The zombies colin blundstone rod argent biography

English rock band

For the undead creature, see Zombie. For conquer uses, see Zombie (disambiguation).

The Zombies are an English rock congregate formed in St Albans grind 1961. Led by keyboardist/vocalist Stick Argent and lead vocalist Colin Blunstone, the group had their first British and American smack in 1964 with "She's Yowl There".

In the US, combine further singles—"Tell Her No" pull 1965 and "Time of integrity Season" in 1968—were also successful.^[13]

Their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle was ranked number 100 consequential Rolling Stone's 2012 list only remaining the 500 Greatest Albums be fooled by All Time,^[14] and number 243 on Rolling Stone's 2020 list.^[15] The Zombies were inducted goslow the Rock and Roll Lobby of Fame in 2019.^[16]

The Zombies reunited for a few bizarre concerts from 1989 to 1997, but have been active full-time since 2004, releasing their nigh recent studio album, Different Game, in 2023.

The band at the moment consists of Blunstone and Silvery (White and Grundy also disclose up for occasional concerts), on the contrary as of July 2024, Silver is no longer touring.^{[17][18][19][20]}

History

1961–1964

Three men and women of the band, Rod Silvery, Paul Atkinson and Hugh Old maid, first came together to elbow or shoulder one`s in 1961 in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Argent wanted to modification a band and initially recognizance his elder cousin Jim Rodford to join as a bassist. At the time, Rodford was in a successful local snap, the Bluetones, and so declined, but he offered to draw Argent. Rodford would later become man and wife in 2004 when the strip reformed. Brian Christie, a keep a note of of Atkinson, was invited puncture the band.

When Christie omitted the band in early 1962 to focus on education, of course suggested Colin Blunstone and Unpleasant Arnold from another band, Integrity Hoaxes, to be added, affair the latter to replace him as bassist. Blunstone and Poet joined the other three cling on to form the band in 1961 while all five members were at school.^[21]

Some sources state go off Argent, Atkinson, and Grundy were at St Albans School, in detail Blunstone and Arnold were caste at St Albans Boys' Teach School.

Both Blunstone and Old maid came from Hatfield and both sang in the choir hither at St Etheldreda's Church.^[22][23] Silvery was a boy chorister unveil St Albans Cathedral Choir. They held their original rehearsals adventure the Pioneer Club, then afar on Hatfield Road, using funds lent to them by say publicly Bluetones.

They met outside interpretation Blacksmiths Arms pub in Directly Albans before their first repetition and gained their initial standing playing the Old Verulamians Rugger Club there.

Argent said, "We met outside a pub. Amazement were too young to proceed in the pub”. Blunstone additional "I was literally in on the rocks corner singing to myself, knowledge a Ricky Nelson song, limit Rod came over and thought, 'That’s really good.

I’ll locale you what. If you’ll aptitude the lead singer, I’ll arena keyboards'".^[24]

Origin of band name

Originally given name the "Mustangs", the band betimes realised that other groups confidential that name. According to Blunstone, "Every young band wants apartment building original name. We were efficacious in our teens.

We fatigued the Mustangs. To be unchain, I didn’t really know what a zombie was".^[24] "It was Arnold who came up touch "the Zombies".^[25] Argent said "Well, we chose that name effect 1961 and, I mean, Uproarious knew vaguely that they were: sort of, you know, grandeur Walking Dead from Haiti nearby Colin didn't even really report to what they were".^[9] "It was Paul [Arnold] that came engage with the name.

I don't know where he got setting from. He very soon nautical port the band after that". General explained the name, saying, "I thought this was a fame that no one else run through going to have. And Side-splitting just liked the whole meaning of it. Colin was circumspect, I'm sure, at the formula, I know, but I universally, always really, really liked it".^[9]

Arnold lost interest in the troop, choosing to leave to energy a physician; he was replaced by Chris White.^[26]

Recording contract

In 1964, the band won a £250 cash prize in a beat-group competition organised by the Watford Borough Council and sponsored by way of the London Evening News.^[27][28] They signed a recording contract pick Decca and recorded their be in first place hit, "She's Not There".

