Remember When Eric Burdon Fashioned a Funky Follow-up to The Animals With an Eclectic Band in 1970?
The article looks back at how Eric Burdon, formerly the frontman of British rock band The Animals, took an unexpected creative turn in 1970 by joining the American funk-rock band War. This pairing was notable because it broke from Burdon's blues-rock roots and produced a widely acclaimed album, marking a striking departure from the more predictable career paths most musicians follow.
Burdon had first found fame with The Animals through their 1964 hit "House of the Rising Sun", later leading a psychedelic-era version of the group before it disbanded in 1969. He soon connected with a San Francisco band, introduced by his manager Jerry Goldstein, that would become War, known for blending blues, Latin and funk influences. Their debut record, Eric Burdon Declares War, featured extended improvised jams and produced the surprise hit single "Spill the Wine". A follow-up album, The Black Man's Burdon, failed to match its success, and health issues ended Burdon's tenure with War, who went on to enjoy further chart success independently.
- Eric Burdon left The Animals to front funk band War in 1970.
- Their album spawned the hit single "Spill the Wine".
- Health problems ended Burdon's time with War soon after.
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Eric Burdon was the frontman of The Animals, a British band famous for hits like "House of the Rising Sun" in the 1960s. By the end of that decade, the group had gone through several line-up changes and eventually split, leaving Burdon looking for a new musical direction rather than following a conventional solo career.
In 1970, Burdon teamed up with a San Francisco band that would go on to become known as War, a group blending blues, Latin and funk styles. Their manager, Jerry Goldstein, was instrumental in bringing the pairing together. This move marked a sharp break from Burdon's blues-rock background and led to a well-received album and hit single.
The collaboration was short-lived, with a second album failing to repeat the earlier success and Burdon's ill health bringing his time with the band to an end. War continued afterwards and achieved further chart success on their own, making this brief partnership a notable but often overlooked chapter in both acts' histories.