Zombies Founder Rod Argent Retires From Touring After Suffering Stroke

Keyboardist Rod Argent, founding father of legendary and Argent, will retire from touring as he recovers from a stroke, the group’s administration introduced on Thursday.

“Rod had lately returned house from a triumphant Zombies tour of the UK, and spent a weekend in London along with his beloved spouse Cathy, celebrating his 79th birthday and their 52nd marriage ceremony anniversary, earlier than the stroke occurred,” the announcement reads. “He was hospitalized in a single day, and launched the subsequent day. Docs have suggested that Rod will want a number of months of relaxation and recuperation.

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“Rod has requested us to convey that he has made the very tough choice to right away retire from touring with a purpose to shield his well being. He was already making ready to wind down his dwell efficiency schedule after well being scares on current excursions (a Fall 2024 USA run was within the works that was meant to be his ultimate abroad tour, and a farewell to the nation that launched The Zombies’ profession in 1964). Nonetheless, the stroke was an unmistakable warning signal that the dangers are too nice. Rod nonetheless firmly intends to proceed his different inventive pleasure of writing and recording with The Zombies, and has already been again at his piano for some much-needed ‘Bach remedy.’”

The Zombies fashioned St. Albans, north of London in 1961 and have been led by Argent and vocalist Colin Blunstone, who stays the band’s singer. The group scored their first within the U.S. and U.Okay. in 1964 with “She’s Not There,” and adopted with “Inform Her No” a yr later and the traditional “Time of the Season” in 1968. The latter tune was from the legendary psychedelic album “Odessey and Oracle,” which stays one of the crucial influential data of the period, though the group cut up up earlier than its launch.

Argent fashioned his eponymous band quickly after, and the group Argent scored a serious hit in 1972 with “Maintain Your Head Up” and, later, “God Gave Rock and Roll to You.” That band cut up in 1976 and Argent pursued a solo profession and session work for the Who, Gary Moore, Andrew Lloyd Webber and others, in addition to manufacturing work.

He reunited with Blunstone in 2004 and the 2 have carried out collectively ever since, largely because the Zombies. The group launched a final yr. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2019.

The rest of the assertion follows in full:

We have now managed The Zombies collectively for the previous 11 years, and Chris was their US reserving agent for the 11 years prior. We have now witnessed a whole bunch of occasions how Rod transforms again into an 18-year-old through the 100-minutes he’s on stage every night time with The Zombies. The power he receives from his musical symbiosis with the present lineup – authentic singer Colin Blunstone, drummer (and cousin) Steve Rodford, guitarist Tom Toomey and bassist Søren Koch – is doubled by the power that flows again from the audiences, with followers of all ages joyfully singing alongside to their classics and new songs. Annually, we’d secretly marvel at how this band might probably be taking part in at a fair greater degree than the earlier yr, as a substitute of diminishing with age. That being stated, the opposite features of touring will be grueling, and may take their toll on 18-year-olds, by no means thoughts a musician approaching 80. As heart-breaking as that is for us, the band, our crew and our crew, we’re a household and absolutely help Rod on this choice.

Rod had retired from touring as soon as earlier than, in 1975 after spending his late teenagers and 20’s on the highway with each The Zombies and his eponymous band Argent, with a purpose to concentrate on his household, together with songwriting and manufacturing. This didn’t change till 1999, when Colin coaxed him to fill in on 6 of his solo gigs, after a keyboard participant had dropped out on the final minute. Rod reluctantly instructed him, “I’ll do it…however 6 reveals, that’s it.” On tour final month, Rod remarked to us how unbelievable and sudden it was that these 6 reveals changed into 25 years of touring and recording with the brand new incarnation of The Zombies, virtually a 3rd of his life.

And it’s been a helluva run.

The Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame induction at Brooklyn’s Barclays Heart. Festivals like Glastonbury, StageCoach and KAABOO. Unforgettable reveals like Central Park Summerstage, Santa Monica Pier, Stern Grove San Francisco, London Palladium, and Stubb’s at SXSW Austin. TV appearances with Jimmy Fallon and Jools Holland. Sharing phases with Tom Petty and Brian Wilson. Too many moments to rely. The UK tour The Zombies simply accomplished in June added two extra highlights – a sold-out present for 2000 followers at London’s Barbican Centre with particular visitors like Paul Weller, and shutting to a multi-generational crowd rapturously cheering them regardless of countless rain and dust on the Eden Competition in Scotland.

As Rod’s expertise reveals, we don’t know what the long run holds.

What we have now to inform followers at this time is that each one upcoming performances by The Zombies shall be canceled. Nonetheless, our 2nd annual “Start Right here Competition” in St Albans UK (November 8-10, 2024) will proceed. This fan weekend celebrating The Zombies and the historic and vibrant metropolis the place they fashioned is made much more necessary by this information. Our hope is to interchange the scheduled Zombies efficiency with a particular present honoring Rod, and ask followers to carry on to their tickets till we’ve had time to regroup and announce new plans. Colin Blunstone’s upcoming November performances of his seminal 1971 solo album One 12 months, at Start Right here Competition and different UK cities, may also proceed as deliberate. Most significantly, know the way a lot you’re liked and appreciated by the band, and the way grateful we’re in your continued help. Within the meantime, we are going to all get to take pleasure in The True Story of the Pretend Zombies, an 8-episode true-crime Podcast detailing the 1969 story of an imposter model of the band on iHeart Radio beginning at this time, and the official Zombies documentary, Hung Up On A Dream, directed by Robert Schwartzman, slated for theatrical and streaming launch later this yr.

Our final message is that if a traditional artist that has made music you’re keen on is performing close by, don’t miss the chance to see them. You may sit on the sofa and binge Netflix one other day. The communal expertise of a dwell efficiency by a veteran artist is a singular and joyous second. These artists are treasures who’ve stood the check of time and are giving their all, however they’re fragile human beings like all of us. Don’t miss out.

Chris Tuthill & Cindy da Silva

The Rocks Administration

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