John Steel

Just one interview from 16th December, which is John Steel of The Animals.

John Steel was the original drummer of the band, the Animals.  He met the future lead singer of the Animals, Eric Burdon, while they were studying together at the Newcastle College of Art and Industrial Design. They switched from jazz to embrace the new rock ‘n’ roll explosion.  In March 1959, he met Alan Price at a church hop in Byker, Newcastle, and with Hilton Valentine (guitar) and Chas Chandler (bass) formed a band; by 1960 the Alan Price Combo had acquired a reputation in Newcastle. Burdon joined in 1962 from a band called the Pagans, and the Animals were born.  He went on to play and record with them until March 1966. His last charted single with the group was “Inside Looking Out”.

John Steel of The Animals