Burdon left also this band and run back to stardome in the mid-70s with The Eric Burdon Band producing heavy rocking songs. He went on forming short-living groups such as Eric Burdon's Fire Dept. in 1980, another Eric Burdon Band in 1981, especially for a motion picture-starring role in Comeback for which he made the soundtrack and a reunion band with The Animals in 1983 to get back to the Mainstream Charts. The 1980s saw Burdon in genres such as heavy metal, new wave, pop, reggae, disco, blues, rock and roll, punk, funk and rap. He also published his album "I Used To Be An Animal" as well as his autobiography with the same title. He went on touring in stadiums as well as in small clubs around the world.
In 1990 he formed the Eric Burdon & Robby Krieger Band who toured mainly in America. They recorded some demo tapes, but never released them. In 1991 he toured the world again as Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band. They released a double-live album, "Access All Areas" in 1993, showing versions of Burdon's old hits in new musical outfits, once again as a blues, metal, reggae and fusion performer.
In 1994 they got disbanded, Burdon got introduced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he performed 1995 with Bon Jovi and created a new group of high-professional musicians, Eric Burdon's i Band. They disbanded in 1998 and he formed Eric Burdon & The New Animals. In 2003 they changed their name in Eric Burdon & The Animals, after some band changes. In 2004 the long awaited studio-album "My Secret Life" was released and brought him back into the mainstream charts and in late 2005 the live album "Athens Traffic Live" was released.
Burdon formed a new band-line-up, also touring as Eric Burdon & The Animals. In January 2006 he released "Soul of a Man", with good critics worldwide. He wanted to create an album who is dedicated to the blues and rnb. Since then he toured the world without a break, always looking for new material, performing with other famous musicians.
Recently, Burdon wrote a screenplay called "Twisted Oliver" and is working on a new studio album. He turned down tours with War and Linkin Park in the last year, but it seems that the new year is bringing many surprises.
Many of his bands also used elements of speed metal, thrash metal, grindcore and death metal.
He's definitely one of the most important people in music history, while recording the first #1 hit with a length more than four minutes, "House of the Rising Sun", the most popular anti-vietnam song "We Gotta Get out of this Place", the first song recorded in stereo, "Sky Pilot" and the first latin rap in pop music, "Spill the Wine". His self-written rock song "Year of the Guru" (1968) proves that he created the first rap rock-song. His political environment can be seen in his multi-racial project with the band War from late 1969 to early 1971. In 2008 he reunited with the band at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Without his experimental vocals, hip hop, rap, heavy metal, rock, pop and rnb would have a completely different face.
His singing style and music also influenced artists such as Joe Cocker, The Doors, Deep Purple, The Brute Chorus, Ted Nugent, Janis Joplin, The Sonics, Steppenwolf, Chester Bennington, Bruce Springsteen, The Black Crowes, Tom Petty, The White Stripes, Ryan Adams, John Mellencamp, The Compulsive Gamblers, The Vines, Julian Thome, The Hives, MC5 and many more.
In November 2008 the magazine Rolling Stone ranked him #57 on their list of the Best Singers of all Times.
Formations:
The Animals & Sonny Boy Williamson (December 30, 1963)
The Animals (1964 - September 1966, 1976, 1983/84)
Eric Burdon & The Animals (1967 - 1968)
Eric Burdon & War (1969 - 1971)
Eric Burdon & Jimmy Witherspoon (1971)
The Eric Burdon Band (1973 - 1975)
Eric Burdon's Fire Department (1980)
Eric Burdon, Robbie Krieger & Friends (1990)
Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band (1991 - 1993)
Eric Burdon's I Band (1995 - 1998)
Eric Burdon & The New Animals (1999 - 2002)
Eric Burdon (1976 - ...)
