time” BBC Television: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Keith West

Like many groups of the time, an appearance on Simon Dee’s hip talk show was essential.

 

In September, 1967 MGM releases the first album by Eric Burdon and The Animals, “Winds of Change”.  It features “San Franciscan Nights” and “Yes, I Am Experienced” among its various tracks.  Although an unfocused album, it still reaches #42 on the US album charts.

 

September 4, 1967: “Monday, Monday” BBC Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

September 8, 1967: Roundhouse, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

September 10, 1967: Saville Theatre, London: Eric Burdon & the Animals, Dantalian's Chariot (featuring Zoot Money), Denny Laine's Electric String Band, Sam & Bill

 

The group may have played a few dates in Sweden.

 

September 24-30, 1967: Fiesta, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland: Eric Burdon & the Animals

The Animals made their “cabaret” debut (cabaret is roughly the equivalent of “Supper Club” to Americans) in the far north-east of England close to Burdon’s home town of Newcastle.

 

October 1, 1967: “Happening Sunday”, BBC Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals (broadcast)

 

October 2, 1967: “Rhythm and Blues” BBC Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals (broadcast)

 

October 1, 1967: Mojo, Sheffield: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

October 6, 1967: Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, Kent: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

October 6, 1967: Speakeasy, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

October 19-21, 1967: Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Mother Earth, Hourglass

 

October 25-29, 1967: Whisky A-Go-Go, West Hollywood, CA: Eric Burdon & Animals, Spirit

 

November 4, 1967: Valley Plaza Park And Recreation Center, North Hollywood KHJ-tv show Groovy! (filmed) Acts included The Byrds (with Gene Clark), Eric Burdon and The New Animals, and various singers and actors.

Filming continued on the next day (Sunday 5 November), and The Animals may have performed on either or both days. Broadcast date uncertain.

 

November 10-11, 1967: The Cheetah, Santa Monica, CA:  Eric Burdon and The Animals, East Side Kids

 

November 17, 1967: Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA:  Eric Burdon and The Animals, Blues In A Bottle, Caretakers, Good Feelings

 

November 18, 1967: Cow Palace, Daly City, CA:  The Association, Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Who, The Everly Brothers, Sopwith Camel, The Sunshine Company “Festival of Music”

 

November 19, 1967: Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA:  The Association, Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Who, Everly Brothers, Sopwith Camel

 

November 26, 1967: “Happening Sunday” BBC Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals (broadcast)

 

The November 24 issue of “Go” magazine carries an article about Eric Burdon buying a property on the West Coast.  In December, 1967 MGM releases the single “Monterey”, a song about the Monterey Pop Festival.  It will reach #15. Meanwhile, the band goes to New York in December to record “The Twain Shall Meet”, and then returns to London.

 

December 2, 1967: Floral Hall, Southport: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 4, 1967: Club A-Go-Go, Newcastle: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 5, 1967: Oxford University, Oxford: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 9, 1967: Coventry College, Coventry: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 10, 1967: Eamonn Andrews Show, ABC-TV: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 12, 1967: Exeter University, Exeter: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 16, 1967: String of Beads, Bradford: UK Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 17, 1967: Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire: Eric Burdon and The Animals

“The Kirk” was run by local band leader John Benedict McCoy who managed to book major acts for his small north east venues including Cream, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Zoot Money.

 

December 19, 1967: The Marquee, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Eire Apparent

 

Cancelled: December 20, 1967: The Roundhouse, London, UK – Circus Alpha Centauri

 

Cancelled: December 21, 1967: The Roundhouse, London, UK – Circus Alpha Centauri

 

Cancelled: December 22, 1967: The Roundhouse, London, UK – Circus Alpha Centauri

 

December 22, 1967: “Christmas On Earth Continued”, Grand and National Halls, Olympia, Kensington, London  - The  All-Night Christmas Dream Party with Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, The Move, Soft Machine, Tomorrow, Graham Bond Organisation, Sam Gopal and Paper Blitz Tissue. 