On benefit was released in mid-1964 with the addition of peaked at No. 12 attach importance to the UK, becoming their single UK Top 40 hit. Primacy tune began to catch practice in the United States move eventually climbed to No. 2 in early December. It sell over one million copies president was awarded a gold credentials by the Recording Industry Organization of America (RIAA).^[29]

1964–1967

Like many next British groups, the Zombies cosmopolitan to the United States tinge tour on the momentum unmoving their hit single.

Among their early US gigs were Philologist the K's Christmas shows chimp the Brooklyn Fox Theatre, vicinity the band played seven proceeding a day. On 12 Jan 1965, the band made their first in-person appearance on Dissipate television on the first stage of NBC's Hullabaloo and studied "She's Not There" and their new single "Tell Her No" to a screaming, hysterical consultation full of teenage girls.^[13]

In loftiness UK, the Zombies' follow-up inimitable to "She's Not There" was written by Chris White.

"Leave Me Be" was unsuccessful intrude the UK and, as well-organized result, was not issued importation an A-side in the Shuddering. It did appear as integrity B side of their subordinate US single, "Tell Her No". Penned by Rod Argent, "Tell Her No" became another full seller in 1965, peaking dig No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March. Since the band's third UK matchless, "Tell Her No" failed bear out make the Top 40, peaking at No.

42. Subsequent singles - "She's Coming Home", "I Want You Back Again", "Whenever You're Ready", "Is This rectitude Dream", "Just Out of Reach" (recorded for the soundtrack loosen the film Bunny Lake abridge Missing), "Indication" and "Gotta Roleplay a Hold of Myself" - failed to achieve the go well of the previous two singles (although the Zombies had long success in Scandinavia and honourableness Philippines, which led to smart series of concerts in 1967).^[13] A song by the Zombies released only as a Wrong side (to "Whenever You're Ready") look both the US and UK in 1965, "I Love You", subsequently became a sizeable whack for the group People!

increase by two the United States in 1968.

The Zombies' first UK tome, Begin Here (1965), was excellent mixture of original songs tube rhythm and bluescover versions.^[30] Confront the eight original tracks, Switch Argent supplied the album's prime hit, "She's Not There", most important the songs "Woman", "I Recollect When I Loved Her", weigh "The Way I Feel Inside" which was the shortest train on the album at 1:28.

It might have been minor, had not their recording supervisor and producer Ken Jones add-on the sounds of footsteps nearby a coin dropping, which unconstrained to the feeling of breaking off that the song projected. Bassist Chris White provided "I Can't Make Up My Mind", blue blood the gentry quirky "I Don't Want give explanation Know", plus the beaty "What More Can I Do", which, at 1:38, is the second-shortest cut on the album move contains a simple but marked drum riff.

The final uptotheminute was an instrumental written insensitive to Ken Jones, "Work 'n' Play".

The Zombies continued recording latest songs through 1965 and 1966, trying to achieve chart achievement. There were enough tracks watchdog have filled a follow-up lp, but due to the band's lack of chart success, lid of these tracks remained unissued at the time.^[31]

Odessey and Oracle

In 1967, frustrated by their chronic lack of success, the Zombies left Decca and signed organized recording contract with CBS Annals for whom they recorded depiction album Odessey and Oracle imitate EMI's world-famous Abbey Road studios.

The band's budget did watchword a long way stretch to session musicians, desirable they used a Mellotron carry out fill out their arrangements. According to Argent,^[32][33][34] they used Gents Lennon's Mellotron, which had bent left in the studio care the Beatles' sessions for Sgt.

Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The album was mixed behaviour the standard mono; however, sort another concession toward their fixed budget, Argent and White (who, due to their songwriting royalties, had earned more than ethics rest of the members) alone paid for stereo mixes.^[35]

The exchange in direction was evident bore their first single released invitation CBS, "Care of Cell 44", a song about the doubt felt while waiting for probity singer's partner to be loose from prison.

It is along with notable that the title replicate the song does not turn up anywhere in the lyrics. Excessively, like their previous Decca releases, it failed to reach position charts. A second CBS matchless, "Friends of Mine", was besides unsuccessful.

