The Pagans
1957

Eric Burdon, John Steel and Dave Ashcroft on guitar.
The onlooker is Phil Payne, a friend from art college
Picture taken from John Steel's personal archives. It is also featured in the book "Sex, brown ale and rhythm and blues".
The Animals
1963

Eric Burdon, Alan Price, Chas Chandler, Hilton Valentine and John Steel.
The line-up that established The Animals as one of the most successful bands to emerge from the pioneering sixties. Worldwide chart hits secured them as one of the most popular bands of 1960's alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. This classic line recorded the hits "Baby let me take you Home", "House of the Rising Sun", "I'm Crying", "Don't let me be Misunderstood" and "Bring it on Home to me".
This picture was one of the first publicity shots taken in the dungeon of the castle keep in Newcastle late 1963 after Mike Jeffrey formerly signed the band to a management contract. The very first publicity pics.
The Animals
1964

Eric Burdon, John Steel, Alan Price, Chas Chandler and Hilton Valentine.

The first year of major success with a million selling transatlantic hit under their belt, The Animals was one of the most sought after bandson the planet.
The Animals
1965

Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler and Mick Gallagher.

When Alan Price left. Mickey Gallagher joined the band as the keyboard player.

Mickey is pictured here with Eric Burdon and Chas Chandler.
As Alan left the band 'Bring It On Home To Me' went to the number one slot in Scandinavia.
The line-up including Mickey Gallagher staged concerts in Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden throughout the spring of 1965. Mickey's and the band returned to England to perform several more shows leading up to Mickeys final performance along with Manfred Mann at the NME pop poll winners concert at the Empire Pool, Wembley.
The Animals
1965- 1966

Chas Chandler, John Steel, Dave Rowberry, Hilton Valentine and Eric Burdon.

This is the line-up that recorded We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, Its My Life, Inside Looking Out etc.


The Animals
late 1966

Barry Jenkins, Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler, Dave Rowberry and Hilton Valentine.

The very brief last 60's line-up of The Animals. The band released two 7" records as this line-up. "Dont bring me down" and "See see Rider". Eric went on to form the New Animals along with Barry Jenkins.
The Animals
1970's

John Steel, Alan Price, Hilton Valentine, Eric Burdon and Chas Chandler.

The Animals recorded an album "Before we were so rudley interupted".
Emi re-released "House of the Rising Sun which charted in the UK for the second time.
The Animals
1980's

Alan Price, Chas Chandler, Eric Burdon, John Steel and Hilton Valentine.

The band re-formed again to record a new album for the Irs record label. Two albums was released. "Arc" and a live album "Rip to shreds".
The band embarked on a world tour in 1983. The line-up was the original band plus the following Musicians:
Steve Grant Guitars & Synthesizers, Zoot Money Keyboards
Steve Gregory Saxaphones and Nippy Nota Percussion.
"House of the rising sun" was re-released again and went to UK top 5.
Animals II
1992 - 1998

During this period Hilton and John had numerous personel changes until settling on the 1998 line up. Robert Kane (Vocalist) was the only member in this period who had been with Hilton since the bands re-formation. Robert now fronts British Blues outfit Dr Feelgood.
Peter Barton was also involved with the band from day one.
Chas Chandler was paramount in Hilton and John getting back together, and was also present on some of the early gigs.
The Animals
1994

Taken from the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame
Inductees:
Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler, Alan Price, John Steel and Hilton Valentine.

January 19, 1994
The Animals are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the ninth annual induction dinner. Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum is their presenter.
Chas Chandler RIP 1996
Born in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area, he began his career playing bass guitar in a trio with Alan Price. After vocalist Eric Burdon, invited Chas to join him and John Steel.

After the group split up, Chas Chandler reinvented himself, becoming manager of Jimi Hendrix and recruiting other musicians to form the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He also produced their first two albums.

Chandler then went on to manage and produce the popular English rock group Slade for twelve years.

During this time, Chandler bought and ran IBC Studios for four years and launched Barn Records.

He later helped develop Newcastle Arena, a ten-thousand seat sports and entertainment venue that opened in 1995.

Chas Chandler died of a heart condition in Newcastle in 1996.
The Animals
1998 - 2001

This Line-up featuring three of the original 1965 band went on to establish the foundation of what John Steel continues to this day. This line up also boasted Ex Saxon vocalist Tony Liddle and Ex original Argent and Kinks Bass player Jim Rodford
The Animals
2001

Eric Burdon, John Steel, Dave Rowberry and Hilton Valentine was Inducted on 11th May 2001.
Taken from the "Hollywood Rockwalk".

Dave Weiderman
Director
"The RockWalk is not about popularity. It's about influence; how many musicians you influenced, not how many records you sold."