The Who were originally billed but were no shows.  Poor publicity and bad weather made this a financial disaster.

 

December 23, 1967: Pier Ballroom, Hastings: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

December 23, 1967: The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London: Freedom, Procol Harum, The Animals, Denny Laine, Zoot Money, Fairport Convention [Vietnam Solidarity Campaign organised by Circus Alpha Centauri]

The advert says “ALL NIGHT”, so the Animals probably played an evening gig in Hastings and then played early the next morning at The Roundhouse. The billing of Zoot Money is almost certainly actually Dantalian’s Chariot (the psychedelic metamorphoses of Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band).

 

Cancelled: December 24, 1967 The Roundhouse, London, UK – Circus Alpha Centauri

 

December 31, 1967 BBC Television Session, London, UK broadcast Eric Burdon and The Animals’ session for “Top Gear”.

 

1968

 

January 6, 1968: “Pete’s People” BBC Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals (broadcast)

 

January 18, 1968: Stockholm, Sweden: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

January 26, 1968: Bingley Hall, Birmingham: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Yardbirds, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich.

 

January 26, 1968: “All Systems Freeman” BBC Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals (broadcast)

The show was an early television vehicle for DJ Alan Freeman. 

 

January 26, 1968: “New Release” Southern Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Toby Twirl (broadcast)

 

January 29, 1968 to February 2, 1967: “David Symonds Show” BBC Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals (broadcast)

 

In late January, 1968, Eric Burdon and The Animals return to Los Angeles to stay.  The single “Sky Pilot (Parts 1 and 2)” is released reaching #40 on the hit parade in the UK.

 

February 9, 1968:: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Eric Burdon and The Animals, Eire Apparent, Soft Machine

The Animals commence a lengthy American tour. They are often booked with other bands managed by Mike Jefferies, namely Jimi Hendrix Experience, Soft Machine and Eire Apparent (an Irish band previously called The People).

 

February 10, 1968: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Soft Machine, Electric Flag, Blue Cheer

Pinnacle Concerts Presents

 

February 11, 1968: Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Fugs, Eire Apparent

 

February 16, 1968: Gym, Southwestern College, San Diego, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

February 17-23, 1968 : The Cave, Vancouver, BC: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Eire Apparent

The group opened on February 17 and typical bookings at the Cave ran through a full week. The Cave was a dinner theatre in Vancouver that briefly tried booking rock acts - the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band having played the previous week.  Eric Burdon and the Animals may have played a date or two in Seattle and, or Portland before heading south to Los Angeles.

 

At some point during the week, the group may have gone to the cool underground ballroom The Retinal Circus and played House of The Rising Sun, because, as Eric apparently explained, they wanted to play for the people. We are still investigating whether this visit to the Retinal Circus was made during this week or at some other time when the band were in Vancouver. This is because the retinal Circus may have been temporarily closed at this time.

 

Eire Apparent guitarist Henry McCullough was busted in Vancouver around this time, and sent home to the UK.  Ironically, after a brief stint in an Irish band (Sweeney’s Men), he landed the gig as the guitarist for Joe Cocker’s Grease Band, and had more success than anyone in Eire Apparent. Rumour has it that Jimi Hendrix filled in for McCullough for a few gigs until a replacement guitarist was flown in.

 

February 25, 1968: “Morecombe & Wise Show” ATV Eric Burdon & The Animals (broadcast)

This would have recorded a month or so earlier.

 

February 28-March 3, 1968: Whisky A-Go-Go, West Hollywood  Eric Burdon and The Animals, Eire Apparent

 

March 3-4, 1967: Brass Ring, Sherman Oaks, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Uncle Tom

Rehearsals.

 

March 16, 1968: Anderson Theater, New York, NY Eric Burdon and The Animals, New York Electric String Ensemble, Jessie’s First Carnival (two shows)

It seems likely that the Animals played many more dates throughout the United States than we have listed here.

