Eric Burdon is an English singer-songwriter and actor. He shot to fame in 1964 with the hit single “House of the Rising Sun” with his band The Animals . He is known for his distinct deep, powerful blues-rock voice. And he is also known for his aggressive stage performances. Eric Burdon was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, at midnight on May 11, 1941. It was the middle of Word War II when four planets aligned with the notorious fixed star Algol. It was also the night of a full moon when Rudolf Hess flew from Nazi Germany into Scotland in an ill-fated attempt to stop the war.

As he sang in the song “When I Was Young”, he smoked his first cigarette at 10 years old and would skip school with his friends to drink brown ale. Due to the river pollution and humidity in Newcastle he suffered asthma attacks daily. Burdon describes his early school years as a “dark nightmare”. During primary school, he received constant harassment from kids and teachers alike. He stated that “Some teachers were sadistic – others pretended not to notice – and sexual molestation and regular corporal punishment with a leather strap was the order of the day”.

Eric Burdon’s friends were tough, hard-drinking, and listened to American music. He was good friends with Jimi Hendrix who overdosed on drugs in 1970. He was also good friends with John Lennon who was killed in 1980. His first wife was later murdered in 1996 by an estranged boyfriend.

Since his childhood, Eric Burdon has been all too familiar with poverty, marginalization and the lifestyle of gamblers and junkies… Drugs seem to have been the major factor determining Burdon’s success or downfall… Burdon’s 50-year career as a musician has seen countless ups and downs. Eric Burdon has also expressed these inner truths through painting, writing and acting. ^[1]

Despite having the one of the most challenging horoscope I have seen, Eric Burdon is still rocking at age 77. He lives with his wife in California and has three grandchildren.

Eric Burdon Horoscope

Birth data for Eric Burdon horoscope: Frank C. Clifford quotes Jenni Harte from Burdon, “midnight of May 10/11.” ^[2]

Sun conjunct Saturn opposite Moon is the reason Eric grew up in poverty in a bleak environment. This difficult alignment creates many tests and challenges, inhibitions and restraints. But it has made Eric very tough and gives the determination and persistence to keep struggling.

Sun and Saturn quincunx Midheaven has provided the outlet for his frustrations to manifest through his career. But the imbalance of the quincunx aspect has caused the countless ups and downs of his musical career. The quincunx aspect also create a neurotic type of energy. In 1971 he suffered a total breakdown after a show that forced him to slow down.

Fixed Star Algol

According to Vivian Robson, Algol causes misfortune, violence, decapitation, hanging, electrocution and mob violence, and gives a dogged and violent nature that causes death to the native or others. It is the most evil star in the heavens. ^[3] As mentioned above, at least three people close to Eric have died violently.

This name is derived from the Arabic Al Ghoul meaning “demon”, “evil spirit”, or “devil”. Derived from the same root is “alcohol”, and Eric Burden has struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction most of his life. But fortunately for Eric, Algol is most difficult when with the Sun, Moon, Mars or Saturn.

Eric has Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus which have brought out the intensely creative side of Algol. Jupiter is the best placement for Algol. It gives wonderful creative talents such as music, from which one can make a good living.

The four planets with Algol are square Mars which creates a tremendous amount of angry energy. This explains his aggressive stage performances. But the trine to Neptune helps that hot energy manifest through his creative projects like music, painting, writing and acting.

Algol gives very distinctive facial features and hair. There may be a striking beard or glorious long hair. The teeth, nose or ears may also be striking in some way, either extremely beautiful, large or deformed.

Aspects and Fixed Stars

Ascendant conjunct fixed star Alwaid 1°13′ gives loss of property, violence, criminal inclinations and accidents.

Moon conjunct fixed star Zubenelgenubi 1°14′ causes trouble through opposite sex, wrongful accusations, disgrace, ruin, mental anxiety, loss of relatives, many disappointments and much sickness.

Sun and Saturn conjunct no major fixed star

• Sun conjunct Saturn 1°33′
• Sun opposite Moon 4°19′
• Moon opposite Saturn 2°45′

Mercury conjunct fixed star Algol 0°07′
Venus conjunct fixed star Algol 0°09′
Jupiter conjunct fixed star Algol 0°58′
Uranus conjunct fixed star Algol 0°27′

• Mercury conjunct Venus 0°02′
• Mercury conjunct Jupiter 0°51′
• Venus conjunct Jupiter 0°48′
• Mercury conjunct Uranus 0°20′
• Venus conjunct Uranus 0°17′
• Jupiter conjunct Uranus 0°30′

Mars conjunct no major fixed star

• Mercury square Mars 0°57′
• Venus square Mars 0°54′
• Mars square Jupiter 0°05′
• Mars square Uranus 0°36′
• Mars quincunx Neptune 1°19′

Neptune conjunct fixed star Copula 0°46′ causes blindness, defective eyesight, strong passions, hindrances and disappointments.
Neptune conjunct fixed star Labrum 0°47′ gives ideality, psychic power, intelligence, honor and riches in disgrace and purifies to salvation.
Neptune conjunct fixed star Alkaid 1°01′ is associated with death and mourning.
Neptune conjunct fixed star Zavijava 1°14′ gives beneficence, force of character, strength, combative movements and destructiveness.

• Mercury trine Neptune 0°22′
• Venus trine Neptune 0°25′
• Uranus trine Neptune 0°43′

Pluto conjunct no major fixed star

Midheaven conjunct fixed star Seginus 1°17′ gives a subtle mind, shamelessness and loss through friends and companies.

• Sun quincunx Midheaven 1°41′
• Saturn quincunx Midheaven 0°07′

Part of Fortune conjunct fixed star Rigel 0°42′ gives benevolence, honor, riches, happiness, glory, renown and inventive or mechanical ability.

North Node conjunct no major fixed star

South Node conjunct fixed star Deneb Kaitos 0°56′ causes self-destruction by brute force, sickness, disgrace, misfortune and compulsory change.

References

1. Blues, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll: Eric Burdon turns 75, Gaby Reucher, 2016
2. Eric Burdon, Astro Databank
3. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.123.