The Animals are an influential English rock band formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1962. Their classic lineup featured Eric Burdon as vocalist, Hilton Valentine on guitar, Chas Chandler on bass, Alan Price on keyboards, and John Steel on drums. Renowned for their raw, blues-driven sound, The Animals were key players in the British Invasion, breaking through internationally with the iconic hit The House of the Rising Sun. They followed up with other classics, including We Gotta Get Out of This Place, It's My Life, and Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. Although the group experienced frequent lineup changes and disbanded in the late 1960s, Eric Burdon continued performing under the name Eric Burdon and the Animals, embracing a psychedelic style with songs like San Franciscan Nights and Sky Pilot. The band reunited for brief periods, and original members have performed in various formations, including under the names Eric Burdon and the Animals and Animals and Friends. The Animals achieved ten top-20 singles in both the UK and US charts, and in 2017 their original lineup was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.