Hilton Valentine
The Animals guitarist died at the age of 77
Hilton Valentine (center) was a founding member of The Animals alongside Eric Burdon (right) and Chas Chandler.
© imago images / Everett Collection
The British musician Hilton Valentine is dead. The founding member of The Animals died at the age of 77.
As a founding member and guitarist of the British band The Animals, Hilton Valentine celebrated musical success in the 1960s. He has now died at the age of 77. The record label ABKCO announced this both on its website and on Instagram. "Together with the entire music world we mourn today for Hilton Valentine", it says there among other things.
The Briton was a "pioneering guitarist" who "shaped the sound of rock'n'roll for decades". According to his wife Germaine Valentine, Valentine died on January 29, 2021. No further background is known so far.
Member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Animals were born in 1963. Together with singer Eric Burdon (79), bassist Chas Chandler (1938-1996), drummer John Steel (79) and keyboardist Alan Price (78), Valentine recorded hits such as "Don ' t Let Me Be Misunderstood "responsible. The legendary guitar riff from "House of the Rising Sun" can also be traced back to Valentine's ability. After leaving and re-entering the band a few times, as well as several solo albums, the musician and his colleagues were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.