Misspelled title word

Art guru Terry Quirk misspelt the expression "Odyssey" in the album designation as "Odessey" while designing class album cover.^[35] Quirk was Blunstone's and White's childhood friend captain was living with White wallet Argent in their apartment midst the album's recording.

Regarding authority misspelling, Quirk said, "There’s piles of theories online about ground it’s spelt wrong, but there’s no conspiracy".^[36]

Band break-up

With the closure experiencing a declining demand get into live appearances, they split finish off after a final gig delicate mid-December 1967.^[37]

In April 1968, Silvery explained the reason for rendering band breaking up, saying "We don't want to end leg playing for £20 a blackness in third-class ballrooms.

We radio show still in big demand falsehood the university circuit and classify getting a lot of uncalled-for. We want to quit determine the going's good".^[38]

Release of only remaining Zombies album

Odessey and Oracle, magnanimity band's swansong album, was free in the UK in April 1968, months after the band's slaughter.

The album suffered poor business. It was only released thwart the US because musician Allude to Kooper, then signed to River Records, convinced the label abide by the album's merits. One build up its tracks, "Time of dignity Season", written by Argent, was released as a single block 1968 and spent a far ahead period as a 'sleeper'.

At the end of the day, in 1969, it grew correspond with become a nationwide hit display the US, peaking in significance Hot 100 (Billboard) at Inept. 3.

Unreleased final album

In 1968, Argent and White began action on material for a likely new band when they were approached by CBS to surpass another Zombies album.

Several different Argent/White songs were cut, at first with a line-up of Pearly, White, Hugh Grundy and Lose one\'s temper Birkett (guitar), with the try three being replaced during significance sessions by Jim Rodford (bass), Bob Henrit (drums) and Russ Ballard (guitar). The new footprints were combined with some request Decca out-takes and demos go were overdubbed and enhanced cry sessions at Morgan Studios fit in London.

The album, scheduled aim release in 1969, was inoperative, and only a couple sketch out the songs, "Imagine the Swan" (one of the newly factual songs) and "If It Don't Work Out" (a demo wink a song that Dusty City recorded and released in 1965), were put out as singles instead. Some of this textile was released on various gathering albums during the 1970s extract 1980s, including 1973's Time longawaited the Zombies, and the entire album, titled R.I.P., was unattached in Japan in 2000.^[31]

Post–Zombies (1969–1988)

The original line-up declined to reorganize for concerts following the delayed American success of "Time objection the Season".

In turn, diverse concocted bands tried to cypher on the success and professedly toured under the band's designation. In a scheme organised lump Delta Promotions, an agency think it over also created fake touring versions of The Animals and Justness Archies, two fake Zombie line-ups were touring simultaneously in 1969, one hailing from Texas, influence other from Michigan.^[39] The Texas group featured bassist Dusty Mound and drummer Frank Beard, before long to be members of Void Top.^[39] Another group toured shut in 1988, going so far little to not only trademark grandeur group's name (the real closure had let it lapse) on the contrary also recruit a bass musician named Ronald Hugh Grundy, claiming that original drummer Hugh Old maid had switched instruments.^[40]

In 1969, rendering last line-up of the Zombies - Argent, Ballard, Rodford presentday Henrit - began working decorate a new name, Argent, interest White as a non-performing composer.

Atkinson worked in A&R amalgamation Columbia and Grundy joined him there after a brief magic in auto sales. Blunstone afoot a solo career after clean up brief period outside the penalization business, including working in magnanimity burglary claims section of goodness Sun Alliance insurance company. Both Argent and White provided him with new songs.

He further did studio vocals for birth Alan Parsons Project.^[13] Atkinson leave as a performer and pretended as an A&R executive purpose many years.^[41]

1989–1999

In 1989, Blunstone, Grey and Grundy briefly reunited although the Zombies with guitarist/keyboardist Sebastian Santa Maria and recorded prestige album The Return of high-mindedness Zombies, released in some Continent countries in February 1990.

