Eric Burdon, the former singer for The Animals, has been embroiled in a legal dispute with former Animals drummer, John Steel, over who has the right to their trademark. In other words, Burdon wants to release albums and tour as “The Animals” without any other original members. It’s kind of like the current version of Lynyrd Skynyrd, except today’s Skynyrd has two original members, as far as I know.
Daily Mail reports, a UK trademark adjudicator has ended the 3-year battle, ruling in favor of drummer John Steel and even taking a couple shots at Burdon, saying,
“[He] seems to contend that he is, at least in his own mind, a rock and roll legend whose mere existence serves to keep the goodwill in the original band alive. He is, I am afraid, mistaken.”
Burdon’s lawyer argued that his voice and songwriting were at the heart of The Animals’ success and hilariously said, “no one remembers the drummer.” George Salthouse, the Intellectual Property adjudicator responded to both these claims:
“As to the former, this was not borne out by the evidence provided, and, with regard to the latter, I trust that she does not encounter Ringo.” Or David Buckner, I might add.
The Animals broke up in 1966, not long after their Dylan cover, “House Of The Rising Sun,” hit number one all over the world. Now if you want to hear that song live, you’ll have to decide between the voice or the beat.