 

March 22, 1968: State Fair Coliseum, Detroit, MI: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Grateful Dead, Eire Apparent, Apostles, Jagged Edge

Billed as "The Grande Scene at the State Fair Coliseum", this was effectively a Russ Gibb promoted Grande Ballroom show moved out to the State Fair Coliseum due to the size of the expected crowd for The Grateful Dead and the Animals. 

When the expected numbers failed to materialize, the show was moved back to the Grande Ballroom for the Saturday night performance.

 

March 23, 1968: Grande Ballroom, Detroit, MI: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Grateful Dead, Eire Apparent, Apostles, Jagged Edge 

 

March 24, 1968 : CNE Coliseum, Toronto, ON: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Albert King, Ugly Ducklings, Eire Apparent

The Ugly Ducklings were a popular Canadian group, and supposedly Mick Jagger’s favorite Canadian band.

 

March 28, 1968 : Freeborn Hall, University of California, Davis, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

March 30, 1968 : Exhibit Building, Phoenix Fairgrounds, Phoenix, AZ: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Blue Cheer

 

 

In April, 1968 MGM releases the band’s second album, The Twain Shall Meet.  “Sky Pilot” gets airplay on the new underground rock radio stations, and will soon become a hit single.

 

April 1, 1968 Circle Star Theater, San Carlos, CA Eric Burdon and The Animals, Brotherly Love, Main Attraction

 

April 4, 1968: Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Sons of Champlin

 

April 5-6, 1968: Winterland, San Francisco, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Sons of Champlin

 

April 9, 1968: Sun Air Drive-In Cathedral City, CA Eric Burdon and The Animals, Blue Cheer, Sweetwater, The Collectors, Dirty Blues Band [Barry Baldwin presents The Palm Springs Pop Festival]

The venue (per an Ugly Things article about Sweetwater) was a drive-in movie theater at 68050 Highway 111, outside of Palm Springs.

 

In the Spring of 1968, Eric recruits old pal Zoot Money, former leader of Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and Dantalian’s Chariot, to join the group as a keyboard player. This was not discussed with other band members (although they all knew Zoot well), and it lent an air of confusion to the group.  Briggs, in particular, the arranger and de facto ‘bandleader’ felt crowded (as well as being upset with the financial machinations of Animals management).    Egan recounts a (friendly) difference of opinion between Money and Briggs, as Money remembers being brought in as a bandleader in anticipation of Briggs focusing on being a record producer in Los Angeles, while Briggs remembers no such discussions.  

Zoot Money’s last known date with Dantalian’s Chariot was April 19, 1968, in England, so he must have debuted with the Animals shortly after that.

 

Meanwhile the band have begun recording their latest album (with Money on keyboards), at TTG Studios in Hollywood, with Vic Briggs acting as producer in place of Tom Wilson. There is a chance that Zoot flew over to America in March to work with the group in the studio, as this would fit Egan’s timeline and there is a gap in the Dantalian’s Chariot gig schedule.

 

April 1968: City Auditorium, Colorado Springs, CO: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

April 1968: Salt Lake City, UT Eric Burdon And The Animals

Sometime in 1968, date unknown, Eric Burdon and The Animals play either The Terrace Ballroom or The Old Mill (a venue at the mouth of Cottonwood Canyon) in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The Terrace, despite being in Mormon territory (a hotbed of neither psychedelic rebellion nor the blues) was only a day’s drive (for a roadie) from San Francisco (on I-80) or LA (on I-15), and thus was a popular stop on the circuit.

 

April 1968: New Orleans, LA Eric Burdon and The Animals

The exact date of Money’s first gig is unclear, but it appears to be around late April or early May. Egan quotes Money and Briggs as remembering the show being in New Orleans, where the jovial Money asks the audience if they are all “pissed.”  The local constabulary, not knowing that “pissed” equals “drunk” in England, promptly shuts down the concert.

 

Presumably the Animals played additional dates in the United States prior to returning to England in mid-May.