Justness UK release was held move away to April 1991, when fine reconfigured version of the medium was issued as New World.^[13]

A 1997, 120-track compilation of leadership original band's work, Zombie Heaven, was released on UK Ace/Big beat.^[13] The compilation contains title the band's Decca/Parrot recordings (in mono), the entire Odessey Contemporary Oracle LP (in stereo), honourableness material that would have obliged up the unissued R.I.P. Research, several unissued recordings and pure disc of recordings made summon the BBC.

On 25 Nov 1997, all five Zombies reunited at the Jazz Café affluent London's Camden Town as put an end to of a solo show vulgar Blunstone to perform "She's Band There" and "Time of glory Season" to promote the unbind of Zombie Heaven.

Blunstone take Argent did not play folder again until late 1999. Silverware spotted Blunstone in the consultation while performing at a munificence concert for jazz musician Toilet Dankworth and invited him onstage for an impromptu reunion.

That positive experience set the plane for further collaborations to come.^[42]

2000–present

The twosome reunited to play shows together in 2000 under representation Colin Blunstone & Rod Silvery moniker and moved to birth U.S. in 2001. They record an album, Out of depiction Shadows (2001), and continued accomplishment live shows together into 2004 when they began going tap under the name "The Zombies" again.^[43] The new line-up limited in number Keith Airey (brother of Accomplice Airey) on guitar, Jim Rodford on bass and his dirt Steve Rodford on drums.

In 2002, Ace/Big Beat released dignity 48-track The Decca Stereo Anthology, which, for the first crux, mixed all the Decca/Parrot recordings into true stereo. An photo album of new material released think it over 2004, As Far as Crazed Can See..., received poor-to-scathing reviews from both Pitchfork and AllMusic.^[13]

In January 2004, guitarist Paul Atkinson received the President's Merit Accord from the National Academy pointer Recording Arts and Sciences regress a benefit concert at prestige House of Blues in Los Angeles, California.

The Zombies reunited for the event, which nauseous out to be Atkinson's hindmost performance with them.^[41] He monotonous later that year on 1 April 2004, in Santa Monica, California, from liver and ilk disease.

In 2005, Blunstone champion Argent released a DVD reprove 2-CD album (Live at description Bloomsbury Theatre) and continued excursions with the Zombies.

To depression the 40th anniversary of Odessey and Oracle, the four main original members of the Zombies participated in a three-night focus of concerts at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire Theatre between 7 and 9 March 2008.^{[44][45][46][47][48]} Blunstone and Argent's respective websites confidential advertised that the concert slow 8 March was recorded keep watch on a CD and DVD liberation later in 2008, and high-mindedness CD was officially posted saturate Amazon.com to be pre-sold give reasons for a release of 1 July 2008.

Both CD and DVD were officially released in prestige UK and several other countries.

In 2006, Argent performed current toured with Ringo Starr despite the fact that part of the All-Starr Fillet. Argent performed the Zombies' songs "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season" as favourably as "Hold Your Head Up" from his other musical portion, Argent.

In 2010, Ace Chronicles released a series of sise 7-inch vinyl EPs. All justness tracks were new to radical, with some rarities taken spread the Zombie Heaven box locate, as well as previously unreleased material. Tom Toomey replaced Airey on guitar. In 2011, "The Zombies featuring Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent" released their newfound studio album Breathe Out, Exhale In.

Reviews were generally strong,^[49] and included 4-star reviews use up publications including Record Collector, Q, Uncut, the Daily Mirror very last The Independent. The band invariable out to tour annually manifestation the UK, US, Canada stand for Netherlands. The 2011 tour aim Japan, France, Germany, Greece tolerate Israel.

In 2012, band associates participated in the unveiling outline a commemorative plaque at representation Blacksmith's Arms, a St Albans pub where the Zombies fall down for their first rehearsal.^[50]

On 19 July 2013, it was declared that the band would exist appearing on the second annually Moody Blues Cruise,^[51] 2–7 Apr 2014 on the cruise prime MSC Ship Divina.

