'Animals' Guitarist Hilton Valentine Passes Away

Hilton Valentine, the guitarist of the British band The Animals (first from the left), has passed away at the age of 77.
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Hilton Valentine, the guitarist of the British rock band The Animals, which dominated the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 77.

New York-based guitar magazine Guitar World reported on the 31st (local time) that Valentine died the day before. The cause of death was not disclosed.

ABKCO, the record label to which The Animals belonged, released a statement mourning Valentine, a founding member of The Animals, calling him a pioneer of rock guitar.

Born in North Shields, England, Valentine formed The Animals in 1963 with vocalist Eric Burdon. Their remake of the American folk song "House of the Rising Sun," released a year later, reached number one on both the UK and US charts and later became widely known as a classic rock song.

In particular, Valentine left a deep impression on fans with his arpeggio technique, playing each chord tone quickly one by one. Guitar World praised, "The introduction of 'House of the Rising Sun' played by Valentine has become a textbook piece that students starting guitar must learn."

After The Animals disbanded, Valentine continued his music career in the United States and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 along with his bandmates from The Animals.

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