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 - ...)
Living in Fear
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the crime rate is rising
There's people out there frightened for their lives
And out on the streets
Where the blood runs like water
And decent people lock their doors and hide
They're living in fear
The streets are paved with crime and corruption
There's innocent people
Living in fear ..
Where is the justice?
In this cold end concrete jungle
Where violence end trouble still prevail
And tell me what can we do?
Will we live with this cancer
Or will we find an answer to the plague
For heaven's sake
There's people out there!
Living in fear
Fighting for survival
Knowing that their rival is out there somewhere
We're living in fear
Fig thing for survival
Those streets are paved
With crime end corruption
There's innocent people
Living in fear ...
Eric Burdon’s song Living in Fear is a poignant and emotionally charged song that highlights the impact of crime and violence on the lives of ordinary people living in communities where crime rates are high. In the opening lines of the song, Burdon highlights the rising crime rate and the fear that people are experiencing on the streets. The image of people being frightened for their lives on the streets creates a sense of urgency and desperation that runs throughout the song.
Burdon highlights the contrast between the ordinary and decent people who are forced to lock their doors and hide to stay safe and the criminals who roam the streets freely causing harm and destruction. He raises questions about justice and the lack of protection for innocent people who are living in a concrete jungle filled with violence and trouble. The lyrics highlight the frustration and helplessness felt by people who are powerless to change their situation and are left to fight for survival in a harsh environment.
In the chorus, Burdon sings about the innocent people who are living in fear, fighting for survival, and trying to avoid the pervasive crime and corruption that is rampant on the streets. The lyrics create a powerful sense of empathy and understanding for the plight of the people living in these dangerous communities. Overall, Living in Fear is an insightful and thought-provoking song that raises important issues about the impact of crime and violence on the lives of ordinary people.
Line by Line Meaning
Out in the streets
The setting is outdoors
Where the crime rate is rising
The level of criminal activity is increasing
There's people out there frightened for their lives
Individuals are scared for their safety
And out on the streets
Continuation of the outdoor environment
Where the blood runs like water
Violence is frequent
And decent people lock their doors and hide
Law-abiding citizens must protect themselves by securing their homes
They're living in fear
The population is experiencing terror
Fighting for survival
Struggling to keep oneself alive
The streets are paved with crime and corruption
The public areas are inundated with illegal activity and immorality
There's innocent people
The individuals impacted are not culpable
Where is the justice?
The lack of fairness is questioned
In this cold end concrete jungle
The city is characterized as unrelenting
Where violence end trouble still prevail
Conflict and chaos persist
And tell me what can we do?
A plea for solutions
Will we live with this cancer
Can we tolerate this pervasive problem?
Or will we find an answer to the plague
Can we alleviate this epidemic?
For heaven's sake
An emotional appeal
There's people out there!
Re-emphasis of the affected population
Knowing that their rival is out there somewhere
Awareness of a potential antagonist
Fig thing for survival
Continuation of struggle for existence
Those streets are paved
Re-iteration of roadway conditions
With crime end corruption
Re-iteration of illegal and unethical behavior
There's innocent people
Re-iteration of the victims' innocence
Living in fear ...
Final thought repeating the opening sentiment
Contributed by Carter E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.