In 2014, the Zombies performed in party circuits, including the Austin Psych Festival and San Francisco No-nonsense Grove Festival. The next vintage, the band announced they would embark on a 2015 Indweller tour of the Odessey crucial Oracle album with White allow Grundy returning.^[52]

The Zombies' sixth sticker album, Still Got That Hunger, get by Chris Potter, was declared for a release date more than a few 9 October 2015.^[53] The album's recording was successfully funded incite crowdfunding service PledgeMusic during Venerable 2014.^[54] The Zombies toured rank US in the autumn trap 2015 to promote Still Got That Hunger and were correct joined by surviving former components White and Grundy, along be introduced to keyboardist Darian Sahanaja and White's wife Viv Boucherat (on endorsement vocals) to play the wide-ranging Odessey & Oracle album.

Take a breather 30 October 2015, the Zombies made a guest appearance delicate The Late Show with Writer Colbert.^[55]

The Zombies most recent photo album, Different Game, was released skull March 2023.^[56] Originally recorded pinpoint the groups Rock and Even out Hall of Fame induction rip open 2019, the recording was draft on hold when the Covid pandemic hit.

According to goodness band, the album was prerecorded to sound like a be real performance to "capture that marvellous, fleeting quality of energy gleam immediacy of performance". The sticker album was released on Cooking Record. A track from the past performance, Dropped Reeling & Stupid, was released as a single, their first since 1969.

A pic, Hung Up On A Reverie, was released in November 2023.^[57] The film went through dignity history of the band, containing how they were formed, their prime in the 1960s, coupled with the band members subsequent professions and reforming the Zombies.^[58] Ethics documentary was won two distinction and was nominated once rag events including Kraków Film Party, Nantucket Film Festival, and Borrego Springs Film Festival.^[59][60]

Rod Argent's emptiness from touring

On 11 July 2024, shortly after celebrating his 79th birthday and 52nd wedding outing in London, the band proclaimed on social media that Score Argent had suffered a cord.

He was advised by doctors to take "several months clasp rest and recuperation", and positive, made the decision to break off touring.^{[17][18][19][20]}

50th anniversary of Odessey bid Oracle

In 2017, the four extant original members (Colin Blunstone, Nudge Argent, Chris White and Hugh Grundy) re-united for a Northerly American tour marking the Ordinal anniversary of the recording disregard Odessey and Oracle.^[61] The be in first place stop on this tour was a first-time performance in Country, as the featured artist enchant the Flower Power Cruise key the Celebrity Summit while fuse port in Falmouth.

A typical podcast, S-Town, used "A Wine for Emily" as its all over music.^[62] This exposure helped Greatness Zombies land a guest expire on Conan in May 2017.^[63]

Commenting on the album's half-century grapple popularity, Argent said, “At authority time we made it, astonishment would have thought it was complete craziness that the songs would resonate 50 years later".^[24]

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

On 16 October 2013, the Zombies were announced as nominees fend for inclusion to the Rock ground Roll Hall of Fame,^[64] influence first nomination for the cast since coming into eligibility disintegrate 1990.

The Zombies were chosen again for the Hall be of advantage to 2016 and in October 2017. They were announced as susceptible of seven inductees for depiction 2019 class in December 2018. The band were inducted collide with the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2019.^[65]

Most just out tours

In May 2019, The Zombies announced a co-headlining tour accurate Brian Wilson and Al Jardine of The Beach Boys baptized "Something Great From ’68’" featuring The Zombies performing Odessey ride Oracle, in addition to overpower greatest hits.

This tour would also feature the four outstanding original members (Colin Blunstone, Pole Argent, Chris White and Hugh Grundy) in addition to honesty band's current line-up.^[66]

In late 2021, the band announced they would be undertaking extensive tours show consideration for Britain, the US, Canada, put forward Europe between February and Sept 2022.^[67][68] However, in January 2022 it was announced that high-mindedness UK part of the outward appearance would be postponed until 2023.^[69]

In October 2023, the band unabridged at the Royal Oak Tune euphony Theatre^[70] in Royal Oak, Boodle.

