As far as the Animals breaking up - it was my fault. I wanted out. We took it to the max, as far as we could take it. Our reunion tour in 1983 went pretty good until we left America. Then we pushed it too hard and it fell apart.

The Animals were their own worst enemy. The Animals were a band that couldnt live up to their name. I was the singer in the band and as long as I was enjoying myself I would keep on working with the band. But it got to be rather nasty once the big money showed up - things started to turn toxic.

I have a life beyond performance. I love it, and it probably is the better part of my life, but I do have another life.

My activism was, and is, unknown, unannounced, but somehow effective.

Eventually I would like to reach the stage where I don't have to write about love and kisses and all that stuff. I wish I could write about really ultimate things. That's where I think all of us want to go, really. All the groups seem to be heading towards a kind of pop music that deals with ultimate things.

I may sing the same songs for over 40 years now but I always sing them in different ways in order to keep the excitement and passion alive.

Everything I do - if I do it, is going to be personal.