The Animals at Swindon Arts Centre on Friday May 22 (From This Is Wiltshire)

The Animals at Swindon Arts Centre on Friday May 22

5:31pm Friday 15th May 2009

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John Steel, one of the original members of the 1960s rock band The Animals, is back on the road, having won the legal right to use the name for his current line-up.

After a three-year tug-of-war between John and singer Eric Burdon, a Government trademark adjudicator made a ruling in favour of John.

So, instead of The Animals And Friends, as they were calling themselves, The Animals will be heading for Swindon this week.

The band have been recently touring in the Ukraine and while they were there a young woman handed John a letter and tulip. Used to getting fan mail, he happily opened it up.

“Inside it said ‘John Lennon is not dead. He is living in Moscow. Don’t tell anyone except Paul and Ringo’,” said John, realising his fan had possibly read too many conspiracy books.

During the 1960s The Animals, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were all appearing at the same venues and on TV programmes such as Ready Steady Go so they got to know each other quite well.

“We would share dressing rooms and hang around the same late night clubs,” said John.

When the House Of The Rising Sun made it to number one The Beatles sent The Animals a telegram. “We were in America and they signed it The Beatles (a band),” said John.

The drummer has had some pretty kooky experiences on the road, including an infamous meeting with a gorilla.

“It wasn’t a myth, it did happen,” said John.

“We had that American-style of promotion where they would make you go to visit a zoo or something, but we said no.

“We were playing at the Paramount Theatre and it was our last number so I was banging away on the drums when I saw a black gorilla approaching.

“It grabbed me and carried me off stage with my little legs dangling. It was the promoter’s idea of a stunt.

“I guess it was funny . . . with hindsight.”

The Animals have a new album in the pipeline with the working title of Prehistoric.

“The idea came because it has been 50 years of playing in a band for me. It is a sort of soundtrack to my life,” he said.

They will be playing at the Swindon Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town, on Friday at 8pm. Tickets are £17.50 from 01793 614837. - Flicky Harrison

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