Everyone thinks they know about “The Sixties” and of course the further away we get, the muddier it all seems. English R'n'B - or, if you like, English interpretations of R'n'B - set the world alight and we've never been the same since. Pop became tougher, bands wrote their own songs; thousands of bands around the world formed as a result - and the follow-on effects are still felt today. 

Today, few of the musicians who helped detonate that ground-zero remain; even fewer remain playing live. Along with, say, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, one who regularly presents himself to crowds is John Steel, the original drummer for The Animals, who is bringing The Animals And Friends to Australia again. 

It takes a band of high quality to present these songs. The guitarist and lead singer is Danny Handley. He joined Robert Brokenmouth at the Bar.

_{On tour in Australia: Norm Helm, Barney 'Boogie' Williams, John Steel and Danny Handley.}

Danny, the first thing I think many of us would like to know is, how were you recruited into The Animals? What actually happened - was there an audition, or were you spotted playing somewhere? 

It was around midnight on a Saturday night and I was at a party at a mate’s house. My phone rang and it was The Animals manager,  who I had known for many years. He told me the guitar player had broken his arm and they needed someone to fill in the following afternoon at a blues festival. I said I’d help out and stayed up most of the night to learn the songs. I went along and did the gig and that was it, the other guy never returned and I ended up doing a tour. That was in 2009 and I’m still here.  

The broad nature of the songs that you play in your set is remarkable - but what is more remarkable to me is what you've all done with them.   I've seen instant genial rapport with the crowd so many times, I really want to know, was this something you've always had, or something you developed? I'm sure it's taken years to fine-hone.

I’ve been the front man in a band professionally since 1989 when I was 13. Playing all the local clubs and pubs and I’ve gradually and very slowly got used to the role. I’m not sure I’m any better at it but I do enjoy it so much more these days.

I have two heads, the home head who’s a bit quiet and doesn’t talk much and this other head who only appears at work.  I walk on stage and he takes over. Thankfully!

I need to stay with this theme, sorry; look, you share an intimacy with your crowd, and it's thrilling to see. Yet you must know that so few performers have this gift; where does it come from, and how have you developed it?

As I say it’s the other head. I don’t know as I’ve developed it or consciously done anything. Other than relaxing and enjoying it more? It’s the one place I feel relaxed, capable and in control, I’m not like that when I’m doing DIY or anything else really. I’m a nervous wreck  

Could you tell us a little about how you came to guitar - and not another instrument (you weren't tempted, as John Steel was, by trumpet?) 

Without a doubt it was The Beatles and Elvis. I was playing my Dads squash racquet in front of the mirror long before I got my first guitar which was when I was 5 or 6. I love everything about guitars, they are so much more than the sum of their parts, they are works of art….more akin to cars or motorcycles than instruments in my mind. 

Les Paul summed it up when he said  "A guitar is something you can hold and love and it's never going to bug you. But here's the secret about the guitar - it's defiant. It will never let you conquer it. The more you get involved with it, the more you realize how little you know," 

So your top five guitarists who've influenced you...?

Chuck Berry

George Harrison

BB King

George Benson 

Tony Rice

Hank Marvin 

Cliff Gallup

Scotty Moore 

The list goes on and on and on I couldn’t possibly say just 5. I adore and respect everybody really 

Top five blues musicians/ singers?

Again tough…

BB KING 

Muddy Waters

Hank Williams (I class him as one the greatest ever BLUES men)

Johnny guitar Watson 

Buddy Guy… 

And on and on and on 

Top five modern UK bands? (please, I couldn't bear it if you include Oasis)

I’m ashamed to say I don’t know any , I’m a Luddite. It drives my teenage sons mad 

Top five songs of all time?”

“Moonlight Serenade”

“Johnny Be Goode”

“She Loves You” 

“Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress “

“The Sky is Crying”

“How Deep is Your Love” 

The list is endless. 

Which bands - apart from The Animals - have affected you the most? 

The Beatles are the topper most of the popper most. 

You've all come down to Australia so many times now, and it's difficult to accept that this must be the last time. But it's a rough flight unless you're in business class. How hard is it travelling and playing around the world? Is it something you have to get used to? How hard is it returning to your own day-to-day home life after constantly travelling and playing?

Mate, we’ll be back…. I’m so lucky to get to travel I never take it for granted and genuinely love every minute. It’s hard sometimes getting home after a long stint,  Lorna my missus says I expect a round of applause for making a cup of tea. 

You've known keyboardist-bandmate Barney Williams a very long time - how did you two first meet - what were your first associations like?

He was a big popstar and seven years my senior. He was in the one local band that broke out of Burnley and did TV shows and American tours etc. I met him when they booked into a little studio my Dad ran and I was the tape op/brew boy. This was 1992 so I would’ve been 16. 

In the breaks in between the recording he would play blue and boogie woogie piano and my ears pricked right up. I picked up a guitar and we played together and we’ve been playing together ever since. He’s my best mate and the finest musician I know. 

Bassist Norm Helm is a joy to watch, his playing is utterly effortless, completely in-sync. How can someone be such a damn fine musician and barely leave a footprint on the worldwideweb? What's wrong with the world?

Yes it’s that way sometimes, he was someone I was aware of by reputation for a very long time but we didn’t meet till around 4 years ago…something like that. He’s been a great addition and has lifted the band with his playing. He loves it and that’s really obvious. 

What's it like being on stage with these people? Does it still give you as much of a kick as it does us?

Every time, it’s a pleasure and a privilege. 

How do you all get on so well in the tour bus these days? I mean, The Animals and Friends have been touring pretty much every year (bar Covid), and most people wouldn't be able to stand it for so long. 

Well , we have our weird little systems in place and rules we adhere to strictly. We don’t tend to see each other during the day, and we have taken a vow of silence in the van. Then we get to the gig and we’re all happy to see each other and talk over a glass of wine, because we haven’t been driving each other mad all day. It works! 

_{Mainman, Animals co-founder and drummer John Steel.} 

Six years ago we spoke and I quoted you as saying; "I'm really, really lucky to get this gig. There are thousands of blokes like me in the UK, and I've got this gig with The Animals."

Are there really thousands of blokes with your talent and staying power, mate? I mean, really; talent ain't everything, surely you have to have onstage personality, but also to be able to turn it all down to 'normal' to be able to deal with everyday realities. Is this difficult? 

That’s kind of you to say, but there are thousands of blokes all over the world who could do the job, but I got it and I suppose I’ve worked hard to make it my own.  And no I love being at home…And as I said before my missus doesn’t allow me to act like gig bloke at home, she keeps me on the straight and narrow. 

Sixteen years in The Animals and Friends. And still the audiences are there in spades. What is it about these songs which get under the skin and stay there?  

The audiences are getting bigger and bigger, and younger! It’s amazing. The people who wrote these songs couldn’t have imagined that 60 years later kids all over the world would be singing these songs with animals t shirts on. It’s an honour for me to get to sing them on the world stage. 

Which songs do you enjoy playing the most?

All of them, but the blues ones I get to play a bit of guitar on that one. 

I don't want to give too much away about the live shows, but there's a song where you sing a capella and the audience is very much involved - this must be a thrilling and perhaps scary thing to do; how did you come up with this idea? Have there been any memorable moments during this song?

Me running off the stage you mean? Nah it always goes to plan. Ish 

Now I know you run the Danny Handley Blues Project - what's next with that band? I know there was an LP a while back. 

Maybe if John decides to retire in a few years I might resurrect it but till then it’s animals business. We’re back again in November and December 2026 and have some American dates in Jan 2027….so let’s see. 

The Animals and Friends
The Final Curtain Tour
NOV
12 – MELBOURNE, The Palms at Crown, VIC
14 – Warrugul Gippsland Performing Arts Theatre
15 – Wonthaggi, The Union Theatre
18 – Adelaide, The Gov
21 – Astor Threatre, Perth
22 – Freo Social, Fremantle
Tickets