Founding members Rod Argent (c) and Colin Blunstone (2nd from r) led the Zombies in recent years
Rod Argent, a co-founder of The Zombies, has retired, following a recent stroke. The news was shared on July 11, 2024, by his management team, on the group’s social media platforms. The British Invasion band are best known for such classic rock favorites as “She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season,” both of which he wrote. Argent, whose lush keyboards lent a distinctive sound to the band’s recordings and live performances, turned 79 on June 14. He posted his own update on July 15. Several days later, Zombies’ Colin Blunstone wrote about his “lifetime friend.” Read both below.
First, the band management’s original July 11 post, with some minor edits for clarity:
We are saddened to report that Rod Argent, founder, keyboardist & primary songwriter of The Zombies, has suffered a stroke. Rod had recently returned home from a triumphant Zombies tour of the U.K., and spent a weekend in London with his beloved wife Cathy, celebrating his 79th birthday and their 52nd wedding anniversary, before the stroke occurred. He was hospitalized overnight, and released the next day. Doctors have advised that Rod will need several months of rest and recuperation.
Rod has asked us to convey that he has made the very difficult decision to immediately retire from touring in order to protect his health. He was already preparing to wind down his live performance schedule after health scares on recent tours (a Fall 2024 USA run was in the works that was intended to be his final overseas tour, and a farewell to the country that launched The Zombies’ career in 1964). However, the stroke was an unmistakable warning sign that the risks are too great. Rod still firmly intends to continue his other creative joy of writing and recording with The Zombies, and has already been back at his piano for some much-needed “Bach therapy.”
We have managed The Zombies together for the past 11 years, and Chris was their U.S. booking agent for the 11 years prior. We have witnessed hundreds of times how Rod transforms back into an 18-year-old during the 100 minutes he’s on stage each night with The Zombies. The energy he receives from his musical symbiosis with the current lineup – original singer Colin Blunstone, drummer (and cousin) Steve Rodford, guitarist Tom Toomey and bassist Søren Koch – is doubled by the energy that flows back from the audiences, with fans of all ages joyfully singing along to their classics and new songs. Each year, we’d secretly marvel at how this band could possibly be playing at an even higher level than the previous year, instead of diminishing with age. That being said, the other aspects of touring can be grueling, and can take their toll on 18-year-olds, never mind a musician approaching 80. As heart-breaking as this is for us, the band, our crew and our team, we are a family and fully support Rod in this decision.
Rod had retired from touring once before, in 1975 after spending his late teens and 20’s on the road with both The Zombies and his eponymous band Argent, in order to focus on his family, along with songwriting and production.
This didn’t change until 1999, when Colin coaxed him to fill in on six of his solo gigs, after a keyboard player had dropped out at the last minute. Rod reluctantly told him, “I’ll do it…but six shows, that’s it.” On tour last month, Rod remarked to us how incredible and unexpected it was that those six shows turned into 25 years of touring and recording with the new incarnation of The Zombies, almost a third of his life.
And it’s been a helluva run.
Career highlights include their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2019. Festivals like Glastonbury, StageCoach and KAABOO. Unforgettable shows 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 stages with Tom Petty and Brian Wilson. Too many moments to count.
Rod Argent performing with The Zombies at Levon Helm’s barn in Woodstock, NY in 2018 (Photo © Greg Brodsky)
Related: Our 2018 review of The Zombies in Woodstock, NY
Their just-completed U.K. tour added two more highlights – a sold-out show for 2000 fans at London’s Barbican Centre with special guests like Paul Weller, and closing to a multi-generational crowd rapturously cheering them despite endless rain and mud at the Eden Festival in Scotland.
As Rod’s experience shows, we don’t know what the future holds.
The Zombies during the 1960s
What we have to tell fans today is that all upcoming performances by The Zombies will be canceled. However, our 2nd annual “Begin Here Festival” in St Albans U.K. (November 8-10, 2024) will continue. This fan weekend celebrating The Zombies and the historical and vibrant city where they formed is made even more important by this news. Our hope is to replace the scheduled Zombies performance with a special show honoring Rod, and ask fans to hold on to their tickets until we’ve had time to regroup and announce new plans. Colin Blunstone’s upcoming November performances of his seminal 1971 solo album One Year, at Begin Here Festival and other U.K. cities, will also continue as planned. Most importantly, know how much you are loved and appreciated by the band, and how grateful we are for your continued support. In the meantime, we will all get to enjoy The True Story of the Fake Zombies, an 8-episode true-crime Podcast detailing the 1969 story of an imposter version of the band on iHeart Radio starting today, and the official Zombies documentary, Hung Up On A Dream, directed by Robert Schwartzman, slated for theatrical and streaming release later this year.
Our last message is that if a classic artist that has made music you love is performing nearby, don’t miss the opportunity to see them. You can sit on the couch and binge Netflix another day. The communal experience of a live performance by a veteran artist is a singular and joyous moment. These artists are treasures who have stood the test of time and are giving their all, but they are fragile human beings like all of us. Don’t miss out.
Chris Tuthill & Cindy da Silva
Argent posted his own comments on July 15. “I am absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support that has happened in response to the news of my having suffered a stroke three weeks ago,” he wrote. “I have read every post, and have to thank you so much.
“I do feel so lucky that physically l’ve escaped the worst possible effects, and while I’m still frustrated by not finding all my words easily, I feel really hopeful that eventually I will make a full recovery…..
“It is with a heavy heart that I can’t carry on with the live playing that I love so much, but want to emphasise that, after a couple of months, do mean to carry on in the studio with writing and recording unabated, and with superb contributions from Colin, Steve, Tom and Søren.
“Thank you once again so much,
Rod Argent xx”
Blunstone shared his thoughts on July 21. “I was absolutely devastated to learn that my lifetime friend and musical collaborator Rod Argent has suffered a stroke. I know he is feeling stronger day by day and of course wish him a speedy recovery. He has very wisely decided to retire from touring so sadly The Zombies have now completed their last concert tour.
“It’s been a wild ride, from the local dates in Hertfordshire during the early 60’s to international tours playing some of the most prestigious venues in the world. I will be forever grateful to Rod for his encouragement and support over the years and am convinced that without his musical brilliance I would never have had a career as a performer.
“I know he is determined to keep writing and recording and I’m looking forward to that, as well as exploring some creative opportunities of my own!!!”
[The Zombies released a new studio album, Different Game, in 2023. Their recordings are available here.]
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationI am devastated but hopeful, and wish Rod a speedy and complete recovery.
Rod and The Zombies are so important in my life with their fantastic music and the LOVE that could be felt at every performance. I call it Vitamin Z.
Rod will be writing and recording with The Zombies, as he said. And I look forward to many years of their wonderful music.