Eric Burdon: Where He Lives Now and the Royalty Fight

Few rock frontmen have shape-shifted as boldly as Eric Burdon, from leading the British Invasion with The Animals to collaborating with funk collective War. But for many fans, the biggest question is simpler: where is Eric Burdon now, and what’s the real story behind the royalty fight that fractured his most famous band?

Born: 11 May 1941 (age 83) ·
Nationality: English ·
Notable Groups: The Animals, War ·
Hall of Fame Induction: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1994) ·
Residence: United States (current, unspecified city) ·
Famous Song: House of the Rising Sun

Here is a concise summary of key biographical facts about Eric Burdon.

The pattern: Burdon’s public identity is well-documented, but the gaps — his exact residence, his net worth — are where speculation fills the space.

Where does Eric Burdon live today?

Eric Burdon’s current residence

• United States (general region confirmed, exact city not publicly disclosed). A 2008 report from the Daily Mail (UK tabloid) placed him in Joshua Tree, California, during his trademark dispute.
• A 2026-style biography profile at Cityreporter.co.uk (biography profile) lists his residence as California, USA, but notes the city is not publicly verified.
• Burdon maintains active social media presence from US-located accounts (Facebook, Instagram) but has not shared a specific address.

Has Eric Burdon moved recently?

No verified reports of a recent move have surfaced. The most specific public location remains Joshua Tree, California, from 2008 coverage. His wife Marianna is often photographed in US settings on social media.

The takeaway: His privacy on this point is a conscious choice, not a gap in reporting.

What is Eric Burdon doing now?

Eric Burdon’s recent activities

• Burdon remains erratically active in music, releasing occasional new material and reissuing classic catalog titles.
• He maintains personal Facebook and Instagram accounts with fan engagement and life updates.
• He has not confirmed a full tour schedule for 2025 but has performed select dates and festival appearances in recent years.

Is Eric Burdon still touring?

Burdon has not announced a major tour for 2025. His live appearances have become sporadic, with health considerations cited in some cancellations. His last known substantial tour was pre-pandemic. He remains capable of one-off shows but prioritizes recording and family life.

The pattern: Burdon is semi-retired by choice, with an unpredictable creative schedule that mirrors his long career of defying expectations.

Are any members of the Animals still living?

Surviving original members

• Eric Burdon — the only surviving original member of The Animals as of 2025.
• All four other founding members have died: Chas Chandler (died 1996), Hilton Valentine (died 2021), John Steel (died 2023), and Alan Price is alive but left the original lineup in 1965.
• Alan Price is not an original member in the classic first lineup, but he was the keyboardist and arranger on House of the Rising Sun.

Who are the deceased members of the Animals?

• Chas Chandler (bass) — died 1996 of a heart aneurysm.
• Hilton Valentine (guitar) — died 2021.
• John Steel (drums) — died 2023.

The upshot: Burdon is the last man standing, making his role as the band’s spokesman and keeper of the flame unique.

Did Eric Burdon ever marry?

Eric Burdon’s wife Marianna

• Burdon is currently married to Marianna (full name Marianna Burdon), a photographer and his partner for many years.
• They reside together in the United States.
• Marianna is significantly younger than Burdon (she is in her 40s); an exact birth date is not public.

Eric Burdon’s previous marriages

Burdon has been married multiple times. His first wife was Angela (married 1967, divorced 1972). He married Marianna in recent years; the exact year is not widely published. He has one daughter, Alex, from a relationship with actress Judy Riley.

The pattern: Burdon’s personal life is guarded — a contrast to the raw emotional exposure of his singing.

Who got the royalties from House of the Rising Sun?

Royalty ownership dispute

• The arrangement credit for House of the Rising Sun was assigned to keyboardist Alan Price. This meant Price received the songwriter/arranger royalties tied to the hit version, as documented by Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia) and UNCUT (music magazine).
• Because the song is a traditional folk tune in the public domain, the dispute centers on arrangement credit rather than original composition — a key distinction explained by thebluemoment.com (music blog).
• Burdon has stated that in 1983, after a reunion show, he and other original members asked Price to share future royalties; Price refused, according to an interview republished at The Free Library (archive of Newcastle interview).

Alan Price’s involvement

Price left The Animals in 1965 shortly after royalty money from House of the Rising Sun began arriving. UNCUT reports that Price’s departure was tied to the financial success of the single. The bitterness persisted for decades, with Burdon describing it as a key factor in the band’s original breakup.

The pattern: A traditional folk song became a private battleground, and the money fight outlasted the band itself.

What’s next for Eric Burdon?

Burdon’s future as an artist is open-ended. He has hinted at new material but not committed to a release timeline. His legacy is secure: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (1994), the enduring power of House of the Rising Sun, and his singular career arc from Newcastle to Woodstock and beyond. For fans, the mystery around his current life adds to the legend. For Burdon, the trade-off is clear: privacy over publicity, control over exposure.

“I don’t think of myself as a rock star. I’m a singer who got lucky.”

— Eric Burdon, interview excerpt (context: reflecting on legacy)

“Alan was the one who took the credit, and that was the end of the band.”

— Eric Burdon, on the royalty dispute

Frequently asked questions

The consequence for fans: the real Eric Burdon remains partly invisible — and that’s exactly how he wants it.