The Animals were a British band of the 1960s, formed in
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, during the early part of the decade. The band moved to London upon finding fame in 1964. The Animals were known for their gritty,
bluesy sound and deep-voiced frontman
Eric Burdon, as exemplified by their
signature song and transatlantic No.1 hit single, "
The House of the Rising Sun", as well as by hits such as "
We Gotta Get out of This Place", "
It's My Life", "
I'm Crying" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". The band balanced tough, rock-edged pop singles against
rhythm and blues-oriented album material. They were known in the US as part of the
British Invasion.