Hi, all,

Here's a note from Ken.

Melanie

Hi Folks!

Questions like these are fun. No right or wrong answers . . . just pure conjecture and lots of what-ifs. image

In my mind, Justin would have come into The Animals as a songwriter/guitarist. He would have contributed songs that he felt would make a good fit for Burdon and the band, yet still reflect the experiences, values, and general attitude of the songwriter. It's hard to say how much he would have influenced The Animals, rather than the other way around. It's probably fair to say that he would have penned some hits for Eric and company, though certainly not the same songs that he contributed to The Moodies, and I'm guessing that The Animals would have been more popular with Justin as a member than they were without him.

I guess I kinda disagree a bit about him not singing with The Animals. He would have sung his newly written songs to them before any recording sessions, and they might have found his voice to be very suitable. I actually CAN envision Justin and Eric singing together, doing a Hall & Oates-type bluesy pop. Their voices are so different, but sometimes that makes for the most interesting combinations. I don't think Justin contributing vocals to The Animals would really have been out of the question.

One of Justin's strengths is his dedication. I think he would have stayed with The Animals until they broke up, re-formed, or until Eric decided to go in a whole new direction. So I think he might have been with them longer than we might assume. I think, at that point, he would have pursued a solo career (a la Songwriter, Night Flight, etc.), although those albums would have sounded different since he would have had different experiences with The Animals than he did with The Moody Blues . . . AND he would have involved different back-up musicians that he had met along the way.

He might have been picked up by another band. Wouldn't it have been a hoot if he eventually ended up in one of his favorites--The Eagles?! Now THERE'S something to think about! image

But you have to wonder if Eric has ever muttered "Nuts!" or "Drat!" (or something less printable) at having been so close to gaining such a great talent.

I love Pam's line, "It was Justin's destiny to become a Moody Blue." I, too, am glad things turned out the way they did.

Ken Barnhart