American Dreams
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody knows my name
I'm a flying leather neck
I even got my own plane
The wild girls they hand you
Passions on a plate
We blew minds in the Carolinas
Now I'm ready for the Tennessee state
We're out on the road who live in motels
We all live a different kind of life
We out on the highway for a living
We may never ever see the light
Way down in Memphis
There's a king upon a golden throne
But when darkness fell across the tracks
I made my soulpatrol
I fell in love with a cute little fan
Emeretta was just sixteen
A guiding light, shining bright
Within this American dream
We out on the road who live in motels ..
Shining bright in my American dream
Shining bright in my American dream
Shining bright in this American dream
Gotta follow this American dream
Could have stayed here forever
Never ever wanted to leave
But we made a vow to stick together
And follow this American dream
We out on the road who live in motels ..
The song 'American Dreams' by Eric Burdon is a reflection on the life on the road of a rock star, and the hope and promise of the American dream. In the beginning of the song, the singer is a successful and famous music artist who enjoys the attention of his fans and the freedom of traveling in his own plane. He also describes his wild lifestyle, including the easy access to passion provided by the 'wild girls' he meets on the road. However, the chorus reveals that these 'American dreams' are not always what they seem, and the road can be a hard and lonely place to live. Despite this, the singer remains driven by his love of music and the promise of the American dream, even falling for a young fan he meets on one of his tours.
The lyrics of 'American Dreams' are a commentary on the contradictory nature of the American dream, which is both a symbol of hope and opportunity, as well as an impossible ideal that can lead to disillusionment and despair. The singer's journey is one that many musicians and artists experience, as they travel the country and perform for audiences of varying sizes and reactions. The song contrasts the glamour and excitement of this lifestyle with the difficulties of living on the road, away from loved ones and in constant danger of falling into temptations that can derail a career. The singer ultimately finds solace in his music and his American dream, which fuels his desire to continue his journey and follow his passion.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, it's me on the radio
Introducing himself as a famous personality on the radio
Everybody knows my name
He's a well-known personality and has a lot of fans
I'm a flying leather neck
Referring to himself as a marine who got respect
I even got my own plane
Achieved great success in his career and have enough fortune to buy his plane
The wild girls they hand you
Famous people get a lot of attention from women
Passions on a plate
The women around him are always ready to fulfill his desires
We blew minds in the Carolinas
Had a great performance in Carolina states; received a lot of appreciation
Now I'm ready for the Tennessee state
Looking forward to performing in Tennessee and gain more popularity
We're out on the road who live in motels
Talking about music tours and how they have to live in motels during their tours
We all live a different kind of life
Although they all are part of the music industry, living in motels gave them a different lifestyle
We out on the highway for a living
They earn their living by performing on the highway
We may never ever see the light
Uncertain and risky future; future earnings are not guaranteed
Way down in Memphis
Talking about Memphis city in Tennessee states
There's a king upon a golden throne
Referring to Elvis Presley, who was also known as the king of Rock and Roll
But when darkness fell across the tracks
When the music scene of Elvis Presley was affected by his untimely death
I made my soulpatrol
Eric formed his band named soulpatrol
I fell in love with a cute little fan
Eric fell in love with one of his admirers who was much younger than him
Emeretta was just sixteen
Her name was Emeretta, and she was just sixteen years old
A guiding light, shining bright
She was an inspiration to him, and her presence made his life brighter
Within this American dream
Everything he was experiencing was part of his American dream
Shining bright in my American dream
He's realizing his dream and enjoying the limelight
Gotta follow this American dream
Determined to follow his dream until he achieves all of it
Could have stayed here forever
He could have been happy staying in Memphis with his love
Never ever wanted to leave
Eric was happy and contended with his life back then
But we made a vow to stick together
But he and his bandmates promised that they will never leave each other's side and make their way to the top together
And follow this American dream
Together, they'll achieve what they set out to achieve.
We out on the road who live in motels ..
Repeating that they're on the road and making music while living in motels.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC VICTOR BURDON, STEPHEN GRANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind