The Animals were an English group of the 1960s, known in the United States as part of the British Invasion. Recognized for their spirited bluesy sound and deep-voiced lead singer, Eric Burdon, their signature songs "The House of the Rising Sun" and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," exemplify the band's tough, rock-edged, pop style. The Animals were second only to the Rolling Stones in influencing other R&B and rock bands.

Formed in 1962/1963 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the Animals underwent numerous personnel changes and had a couple of reunions before disbanding in 1984.

According to the website Making Time, that discusses British music of the '60s, they were dubbed "animals" because of their wild stage act and the name stuck. The Animals' had moderate success in their hometown and a connection with Yardbirds' manager Giorgio Gomelsky motivated them to move to London in 1964.

The Animals' charting success was masterminded by producer Mickie Most, and featured, on their singles, intense, adventurous, pop-music covers such as Sam Cooke's "Bring It on Home to Me," and the Nina Simone song "Don't Let Me Be isunderstood." In contrast, their album tracks stayed with rhythm and blues covers, such as Ray Charles' "I Believe to My Soul." Burdon's powerful, deep voice and use of keyboards were two elements that made The Animals' sound stand out from other groups.

During this time, Mickey Most was getting many of the the Animals' hit songs from Brill Building[a] songwriters. The group, and Burdon in particular, felt this was too restrictive and at the end of 1965 the group switched to Decca Records and producer Tom Wilson, who gave them more artistic freedom.

Early in 1966, MGM Records, the Animals' American label, collected their hits on The Best of The Animals and it became their best-selling album in the US. In 1966, "Don't Bring Me Down" was the last hit as the Animals. For the single "See See Rider" they changed the name into Eric Burdon & The Animals. In September that same year, they disbanded and Burdon recorded a solo album, called Eric Is Here.

In 2008, an adjudicator in England determined that the Animals' original drummer, John Steel, owned "The Animals" name, by virtue of a trademark registration Steel had made. Eric Burdon argued that he, personally embodied any goodwill associated with the Animals' name. Burdon's argument was rejected, in part based on the fact that he had billed himself as "Eric Burdon & the Animals" as early as 1967, thus separating the goodwill associated with his own name from that of the band.

The original Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. In 2003, their version of "House of the Rising Sun" was ranked #122 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and "We Gotta Get out of This Place" was ranked #233. Both songs are included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

________________________ [a]The Brill Building, built 1931, was located in New York City, just north of Times Square. The Brill Brothers, who owned the building, rented office space to people in the music business. At one location, a musician could find songwriters, music publishers, cut a demo, promote a record, and make a deal with radio promoters. The creative output of the independent music companies of the Brill Building came to define the influential sound and the style of popular music during the 1950s and '60s.