Monday 21 October 2013

A conversation with pioneer of rock culture Eric Burdon -- The Existential Truth of Rock and Roll

Eric Burdon has one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in rock and roll. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame since 1994, and hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the Greatest Voices of All Time, Burdon’s music forged new territory while also topping the charts for more than five decades.
Highly prolific, Burdon has released nearly 50 records in those 50 years, as front man of The Animals and WAR and simply as Eric Burdon. Through the changing sounds and genres, what remains constant is his courage as an artist to explore new sounds, leading into new territory with his unrivaled and unique voice. Eric Burdon has shared the stage with legends such as Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Witherspoon, Otis Redding and Bruce Springsteen, and recently cited by cutting edge musicians like Patti Smith and Iggy Pop in their personal top tens.
Photo © by Marianna Burdon
Eric began his musical journey as a young man growing up in Newcastle, England. Listening to his idols, Ray Charles and Bo Diddley, Eric immersed himself in American blues and jazz.  As front man and driving force of the British Invasion band The Animals, Burdon helped shape rock and roll’s DNA, and Eric’s imposing yet soulful vocals are the driving force of the iconic favorite "House of the Rising Sun”. A long string of hits followed, including "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and the Vietnam-era anthem, "We Gotta Get Out of This Place." Pioneering the psychedelic San Francisco sound, Burdon's classics include "San Franciscan Nights" and "Monterey".
Burdon continued through the years to perform with different iterations of the Animals, while also founding and fronting the funk group War, one of the first multiracial bands, and topped the charts again with his groundbreaking hit single “Spill the Wine”. In the following decades Burdon has become an accomplished painter and author, and he continues to record and tour as a solo artist. The year 2012 saw the release of his latest album, “Til Your River Runs Dry."
Interview by Michael Limnios     All Photos © Marianna Burdon
Why did you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?
Because it's pure, simple and real. It speaks to the human condition, immediately. It mirrors the deepest feelings we have, our state of mind.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
The Lost Broadcasts
DVD - £9.99

The Animals And Beyond 
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Beat Beat Beat - Eric Burdon..
DVD - £4.99

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