Ray Scherr
Founder
"We've created a place that has become important to fans and performers alike. ...RockWalk belongs to everyone who loves music."

The band also performed two concerts in California celebrating Erics 60th Birthday.
Animals and friends
2001 - 2003.

Dave Rowberry, Peter Barton, John Steel, Jim Rodford and John Williamson.

Hilton Valentine relocated to America in 2001 where he still performs as an Acoustic folk artist.
Peter Barton, who had been involved with Hilton and John since the early nineties joins on rhythm guitar and vocals along with Original Titanic Guitarist John Williamson.
Dave Rowberry RIP 2003

Keyboardist Dave Rowberry of The Animals
Born: 4th July 1940 - Died 6th June 2003.
found dead at 62
Associated Press 07-Jun-03

LONDON -- Rock musician Dave Rowberry, keyboard player for the top 1960s band the Animals, was found dead Friday in his London apartment, a fellow band member said. He was 62.

Drummer John Steel said Rowberry, who suffered from heart problems, was found dead by the band's (Animals and Friends) bassist, Jim Rodford.

Rowberry joined the band in 1965, replacing original keyboardist Alan Price. The group continued shifting members and eventually split toward the end of the decade. The band members, however, got together sporadically and recently regrouped as Animals and Friends.

"We found Dave again three years ago and these last few years have been fun," Steel said. "He has been having a great time, but he wasn't in the best of health."

"He loved playing with a band. He loved the social life of being on the road, eating, drinking, having a good gig and meeting new people," Steel said. "It's great that he did it almost up to the last minute."

Music journalist Keith Altham said Rowberry "was always very bright, amiable and amusing. He was a great keyboard player."

"Dave's contribution to the band was that he gave it a slightly funkier, more blues feel than it had previously," Altham said.

"He will be very much missed by his fellow musicians and by his fans."

When Dave died we did not know if we should continue. The last Animals related album he performed on was "Instinct". He shone...
He never got the chance to hear it. We decided to finish the album and continue because that is what he would have wanted.
He performed concerts all over the world up to his death.

Rest in peace.
Animals and Friends 2004
Instinct

John Steel, Mick Gallagher, Peter Barton and John Williamson.

In april 2004 the band released their much awaited studio album. During the recording of the album sadly Dave Rowberry passed away but his performance on these recordings once again proove without any shadow of a doubt that Dave was one of the UK's premier keyboard players.

The album features an amazing array of performers including
Dave Rowberry, Jim Rodford, Noel Redding, Rick Wakeman, Don Airey, Clive Bunker, Eric Bell, Paul Jones, Aynsley Dunbar, Aziz Ibrahim, Gerry Conway, Jerry Donahue, Graham Oliver , Bev Bevan, Kelly Groucutt, Alan Silson, Mik Kaminski, Pete Spencer, Jaquie Mc Shee, Snake Davis plus many may more

Animals and Friends 2004
Live In Denmark
Part I


John Steel, Mick Gallagher, Peter Barton and John Williamson.

The band recorded a live CD in the prestigious Portalen complex in Copenhagen to a sell out audience.

The CD captures the live feel of the band performing all the classic hits that John Steel helped to create.


Animals and Friends 2004
Live In Denmark
Part II


John Steel, Mick Gallagher, Peter Barton and John Williamson.

The 2nd album from the Copenhagen sessions features previously unreleased tracks.
Animals and friends
2004

John Steel, Peter Barton, Mickey Gallagher and John Williamson.
Animals and friends
2005

Mick Gallagher, Peter Barton, John Steel and John Williamson.

Classic live DVD realeased in Denmark.
Animals and friends
with Christian Madden

Christian Madden, Peter Barton, John Steel and John Williamson.
Sometimes when Mickey Gallagher is out with the Blockheads we have the pleasure of performing with Denny Laine's old keyboard player Christian Madden. Christian is currently one of the key members of The Earlies, one of the brightest new bands of this decade.
Animals and friends
with Zoot Money.

Pete Barton, John Williamson, John Steel and Zoot Money.
On occassions when Mickey Gallagher is out with The Blockheads another Animals veteran from the sixties, 70's and 80's joins the band. The legendary Zoot Money.
Animals and friends
with Spencer Davis

John Steel, Peter Barton, Mickey Gallagher,John Williamson and Spencer Davis.

2007 sees Spencer Davis Joing the ranks for a major British and European Tour
Animals and friends
with Steve Cropper

In 2008 the band will be teaming up with Original Booker T and The MG's Legend. Steve Cropper to perform classic Stax along with the classic Animals repotoire.
Animals and friends
with Billy Boy Arnold

Without doubt one of the all time Chicago blues legends.
Tour scheduled for February 2009.
Animals and Friends with very special guest Billy Boy Arnold.
Dates to follow.