Animals and Friends
Animals and Friends
Biography
The concept of Animals and Friends began in the spring of 2000. Hilton Valentine had re-located to America but demand was high for the Animals. Peter Barton former Mindbender had been gigging in a band alongside John Williamson, former guitarist from Titanic. A suggestion was made to team the two units together. Pete had been involved with the Animals now for almost a decade on the management front. Due to the pedigree of the current band members the band was re-named Animals and friends. Jim Rodford was a well-known face from the Kinks and Argent. Johnnie guitar Williamson, again from his time with Titanic and Skeleton Crew had become a familiar face on the Blues and Rock circuit. Pete Barton had also served his apprenticeship alongside Wayne Fontana in The Mindbenders and with Trevor Burton from The Move. The final ingredient's to this rock & roll cocktail was of course original Animal members, Dave Rowberry and John Steel.
Animals and Friends were born.
The band toured extensively and in the winter of 2001 went into Lisa Stansfields studio to record the debut Animals and friends Album Instinct. Friends had been called and recordings started.
In June 2003 the band had a major shock, Dave Rowberry suddenly died at the age of 63. The band knew they had to finish the new album but was not sure if they would continue as a touring unit. Coincidental the day Dave died, Peter Barton was contacted by a venue in Harlow, who mentioned that an ex member of the Animals lived in the area. Being a curious chap, Peter took the relevant contact details and made the call. The chap was Mickey Gallagher who had joined the Animals in 1965 when Alan Price left.
Mickey immediately took the offer on board and re-joined John Steel after almost forty years.
(In the interim period Mickey had formed The Blockheads with Ian Dury, toured and recorded London calling with The Clash and worked alongside Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams to say the least). The circle was complete again. But the band would not have existed if not for Dave Rowberry.
Jim Rodford had one year earlier been asked to team up with his old mate's Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone to perform a select number of dates. Jim obviously accepted due to his history with Rod in Argent.
In the summer of 2004 it was decision time again. Argent dates and Animal dates had started to clash so Jim reluctantly left the band. Jim was a major force in the band and it was sad to see him go. He still appears on occasion as a special guest.
The bands strength has grown over the last few years. Countless major British tours under the belt. A major new album in the shops. A fantastic fan base, which is growing daily. The band will continue to perform as long as we have the audience that keeps coming out to see us.
Line-ups change, sadly two of the original sixties members are no longer with us. Their music continues, as does their legacy. As long as we play the songs that people love we will continue. We will make more albums and continue this fantastic tradition. Eric Burdon, Alan Price and Hilton Valentine are still out there doing it. Lets hope we all can continue for years to come.
Dave Rowberry and Chas Chandler RIP.
TOUR DATES
March 2010
Friday 12th 100 Club London
Saturday 13th Teatro Municipal .Aviles. Spain
Wednesday 17th Unavailable
Saturday 20th The Citadel Arts Centre. St Helens
Friday 26th Festival of The 60's Bognor Regis
Saturday 27th Unavailable
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544 - 07712628366
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April 2010
Friday 2nd The Sands. Gainsborough Featuring Chris Madden
Saturday 3rd Nantwich Civic Hall With The Move feat Trevor Burton and Bev Bevan
Friday 9th Kidlington Footall Club. Near Oxford with Zoot Money k.r.t.s.c Yarnton Road kidlington, Oxford OX51 Tel 01865 841526
Saturday 10th The Tivoli, Buckley. Flint. with special guest Zoot Money
Saturday 17th Ger Oerlinghausen, Festzelt "Rock gegen Krebs". Tickethotline: Konticket 0049 (0)521 66100
Sunday 18th Quasimodo, Pirmasens, Germany
Monday 19th Germany
Tuesday 20th Germany
Wednesday 21st Emmendingen, Germany
Thursday 22nd Germany
Friday 23rd D-Pforzheim Germany
Saturday 24th Nancy, Germany
Tuesday 27th Unavailable
Friday 30th Unavailable
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544 - 07712628366
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May 2010
Saturday 1st Unavailable
Sunday 2nd Unavailable
Wednesday 5th Graz Austria with Special Guests Nazareth
Friday 7th Guterbahnhof, Neubrandenburg Germany
Saturday 8th Blutenfest Rogatz, Germany
Tuesday 11th Unavailable
Wednesday 12th Unavailable
Thursday 13th Unavailable
Friday 14th Unavailable
Saturday 15th Unavailable
Sunday 16th Kulturlustgarten, Berlin Germany.
