By Brett Ratner

ho did you see at your first rock concert?

Maybe it was Led Zeppelin, maybe it was The Grateful Dead. But if you are a schoolchild these days, chances are it was the Animal Band.

Who? The Animal Band!!!

The brainchild of Jim Moore, the positive musical messages of The Animal Band are enjoyed by students in over 10,000 grade schools nationwide. They've sold out the Grand Ole Opry house.

Moore, with guitarist "Rox", drummer "King Louie" keyboardist "Stripes" and vocalist "Katy" probably reach as many ears, (albeit tiny ears) as your biggest pop stars.

Songs cover such important topics as calling "911", the joy of reading a book or recycling. What sets the Animal Band apart from other children's music is that it also rocks.

"The whole concept has been very rewarding just to see kids and adults all over the country, everywhere we go, we see people out there singing the songs," Moore said. "If we don't do this song that they like, they let us know. It's a wonderful feeling to know that kids are growing up on your songs."

Another secret to the Animal Band's success is their live show. Using what Moore calls "participatory dynamics", the audience has the opportunity to stand up and become part of the performance. More takes this a step further with "Hands On Gibson," an interactive exhibit that travels with the band when they tour.

"Kids can sit down and pick up an electric guitar with a set of headphones and jam!" Moore said. "It's several firsts, sometimes we're the first concert that the children may ever see. It also might be the first time they get to pick up a guitar."

The album Uncaged is the current flagship of the Animal Band anthology, but with the bands increasing success comes a variety of new recordings. A movie version of Uncaged is in the works, featuring the same opportunity to participate as their live show. Their "Dreams and Jelly Beans" tour will be hitting major and minor league baseball parks this year. Their upcoming repeat at the Grand Old Opry is more than half sold-out six months in advance. A currently untitled follow-up to the debut album is also on the way this spring.

"Getaway", a single from the new album, has a chance to find it's way into an airline commercial, according to Moore. What Moore is sure of is that the new record will be a genuine rock recording.

"It's going to be marketed as a family-friendly rock album," Moore said. "It's juicy stuff that can play on mainstream radio. Even the most die hard rock fan would enjoy our music because it's friendly."

Moore went on to explain that there are less than 40 radio stations that play children's music. The hard hitting music on the new record gives the Animal Band the opportunity to spread their positive message to an even broader audience. And what is that message?

"Have fun and learn, experience the world which you live in through music," Moore said. "It's positive music with positive messages, but we rock with the best of them."