 

An ancient article on The Vagrants website (Leslie West’s old band, who ruled Queens back in the day) has a picture of the Vagrants, and says they will be opening the season at Westbury Music Fair, in Westbury, Long Island, opening for Eric Burdon and The Animals. This could have been 1967 or 1968, and would have been a late spring or early summer gig.

 

In May 1968 MGM releases “Monterey” b, w “Anything as a UK single.

May 18, 1968: “Time For Blackburn” Southern Television: Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Troggs (broadcast)

 

May 18, 1968: Middle Earth, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Spice

 

May 19, 1968: “The Golden Shot” ATV: Eric Burdon and The Animals (broadcast)

 

May 20, 1968: Orchid Ballroom, Purley, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

May 21, 1968: BBC Television Session, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals’ session for “Top Gear” (broadcast)

 

May 22, 1968: The Revolution, Bruton Place, London, UK

 

May 26, 1968: “Top Gear” BBC Television, London: Eric Burdon and The Animals (broadcast)

 

May 30-31, 1968: “Monsterkonzert”, Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland:  Jimi Hendrix Experience, Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Move, Koobas, Traffic, Eire Apparent

Billed as Eric Burdon and The New Animals. Possibly John Mayall played as well (per Egan). The Zurich show was somewhat of a madhouse, with stern Swiss police battling the fans, and Burdon apparently refused to go on stage, at least initially.

 

In June, 1968 MGM releases “Sky Pilot” as a U.S. single (it was released in England in February 1968).  It will reach #14 in the US (it went only to #40 in the U.K.).

 

June 1, 1968: Winnipeg, Manitoba: Eric Burdon and The Animals

Egan recounts how the Animals were booked to play Zurich, Switzerland on May 30-31, 1968 with Jimi Hendrix and required to fulfill a prior booking by flying all night to Winnipeg.

 

A poorly reproduced poster shows that between May 31 and June 4 in either 1968 or 1969, Eric Burdon and The Animals and Cat Mother play the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.

 

June 8, 1968: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA: Superscene 68 Eric Burdon and The Animals, Brotherhood, Lemon Pipers, Eastside Kids, Yellow Payges, Bonniwell Music Machine, Jim And Jean, The Hook

This was an early, and forgotten, attempt at an all-day rock concert in a stadium - preserved in a newspaper ad. Brotherhood featured former members of Paul Revere and The Raiders. This show may have been cancelled, as most LA events were, in the wake of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination.

 

June 18, 1968: Community Concourse, San Diego, CA Eric Burdon and The Animals, Brain Police

 

July 19, 1968: Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, TX Eric Burdon and The Animals, Yellow Payges

 

July 26, 1968: BBC Television Session, London

Broadcast Eric Burdon and The Animals’ session for “How It Is” with fellow guests Pentangle.  This must have been recorded much earlier (in May).

 

In August, 1968 MGM releases “Every One of Us”.  Another unfocused album, it does not make an impact on the charts or FM radio stations. 

 

August 3, 1968: Orange County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, CA: Newport Pop Festival  “Humble Harve Presents” Tiny Tim, Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Byrds, Chambers Brothers,  Quicksilver Messenger Service, Butterfield Blues Band, Blue Cheer, James Cotton Blues Band

According to Egan’s very specific chronology, a new Animals line-up debuts at the Newport Pop Festival (although Egan has the show on August 4, 1968, I am inclined to prefer the date here). The line-up now included Zoot Money’s old Big Roll Band mate Andy Somers.

 

August 9-11, 1968 Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Gypsy Wizard Band

 

August 16, 1968: Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Rascals, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Yellow Payges, Eric Burdon & The Animals

The show was preceded by a celebrity picnic hosted by television presenter Steve Allen.

 

August 21-25, 1968 Whisky A-Go-Go, West Hollywood, CA: Eric Burdon and Animals, A.B. Skhy

 

August 28, 1968 : Civic Center, Oklahoma City, OK: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Sweetwater sponsored by YKO Radio

 

Presumably there were numerous other dates outside of California, but the activities of The Animals are somewhat vague during this period.

