The Animals were formed in Newcastle, England, in 1962. With their release of House of the Rising Sun in 1964, which scored a number one position the Billboard Pop Chart for three weeks, The Animals secured their place as an important part of the British Invasion. The band would go on to chart a total of fourteen songs from 1964 until 1968, with an ending lineup that consisted of lone original band member Eric Burdon. The original Animals consisted of Hilton Valentine on the guitar, Chas Chandler on the bass, John Steel on the drums, Alan Price on the organ, and Burdon performing vocals. The band was inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

XMFan recently had a chance to enjoy an Ask Ten Questions session with Hilton, and are happy to know he is still very much involved in the music scene today.

XMFan: Your website details several guitars you have owned over the years. Did you have any favorites?
Hilton: I guess I would have to say the Fender Telecaster and the Rickenbacker 12 String.

XMFan: Do you remember any particularly strange circumstances that gave you the inspiration to write a song?
Hilton: Well, waaaay back when I used to drop acid, there was this one time around '69 I was tripping at a friend's place and I was looking at this girl across the room who was from Germany. I felt we were communicating telepathically and I wrote a song about it. I called it Girl From Allemagne and put it on my first solo LP.

XMFan: Since many Americans are unfamiliar with the English Skiffle movement of the '50s, would you briefly explain what it was and how if affected you as a young musician?
Hilton: It had a huge effect on me. It was a major factor in me wanting to play guitar. Basically, skiffle was American folk music - jug band style without the jug. The main instrument was the acoustic 6 string guitar, but it also had bass, drums and electric guitar. For us kids, it was the acoustic complemented by washboard, tea chest bass, comb & paper, and anything else we could get our hands on. Although there were a few skifflers about, like The Vipers and Chas McDevitt, it was Lonnie Donegan at the forefront of it all. As a kid, seeing him move about with his acoustic and singing wasn't all that different from seeing Elvis singing with his. The great draw to skiffle was that just about any kid could play it really. The instruments were basic as were the songs. One only needed to learn a few chords to play a hell of a lot of songs. Skiffle really was as much a part of early Rock & Roll in England as Bill Haley & His Comets, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, and Elvis.

XMFan: How has the reception been for your latest album, It's Folk 'N Skiffle, Mate! (under the name Skiffledog)
Hilton: The reception has been very good. I just got a rave review from HARP magazine in their August edition. I've got it posted on the Press page of my website, www.hiltonvalentine.com. It's been getting some airplay in the UK and I've received many complimentary emails from people that have purchased it through the site.

XMFan: You have mentioned that your wife was a big reason for recording the new album. Would you tell us a little about her?
Hilton: Well, I met Germaine in 1997 while touring the US. We met in July and were married by that December. She is 22 years younger than me, but is very knowledgeable about music - 60's in particular. Of the mainstream 60's bands she likes, The Animals are one of them, and that's what caused our paths to cross. It brought us together. Well, that and a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale (Laughs). She has this incredible amount of drive and energy and I was really drawn to that. Anyway, she quite liked listening to the stuff I was playing on my acoustic guitar and really encouraged me to get it recorded, and to be truthful, it would not have been done without her. I need a bit of motivating and she's just the one to give it.

XMFan: Where do you call home these days?
Hilton: Connecticut, USA.

XMFan: Name one musician you have had the opportunity to meet over the years who really made an impression on you.
Hilton: Hmmm, that's a tough one. I've met so many musicians and most all have left some sort of impression. But... I guess I would have to say George Harrison - as he was the first guy who really seemed to understand what I had experienced on an LSD trip. He had invited me to his home in Esher where we had an in depth conversation about our similar "death like" experiences on acid. That experience was like becoming aware of something greater than this consciousness. He helped me realize that this state was attainable without taking acid. This all sounds very "hippie" I suppose but those were the times and it was what it was. What can I say?

XMFan: Any chance to see you play live in the near future?
Hilton: Yeah, I'm scheduled to perform at The New Haven Folk Festival in CT on September 18th and we're working on putting some more dates in my calendar. Anyone who's interested in catching me live can always visit my site for up to date information. The 18th isn't listed at the moment because we're waiting for the contract.

XMFan: What can fans expect to find at your website?
Hilton: Well, we have all sorts of interesting things. The page we get the most comments on would be my Equipment page. I got a bit tired of answering individual emails about what kind of guitars I played, etc., so Germaine and I put that page together. She handles all the technical side of the website. I still need to add more as people are still emailing me, asking about the type of strings and pedals I used or am using today. There are photos, links to interviews, a discography, a bio, audio clips and more. I've got a Merchandise page where people can purchase not only Skiffledog CDs and Ts but some Animals CDs and books. There's also a consumer alert about bogus Animals CDs. We provide links to Animals CDs that are legitimate because there are some out there that have nothing to do with any of the original Animals, but are being passed off as such. It's all explained on the site.

XMFan: What do you find more satisfying - being a guitar legend enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or the long road you traveled to get there?
Hilton: Of course it is an honour to be recognized... but I'd have to say it was the long road I traveled to get there. Looking back on hard work is always more satisfying isn't it? I mean, the awards are just something tangible that say, "yeah, you've done the hard work."

The Animals can be heard on Top Tracks, Deep Tracks, 60s on 6, Bluesville, and VH1 Radio.