Legends will rock the Assembly

Animals and Friends will feature original members of the 1960s chart-topping psychedelic British rock band the Animals including drummer John Steel.

They will be joined at the Assembly in Spencer Street, Leamington, on Friday September 9, by special guest and legendary American ryhtm guitarist Steve Cropper.

Hailing from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, The Animals were part of the invasion of British rock bands who stormed the Us rock charts in the 60s - second only to the Beatles in having a number one hit on that side of the Atlantic with the anthem House of the Rising Sun.

The band achieved more than 20 top ten hit records worldwide with hits such as We Gotta Get Out of This Place, It’s My Life and Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood and were the first band from these shores to tour Poland and Japan.

Recently the band as it lines up today has headlined the Stroud Blues Festival, The Rebellion Punk Festival and the Midlands Rock Festival and still perform regularly all over the world.

Steve Cropper is a founder member of Booker T and the MG’s and the song writing partner of the late Otis Redding.

Involved in virtually every record produced by the Stax record label from 1961 to 1970, Cropper has co-writing credits for the hits (Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay, Knock on Wood and In the Midnight Hour.

In 1977 Cropper received a call from John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, which resulted in the formation of The Blues Brothers.

The band, who recorded three albums and made a hit comedy film which is now has a cult following.

Coppers contribution to music led to him being named Mojo magazine’s number two guitarist of all time after Jimi Hendrix and in 2003 he was also named in Rolling Stone magazine’s top 100 guitar players of all time.

The gig starts at 6pm and tickets cost £20 plus a booking fee.

Call 311311 or visit www.leamingtonassembly.com