 

September 18, 1968: Whisky A-Go-Go, West Hollywood, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Buddy Miles Express

The Buddy Miles Express makes their debut. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Burdon and Graham Bond show up to jam.

 

September 21-22, 1968: San Antonio Arena, San Antonio, TX: Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

In October, 1968 Eric Burdon and The Animals record the double album “Love Is”. This album, a single LP in the UK and a double in the US, was re-released on CD on Repertorie in 2004, with excellent liner notes by veteran British journalist Chris Welch. With Zoot Money firmly in control, the album is an interesting mixture of soul music and British psychedelia, but this is a change from the bluesy acid rock of the previous albums.

 

October 4, 5, 1968: Fillmore East, New York City, NY: Eric Burdon and The Animals Sly & The Family Stone, Linn County

 

October 8, 1968 Concord Coliseum, Concord, CA Eric Burdon and The Animals

Known from an Oakland Tribune interview with Eric on 13 August 1968.

 

October 13, 1968 : Tijuana Pop Festival, Mexico: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Iron Butterfly, Chicago Transit Authority, The Collectors, Yellow Payges, Patchwork Security Blanket

According to Burdon’s autobiography, he told the crowd that Mexico was famous for beautiful women and great pot, and this did not go over well with the local police forces.

 

October 26, 1968: San Francisco International Pop Festival Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA: Johnny Rivers, Jose Feliciano, Eric Burdon and The Animals,  Iron Butterfly, Fraternity of Man, Buddy Miles Express,  Rejoice, Lee Michaels, Mad River

 

November 9, 1968: Fargo State College, Morehead, ND Eric Burdon and The Animals

 

In November, 1968 Eric Burdon and The Animals tour Japan. According to Eric Burdon’s autobiography, after a few successful gigs at major venues, the group is expected to put on two shows a night for Japanese gangsters for two weeks.  Eric and the band rebel; having to bribed their way out they abruptly leave Japan without their equipment.

 

December 1968 is a murky period for Eric Burdon and The Animals. Although there are no less than three books that cover the topic (Burdon’s second autobiography, Egan’s book about The Animals and Summer’s autobiography), the drama associated with the Japanese tour is so great that whatever happens afterwards is hardly mentioned. After the Japanese tour, however, Burdon does declare that he wants to quit the music business and become a film director.

 

December 7, 1968: Community Concourse, San Diego, CA: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Jello’s Gas Band

The poster for this show says “The Farewell Performance of Eric Burdon and The Animals.” Presumably, the band had decided to break up but still had obligations, and presumably they borrowed equipment to play the gig.

 

December 13, 1968: Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, CA: The Turtles, Eric Burdon and The Animals, Morning Sun

The newspaper ad says “Christmas Concert with The Turtles” presented by L&M Enterprises. It is not certain whether the band actually played this gig, but presumably it falls into the same category as the San Diego show, an existing obligation after the band had broken up. The ambiguity comes from the San Diego performance, which listed that gig as a “Farewell Performance”, but concert posters are hardly required to be scrupulously truthful. In any case, the live performance history of Eric Burdon and The Animals seems to end in Southern California in December, 196August

 

In December, 1968, MGM releases the album “Love Is”. However, Eric Burdon and The Animals have already split up. 

 

December 22, 1968 Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle: The Animals

Members of the Animals return to the UK for Christmas, even though most of them have moved their lives to California by this time. A charity show is organized to reunite the original Animals at Newcastle City Hall, in their hometown. Zoot Money’s keyboards filled out the sound for the original quintet (Burdon, Price, Hilton Valentine, Chas Chandler and John Steel). According to Egan, old animosities resurface, and the minimal rehearsal does not compensate for the fact that Chandler and Steel have been in management rather than musicians for the previous two years. This show was a benefit for the Percy Hedley Spastic School and the Muscular Dystrophy Group of Tyneside.