One of the original forces behind the British Invasion is making a local appearance this month, when Eric Burdon lets the latest version of the Animals out of the cage long enough to play a cross section of the hits representing some of the most innovative, powerful songs ever filtered through a transistor radio.

Burdon will perform at the Emerald Queen Casino on January 23, playing the circuit that has brought him to the area more or less annually for the last several years.

The Animals had a string of hits from 1964's "House of the Rising Sun" to "White Houses" four years later. They were distinguished by Burdon's bluesy wail and the ability to select songs (covers and later, originals) that encapsulated the times.

After 45 years the music still holds up, and can be ably recreated on stage. But Burdon, who at 67 looks every inch of his age, thinks the Class of 64's common traits aren't exactly positive.

"I would say the common denominator is most of the original British invasion bands were squabbling amongst themselves as to who owns what and who should be performing under their original band names," he said in an e-mail.

He is referring to his own situation, where he has entered into a legal battle with other members of the original band for use of the name. This is too common among veteran rock performers, where several versions of the same band are on the road simultaneously, all claiming the original musical heritage. In addition to the Animals, bands that have suffered in these situations include Herman's Hermits, the Beach Boys and War, which partnered with Burdon to record "Spill the Wine."

These bands began with five guys in a basement and often splintered when one member took too many drugs or another got greedy. In the Animals' case, organist Alan Price allegedly hoodwinked his bandmates out of royalties for "The House of the Rising Sun." Years later, those left either don't get along or they are dead. As a result, a single band can spawn several different groups with some claim to the original heritage.

Not to take sides, but Burdon's version is as close as we'll get to the genuine article. Rock geeks aside, audiences don't really care how many original members are onstage at a particular time. In that respect a band with a familiar lead singer---in this case, Burdon---will be more satisfying than the original drummer backing a group of ringers who weren't even born when the songs were hits.

The bulk of Burdon's set will most likely feature familiar Animals hits as well as "Spill the Wine" (where he tells a different story during each performance), all which he must play or people will go home disappointed. Among these requirements, he will hopefully perform a few selections from "Soul of a Man," a gritty remarkable blues album released in 2006 that blended original and cover songs, or its predecessor, 2004's "My Secret Life."

Burdon is currently working on a new album, although no details are available—aside from the idea that it will pick up where he has left off at one time or another.

"It's a mistake to stray too far from your roots," he said. "You must know how far you can venture with audiences."

Burdon has written two autobiographies and has been interviewed thousands of times by people who ask the same tired questions. For this reason he agrees to interact with the press, but only by e-mail.

"It is the best format for me," he writes. "I get to keep a record of what my thoughts are plus I can answer only the questions I choose to address. I have been doing interviews for over forty years now and I have been misquoted on numerous occasions."

So any writer who seeks to get anything new out of Burdon will be thwarted in that attempt.

Throughout, Burdon brings a passion to the music. He never "phones in" the performance, and clearly still loves the songs that he has played thousands of times. Time off the road is spent at his California desert home.

"The life I live is complex in many formats," he said.  "I try to live my life listening to music, writing lyrics and concepts, living as privately as possible, staying healthy, growing old gracefully and trying to understand my wife."

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