Friday 28th Weizwasser, Germany
Saturday 29th Schwarzenberg Radio RSA Germany
Monday 31st Nottingham With very special guest Spencer Davis
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544 - 07712628366
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June 2010
Thursday 3rd Charlotte Street Blues Bar. London
Friday 4th The Arena. St Albans With The Move feat Trevor Burton and Bev Bevan
Saturday 5th The Electric Palace.Bridport.
Sunday 6th Portugal Tbc
Friday 11th Unavailable
Saturday 12th Unavailable
Saturday 19th Wyeside Music Festival Hereford. 2pm on stage With Spencer Davis tbc
Saturday 19th Party on the Pitch, Tycroes, Ammanford.Wales With Spencer Davis
Sunday 20th Unavailable
Wednesday 23rd Bahrain
Thursday 24th Bahrain
Friday 25th Bahrain
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544 - 07712628366
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July 2010
Friday 2nd Herisau Festival. Switzerland
Saturday 3rd Exeter Corn Exchange With very special guest Spencer Davis
Tuesday 13th Tbc Germany Sabine With very special guest Spencer Davis
Friday 16th The Tunnels Bristol. With very special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 17th The Brewood Festival, Birmingham. With very special guest Spencer Davis
Friday 23rd Tempelhof, Berlin With special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 24th Eberswalde, Freilichtbuhne, Germany. With special guest Spencer Davis
Thursday 29th Austria Tbc
Friday 30th Thelmas lounge Jersey With special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 31st Thelmas lounge Jersey With special guest Spencer Davis
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544 - 07712628366
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August 2010
Sunday 1st Unavailable
Tuesday 3rd Geneva, Switzerland With special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 7th Unavailable
Saturday 14th Unavailable
Friday Germany tbc
Saturday 21st Friezeitzentrum Gleisdrejeck, Ger altershausen. Germany with Uriah Heap
Sunday 22nd Vostertfeesten, Bree, Belgium.
Friday 27th Unavailable
Saturday 28th Unavailable
Sunday 29th Upton Festival Hereford, With special guest Spencer Davis, Eric Haydock ex Hollies, Mick Avory from The Kinks and The Countefeight Stones.
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544 - 07712628366
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September 2010
Friday 3rd Unavailable tbc
Thursday 9th The Lights Andover
Saturday 11th Unavailable
Saturday 18th Carnglaze Cavern, St Neots With The Troggs
Tuesday 21st Festival of the 60,s Minehead.
Sunday 26th Whitby 60's Festival
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544 - 07712628366
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October 2010
Friday 1st Germany
Saturday 2nd Germany
Sunday 3rd Germany
Monday 4th Germany
Tuesday 5th Germany
Wednesday 6th Germany
Thursday 7th Germany
Friday 8th Germany
Saturday 9th Germany
Sunday 10th Germany
Friday 15th Lemon Tree, Aberdeen. With special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 16th Dexters, Dundee.With special guest Spencer Davis
Wednesday 20th October Butlins Skegness Festival of the 60's
Thursday 28th Finland Tbc Sabine
Friday 29th Finland Tbc Sabine
Saturday 30th Finland Tbc Sabine
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544 - 07712628366
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November 2010
Sunday 7th Festival of the 60,s Bognor Regis
Friday 12th The Cinnamon Club, Altrincham, Cheshire.With special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 13th Unavailable
Friday 19th Martletts Hall, Burgess Hill With The Move feat Trevor Burton and Bev Bevan
Saturday 20th Wolverhampton Civic Hall.With The Move feat Trevor Burton and BevBevan to be confirmed
Wednesday 24th Unavailable
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.comor call 01200 444544- 07712628366
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December 2010
Friday 3rd Kiel, Sparkassen Arena, Germany With very special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 4th Bremen, Messehalle 7, Germany. With very special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 11th Harleyford Golf Club near Marlow
Saturday 18th Christchurch Regent Theatre With very special guest Spencer Davis
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544- 07712628366
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January 2011
Friday 21st Unavailable
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544- 07712628366
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February 2011
Saturday 5th Pete Barton and Jerry Donahue Band Herlev Hallen.Copenhagen
Friday 25th Severn Theatre, Shrewsbury. With special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 26th The Monarch Suite, Hilton Hotel. Birmingham. With special guest Spencer Davis To be confirmed
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544- 07712628366
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March 2011
Saturday 26th Tivoli Theatre,Wimborne. With special guest Spencer Davis
If you want to book the band or need any more details please email Peter at theanimalz@aol.com or call 01200 444544- 07712628366
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