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
July 2010
Thursday 29th See Festival, Mondsee. Austria K.Featuring Zoot Money
Friday 30th Thelmas lounge Jersey Featuring Zoot Money with special guest Spencer Davis.
Saturday 31st Thelmas lounge Jersey Featuring Zoot Money With special guest SpencerDavis.
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 Fetes De Geneva, Switzerland With special guest Spencer Davis
Friday 6th Chambery, France With Zoot Money
Saturday 7th Pete Barton Charity event Skipton
Friday 13th Bilzen Jazz and Rock Festival, Belgium Featuring Danny Handley With special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 14th Unavailable
Friday 20th Gois Biker Festival, Portugal
Saturday 21st Friezeitzentrum Waltershausen. Germany with Uriah Heap
Sunday 22nd Vostertfeesten, Bree, Belgium.
Saturday 28th Unavailable
Sunday 29th Upton Festival Hereford, With special guest Spencer Davis, Eric Haydock ex Hollies, Mick Avory from The Kinks, Hermans Hermits 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
Thursday 9th The Lights Andover
Saturday 11th Unavailable
Thursday 16th The Globe, Cardiff
Friday 17th Theate Elli. Llanelli near Swansea
Saturday 18th Carnglaze Cavern, St Neots With The Troggs
Tuesday 21st Festival of the 60,s Minehead.
Friday 24th Hull City Hall With special guest Spencer Davis,
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 Roots Club, Muenchwilen.Switzerland
Saturday 2nd Obershan Switzerland
Sunday 3rd Germany
Monday 4th Germany
Tuesday 5th Germany
Wednesday 6th Germany
Thursday 7th Bautzen, Germany
Friday 8th Plauen, Germany
Saturday 9th Germany
Sunday 10th Linden Keller. Freising, near Muniuch. Germany
Thursday 14th Strathpeffer, Scotland. With special guest Spencer Davis.
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 21st Blackwood Miners' Institute, Blackwood. Gwent With special guest Spencer Davis.
Friday 22nd Russia Tbc
Saturday 23rd Russia Tbc
Sunday 24th Russia Tbc
Monday 25th Russia Tbc
Tuesday 26th. Russia Tbc
Thursday 28th Rowan Tbc
Friday 29th Steinegg Tbc
Saturday 30th Esloev. Finland
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
Friday 5th Hertford Corn Exchange With special guest Spencer Davis
Saturday 6th Hadsund Blues Festival With special guest Spencer Davis to be confirmed
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
Saturday 20th Wolverhampton Civic Hall. With The Move
Sunday 21st The Grand, Clitheroe With The Move Tbc
Wednesday 24th Unavailable
Thursday 25th Unavailable
Saturday 27th Mick Green Benefit Concert, 100 club, Oxford Street. London. With Wilko Johnson
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 Hildesheim, Sparkassen Arena, Germany Featuring Chris Madden With special guest Spencer Davis.
Saturday 4th Sparkassen Arena, Kiel,Germany.Featuring Chris Madden With special guest Spencer Davis.
Friday 10th Electric Palace, Bridport
Saturday 11th Harleyford Golf Club near Marlow
Saturday 18th Christchurch Regent Theatre. 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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January 2011
Animals and Friends will be unavailable until 8th February
John Steel will be away
Peter Barton will be touring with Boomtown Rats
Mickey Gallagher will be touring with The Blockheads
John Williamson will be touring with Mike Bowden
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 11th Musictheatre Rex, Lorsch. Germany
Saturday 12th Kubana, Sieburg. Germany
Sunday 13th Piano, Dortmund. Germany Tbc
Monday 14th Germany
Tuesday 15th Zur Linde. Affalter Zur.Germany Tbc
Wednesday 16th Downtown Blues Club, Hamburg.Germany
Thursday 17th Cafe Hahn, Koblenz.Germany
Friday 18th Cuxhaven,Germany Tbc
Saturday 19th Germany
Sunday 20th Germany
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 5th The Brindley Runcorn with special guests The Move
Sunday 6th Butlins Skegness (afternoon show)
Saturday 26th Tivoli Theatre,Wimborne. With special guest Spencer Davis
Sunday 27th Butlins Bognor
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 2011
Friday 1st Dudly Town Hall. With special guest Spencer Davis and The Troggs
Saturday 2nd The Assemblty rooms Tunbridge Wells, With special guest Spencer Davis and The Troggs
Sunday 3rd The Hawth, Crawley, With special guest Spencer Davis and The Troggs
Friday 8th Cambridge Corn Exchange, With special guest Spencer Davis, The Troggs and Chris Farlow
Friday 15th Dorking Halls, With special guest Spencer Davis and The Troggs
Sunday 24th The Assembley Rooms, Leamington Spa. With special guest Spencer Davisand The Troggs
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
Thursday 12th Poland
Friday 13th Poland
Saturday 14th Poland
Sunday 15th Poland
Monday 16th Poland
Tuesday 17th Poland
Wednesday 18th Poland
Thursday 19th Poland
Friday 20th Poland
Saturday 21st Poland
Sunday 22nd Poland
Friday 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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June
Friday 3rd White Rock Theatre, Hastings. With special guest Spencer Davis,The Troggsand Chris Farlow
Saturday 4th Assembley Rooms, Worthing. With special guest Spencer Davis,The Troggs and Chris Farlow
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
Friday 22nd Unavailable
Saturday 23rd 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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August
Saturday 13th 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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