ABOUT THE CONVERSATION
John Steel was there at the very beginning of The Animals — before the name, before House of the Rising Sun and before the band left Newcastle for London and America. His route there began with jazz, a trumpet and an art-school friendship with Eric Burdon, before a teenage reshuffle of instruments left John behind the drums.
In this conversation, John talks about Newcastle’s early rhythm and blues scene, discovering American music and building the band that would become The Animals. He remembers recording House of the Rising Sun live in a single take, arriving in New York at the height of the British Invasion and watching John Coltrane at Birdland — while reflecting on why those songs still connect with audiences more than sixty years later.
“I think we were a very lucky generation… to be where we were when we were. Really in the right place at the right time.”
IN THIS CONVERSATION
01
FROM JAZZ TO THE ANIMALS
Meeting Eric Burdon at art school, switching from trumpet to drums at fifteen and forming the musical friendships that eventually became The Animals.
02
DISCOVERING AMERICAN MUSIC
Elvis, Chuck Berry and Little Richard opened the door — before John and his friends worked backwards to Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.
03
NEWCASTLE’S RHYTHM & BLUES SCENE
Becoming the house band at the Club A Go-Go, backing visiting blues musicians and discovering that industrial cities across Britain were creating similar scenes.
04
ONE TAKE OF
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
Testing the song on tour, feeling the audience reaction and capturing the entire performance live in the studio in a single take.
05
ARRIVING IN AMERICA
A number-one record, mobs at the airport and an extraordinary arrival in Manhattan — followed by nights watching John Coltrane at Birdland after the shows.
06
SIXTY YEARS LATER
Why songs like It’s My Life and We Gotta Get Out of This Place still resonate — and why John still gets a buzz from playing them live.
