Animals II

Many observers tend to regard the Animals II as little more than a profit-seeking venture by veterans from the original Animals, yet their documented recordings together with consistent touring success reveal a more substantial undertaking. Guitarist Hilton Valentine assembled the ensemble in spring 1993 expressly to present songs by his earlier group the Animals. The following year, original drummer John Steel joined the roster, allowing the band to build an audience across England, America, western and northern Europe, and the recently liberated nations once belonging to the Soviet bloc. Between the mid- and late 1990s the lineup comprised Valentine and Steel with Robert Kane on lead vocals, Steve Dawson on guitar, Steve Hutchinson on keyboards, and Martin Bland on bass. In August 1999 keyboardist Dave Rowberry, whose contributions appeared on several hits spanning May 1965 through the close of 1966, entered the group together with bassist Jim Rodford, previously active with Argent and the Kinks and a participant with Rowberry in the pre-Animals ensemble the Mike Cotton Sound, while Tony Liddle assumed vocal duties. Although the Animals II were formed chiefly to deliver Animals compositions, which continue to dominate their sets, the musicians have at times introduced new pieces and issued an accomplished compact disc drawn from the strongest of their own material.