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Oh no, not again such an antique Oldie again, who is trying hard to hold the line up - you might think now. Right and wrong. Right, - because yeah of course he's an oldie living the scene for the past 40 years and writing history. Wrong - because he doesn't need to hold the line up our little loveable man here, who has celebrated already his 60. birthday a while ago. He's still very much alive and colourful, still doing a great job, and yes he is a living legend. And this most of all because of one song. So what? - Of course - 'House Of The Rising Sun'. This piece of music has transfered him up on the Rock'n'Roll Olymp in 1967 with no return ticket. Since then, Eric Burdon has wandered throughout many stations in his troubled life, and not all of them were good. But as we say so, coming of age we all get wiser, better and more attractive. And that's what he is. Erics new studioalbum 'Soul Of A Man' has just been released, and - yeahs, it wants to be promoted. Eric Burdon still enjoys a pretty decent popularity here in Germany and he thanks us with another extendend tour with many stop overs.

Enough explaining for a better understanding. Now he's sitting here on a chair on stage in our Muffathalle-Venue with some notes in front of him, just in case of course. God damn, the boy is still excellent within his performance. His black voice has never suffered over the years as well as his aura. You don't mind the chair and you don't mind his notes, which he is hardly using anyway. Mr Burdon shoots off with his second classic tune 'Don't Let Me Be Understood'. And the almost sold out venue is celebrating the artist as if he has just risen like phoenix from the ashes. And yes, he has opened a new chapter with the just mentioned new CD, a completely new band, also named Animals, and this tour, which is already half way through. By the way, what's up to the group.

Having this musicians with him, Mr. Burdon truly got himself a few rare diamonds, exspecially what's up to the guitarist named Eric McFadden, who has shared the stage with George Clinton in the past and many more. What a hell of a guitarist, jesus wept!!! You should remember this name. He might be very famous one day beeing such a huge talent. Also there is keyboarder Red Young, drummer Wally Ingram, who's name sounds also familiar to us and bassist Paula O'Rourke. She's another focus on stage, because it is not too common having a woman in a group purely consisting of male musicians. It doesn't happen too often. She is very pretty as well. The harmony is great between these guys and little Eric is speeding around the stage like a crazy chicken. No matter about the new CD, played up and down within the setlist, but finally there it is: 'there is a house in New Orleans... etc. etc. And the fans from yesterday and today are jumping up into the air. Yes, that's it. Another highlight of the show is his version of 'I Put A Spell On You' (the orignal is from CCR) That's when he dances with a skull on a stick dressed with a jacket all over the place. Bloody hell, where does this guy take his energy from. I really wanna know. One pearl follows the other only interrupted by some brilliant guitar- and keyboard solos. That's what I call pure entertainment. The grand final is a jamsession including the supportact (don't ask me, who the hell that was) performing 'Ring Of Fire' written by June Carter-Cash. The show is finally finished after the third encore, but the audiance is still singing along for at least another five minutes, even the venue lights have been switched on already. That's what I call real enthusiasm. Well done Eric Burdon. He's still up to date now and here and today and hopefully tomorrow. Long live 'Hose Of The Rising Sun' and the never ending myth.

Yeah, okay, I must admit, he lives somehow a bit in the past, at least musically. Exactly it's the sixties, which show the focus of Albert Lee's musical background. But this is ain't no miracle, because the sixties have made him to what the Grammy artist is. Aged 63 and still noisy and faster than the speed of sound - yeah almost. But still faster than most of all the other guitarists on this planet.

The english man, who lives in the states since the seventies, and who's character and language is still sooo british, has a coloured life behind him. The Everly Brothers, Joe Cocker, Emmilou Harris and Eric Clapton are just some of the names he shared the studio and stage with. His guitar playing style is unique and individual. And yes, he still gets changed with Alvin Lee from Ten Years After. For a few years now, Albert is part of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings touring the big venues round the world. But he still has his own english group named 'Hogan's Heroes he goes on a club tour aprox. once a year coming also to munich to the smokey Rattlesnake Saloon one of our two country clubs in this town.
Country Rock is also the focus of Albert Lee's music, most of all the hymn 'I'm A Country Boy', which went into history of country music. 'Till the very day Albert Lee has kept his musical attitude, even he wouldn't wear a cowboy hat. Probably because he's still too english. On the other hand, his music doesn't only consist of country tunes because he's too much of a Rockn'Roller. His heroes are Buddy Holly, Anthony Perkins and Floyd Kramer, and he pays tribute to them.

Over all, the guys in Hogan's Heroes are all first class musicians, who play along in a 100% harmony. And despite their aging youth, they put out such an energy, so that some heavy metal bands would move down the drain immidiately compared with the heroes' performance. - No kiddin'-.
These are huge talents in an old style but with a modern touch, a bit country atmosphere and last but not least some nostalic moments. But the most important fact within this show is this love for details played with a lot of power and much fun. And the transport from stage onto the audiance is just perfect.

John Lennon once said, - music goes in circles. And Hogan's Heroes are the best prove for this statement. Oldies are Goldies with the experience of the past 30 years, but with the attitude of the present. And if these two aspects are combined with the music, then the circle is closed and Floyd Kramer Superstar sounds like a shooting star of today.
In the end, we can only say thank god, that we still got musicians like Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes, who hold up the connection between the past and the present and keep it alive.

Albert - the next grammy is waiting for you. - By the way, how many have you got yet?