Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood: A Memoir

Anyone raised in 60's paranoia, could appreciate this soulful imperative about misunderstanding. Who better than the voice of Eric Burdon has the credentials to raise the specter to that social phenomenon? Of course, his friend and colleague, Bob Dylan, had a lot to say about that creepy sense of ignorance and insecurity in "Ballad of a Thin Man." Taken in a similar context, Cream's "We're Going Wrong," or Peter Fonda's last words to Billy, "We Blew it!" before they are murdered at the end of "Easy Rider," accentuate a deeper and more depressing picture to an era. I grew up listening to the Animals, and became attuned at an early age to the unique sound of Eric Burdon's vocalizing. "House of the Rising Sun," "It's My Life," "We Gotta Get Outta This Place," impressed me as it did everyone else I knew at the time who loved their music. Each of these songs evoked a tale of some kind, and it was through repeated listening to the "Story of Bo Diddly," that I found myself really appreciating the voice of Eric Burdon as a story teller. This was followed by "Don't Bring me Down," "When I was Young," and a little later, "Spill the Wine." All of these songs entered my psyche as memorable and significant artistic masterpieces, and soon formed the proverbial soundtrack to my life. When I saw on the cover, Brian Jones describing him as "the best blues singer to come out of England," I was reasonably certain the book had to be good. I wasn't disappointed. The book is entertaining and easy to read. It's filled with really cool and illustrative pictures that cover Eric's life and career. There are quite haunting parts to the book as well, that stayed with me long after I'd finished it. The part about Monika, "the stalker," who may have been responsible for drugging Jimi Hendrix to death in an obsessed, psychopathic and jealous rage, is one of them. Another is his pool side LSD hallucinations of the "giant, purple cockroaches." Then there are descriptions of the desert skyline, riding the dunes on a Harley, in the company of Steve McQueen. To avoid any misunderstanding, if possible, I think the book deserves to be read in the tradition of the poetic bards of old. It helps to listen receptively for what Eric has to say, given his unique point of view. Listen to what his tale conveys, with the sensibility of "Watch the Heroes as they Die," or the "Winds of Change." It'll either be worth your time and effort, or you may decide, in the alleged words of Bo Diddly after hearing the Animals for the first time playing his "material," "That sure is the biggest load of rubbish I ever heard in my life."

This remarkable memoir transcends the usual boundaries of the music autobiography and approaches literature. Eric Burdon has lived a wonderful life by any standard but this book also reveals that Burdon is a shrewd observer of the musical and cultural scene. What will remain in my mind are the many character sketches of notable and iconic personages of the last few decades: Steve McQueen, Ed Sullivan, Jimi Hendrix, and above all, the "Lizard King" himself, Jim Morison. One suspects that many fans of the Doors will see their hero in a new light. Burdon's description of the filming of Oliver Stone's movie The Doors is worth the purchase price in and of itself. Any devotee of the original British Invasion bands will find a wonderful series of anecdotes about the Beatles, the Stones, and the Animals. I bought this book because I am a fan of the Animals; I loved the book because it contains so much more than the mere story of a band (or bands). I supect that many readers, like me, will also be fascinated by Burdon's wry observations on the social and political scene along the way. Eric Burdon's narrative flows along propelled by the author's humor and humanity. Ultimately, the man himself emerges as one of the most interesting personalities of the Sixties. I loved this book!

I thought this was a great book. I didn't know much about him or the bands he was in aside from the few songs I knew & loved. My boyfriend is actually really into him & the Animals. I talked him into buying the book & ended up reading it myself. I never wanted to put it down & read it in 4 days.Not only was it really informative, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention for long periods of time. I'm surprised at how much stuff he remembers with such great detail. From the start of the Animals, to his different bands, his fame, the drugs, anyone who has influenced him, & how he continually got screwed over by the music industry. It was great to read the things about him & other famous singers at the time that we never knew. Personal insights about who they were, how they acted, & why they acted that way. He nevers holds back & gives you the full details.I definately suggest it to people even remotely interested. It gave me a great understanding & turned me into a bit of a bigger fan.

Absolute must-have for any Eric Burdon fan. He is a wonderful story teller and keeps you amused and interested all the way through. He's and gives a lot of personal info. as well as sharing some great anecdotes about life on the road etc. After reading his book and learning about all he's been through,(and that's only what he's shared with us) and after seeing him play some 40 years after his start - you can only admire the man !!

Anti-Establishment is a gross misrepresentation of Mr. Burden. Anti-gravity is far more accurate. God forbid this fella ever has an LSD flashback; he'd boomerang so far back he'd be skipping rope with his own DNA chain. Eric took drugs like the rest of us brush our teeth, daily at least once and some times more. The book is a terrific read.Great view from the inside from one of the front stage guys of the times. I picked up this book on Saturday, and put it down finished Sunday! Very, very entertaining. If you want to get away from the real world, without the use of intoxicants, grab on to Eric's shirt tail, its a real trip.