Begin Here festival

In 2024, honourableness band announced that they would host a "Begin Here" holy day in their hometown of Sky-high Albans between 8–10 November 2024.^[71] The festival includes live acta b events, fan meet and greets, Q&A's, and other activities hosted be oblivious to Argent, Blunstone, Grundy, and Bloodless, as well as a chip talking about the solo scowl of Chris White.^[71][72][73] It disposition include the bands first stand for performance since Argent's retirement running off touring.

Keyboard musician Danny Mattin took up the baton use Rod Argent at the Sabbatum night headline concert at prestige Eric Morecombe centre.

Members

Members work the classic lineup are catalogued in bold.

Current

• Rod Argent – keyboards, lead and backing vocals (1961–1967, 1968, 1989, 1997, 2001–present) (not touring since 2024)
• Colin Blunstone – lead and backing vocals (1962–1967, 1989–1991, 1997, 2001–present), bass (1962)
• Steve Rodford – drums, niggardly (2001–present)
• Tom Toomey – guitar, confirmation vocals (2010–present)
• Søren Koch – basso guitar, backing vocals (2018–present)

Occasional

• Hugh Grundy – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1961–1967, 1968, 1989–1991, 1997; outing guest at select shows 2007, 2015, 2017–present)
• Chris White – resonant guitar, backing and occasional direct vocals (1962–1967, 1968, 1989–1991, 1997; tour guest at select shows 2007, 2015, 2017–present)
• Darian Sahanaja – keyboards, backing vocals (2007, 2015, 2017–present; since 2018, only appears at concerts where Odessey trip Oracle is played)

Former

• Paul Atkinson – guitar, backing vocals (1961–1967, 1989, 1997, 2004; died 2004)
• Brian Author – bass guitar (1961–1962)
• Paul General – bass guitar (1962)
• Rick Birkett – guitar (1968)
• Jim Rodford – bass guitar, backing vocals (1968, 2001–2018; died 2018)^[74]
• Russ Ballard – guitar (1968)
• Bob Henrit – drums (1968)
• Keith Airey – guitar, authorization vocals (2004–2010)
• Sebastian Santa Maria – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (1989–1991; died 1996)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Live albums

• Live take a look at the BBC 1965-1967 (1985) (Same tracks re-released in different configurations and titles)
• Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London (2004) (also divorce DVD)
• On the BBC Radio (2007)^[75]
• Odessey and Oracle: 40th Anniversary Material Concert (2008) (also on DVD)
• Live in Concert at Metropolis Studios (2012)
• Live in the UK (2013)
• Live from Studio Two (2021)

Compilation albums

• I Love You (1965) (released brush aside Decca in the Netherlands snowball Japan)
• Early Days (1969) (Collection fall for their early singles; of glory 12 tracks, only two emerged on LPs)
• The World of primacy Zombies (1970)
• The Beginning (1973) (Vol 9 of "The Beginning" panel on Decca, a selection devour Early Days and The Zombies)
• Time of the Zombies (1973) (Contains hit singles, complete "Odessey & Oracle" LP and tracks carry too far their unreleased LP)
• Rock Roots (1976) LP on Decca
• She's Not There (1981) (LP on Decca)
• The Eminent and the Rest of prestige Zombies (1984) (8-song record forethought Back-Trac/CBS Special Products)
• The Zombies (1984) (22 track LP on Observe for Miles)
• The Zombies: The Collection (1988) Castle Communications
• Meet nobility Zombies (1988) (LP on Razor)
• Greatest Hits (1990) (CD/Cassette on DCC Compact Classics)
• Zombie Heaven (1997) (4CD compilation with rarities and survive recordings)
• Absolutely the Best (1999)
• The Story (2000) (EMI Plus (Europe): CD plus CD-ROM)
• Decca Stereo Anthology (2002)
• The Singles: A's and B's (2005)
• The Ultimate Zombies (2007)
• Into high-mindedness Afterlife (2007) (Compilation of recordings in between The Zombies celebrated the member's solo careers.

  Nature a few Zombies songs.)

• Zombies & Beyond (2008) UK #43 (Features some Zombies songs and time-consuming solo songs)
• Time of the Season (2017)^[76]

Contributions

Singles

References