This story is told by Burdon’s friend of 60 years, Philip Payne. Starting in war-torn Newcastle and followed by college in the 50s and 60s – peppered with local colour from Newcastle Cinemas and the Club a go-go. This leads to Payne’s more recent visits to Burdon and the antics of two Geordies in their 70s learning to cope with modern American life.

This is a full colour, 52 page book with over 40 images of mid-20th century Newcastle, early Eric Burdon and the Animals, and contemporary images of Eric Burdon in his Californian retreat (supplied by his wife and manager Marianna). The whole story is set against a background of what it means to be a Geordie.

Eric Burdon’s five decades in the music business are well documented - his extraordinary singing with The Animals whose music influenced so many, his experimental work with ‘Eric Burdon & War’ and his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The story is told here from another angle, by Burdon’s friend of 60 years. How their formative years were misspent in Newcastle. Student stories of Rag Week mayhem, drunken brawls and violent forays into the Northumberland countryside. These tales of Newcastle from the Second World War to the Swinging Sixties are combined with the true story of the formation of The Animals by a first-hand witness. How they met, how they got on and how they got their name.

Fast forward 30 years and we hear about Eric’s more recent adventures in California. Exploding watermelons, disappearing highway signs and the constant vigilance of ‘the missus’.

Introduction:
This is a slice of Eric Burdon’s life from my perspective, from when we were growing up, to how I know him now. The following is not meant to be a 'man behind the music' account or an attempt to chronicle the vast compendium of music, recordings and discography produced over the last fifty-plus years of his musical output and colourful career. It is a description of a friend from my youth, right up to today. He survived being born in a poor part of the UK during World War Two, endured post war deprivation, a poor education, bullying, an inherited health issue, short stature (which was made up for by huge endowment elsewhere) and stubborn acne. Despite all this he became ‘Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’ famous and rich, and yet at the end of every phone call, even today, never fails to say ‘give me luv t’ the missus.’