The Zombies Announce New Bassist, Dates

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In a message to their fans posted on social media sites on Jan. 20, The Zombies announced that their upcoming U.S. tour will go on despite the passing of the group’s longtime bassist, Jim Rodford.

On Feb. 17, the group’s Rod Argent shared news of the group’s new bassist.

The original (Jan. 20) message from The Zombies’ management read:

“On behalf of The Zombies and our extended family, we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from fans, following the tragic and sudden loss of Jim Rodford.

“Jim can never be replaced. Not only did his bass playing anchor the band for the past 18 years…Jim’s joy and professionalism as a musician has been an inspiration to every member of The Zombies since he helped organize their first rehearsal back in 1961.

The Zombies in 2016, with the late Jim Rodford at left

“Nevertheless, one of the many principles we learned from Jim is that ‘the show must go on,’ and in that spirit, we want to assure fans that The Zombies will continue.

“Preparations are being made for the band to perform their North American tour February 27-March 25, 2018 as scheduled. More information will be announced as soon as possible.”

And the Feb. 17 news, revealing the selection of the band’s new bassist:

“It is with obvious mixed feelings that The Zombies are just about to embark on our latest U.S. tour, after the numbing and shattering loss of our dear friend and bass anchor, Jim Rodford.

“Jim is irreplaceable, but his wife Jean and son Steve were immediately insistent that we must carry on and not falter…. and we have now had the great good fortune, after a glowing recommendation, to have been introduced to a terrific Danish bass player, Soren Koch -‘Kooks’. After a fine audition a few days ago, where Soren played and sang beautifully, our management team of Chris and Cindy swung into action, and it seems they now have narrowly accomplished the enormously demanding task of getting the relevant visa and work permits in time …. and we should be opening on our first night in New York as planned ….

“We are really lucky that Soren is not only a fine musician and a lovely guy, but also a huge Zombies fan: he loves our recorded output, old and new, and he travelled across from Denmark recently purely to catch us at our autumn Palladium show in London…

“It’s going to be surreal for us, after being so used to Jim driving the rhythm section for more than eighteen years, to be without him on stage: but you can be sure we’ll give everything we have to perform to the standard that Jim would demand … and I know that everyone of us in our minds will be dedicating each night’s show to the great Jim Rodford. Rod xx”

See below for the full itinerary.

A funeral service for Rodford was held Feb. 12, at The Abbey in his hometown of St Albans, England.

The Zombies 2018 Tour Dates (Tickets are available here and here)

27 Feb – City Winery – New York, NY
28 Feb – City Winery – New York, NY
01 Mar – City Winery – New York, NY
03 Mar – City Winery – Boston, MA
04 Mar – City Winery – Boston, MA
07 Mar – Led Zeppelin Tribute (Carnegie Hall) – New York, NY
08 Mar – Greenwich Odeum – East Greenwich, RI
09 Mar – Levon Helm Studios – Woodstock, NY
10 Mar – Scottish Rite Auditorium – Collingswood, NJ
11 Mar – Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD
13 Mar – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
14 Mar – Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD
16 Mar – City Winery – Atlanta, GA
17 Mar – City Winery – Nashville, TN
19 Mar – City Winery – Chicago, IL
20 Mar – City Winery – Chicago, IL
23 Mar – Fallsview Casino – Niagara Falls, Canada
24 Mar – The Kent Stage – Kent, OH
25 Mar – The State Theatre – State College, PA

German Dates with Uriah Heep

Oct 29 – Munchen – Circus Krone
Oct 30 – Stuttgart – Liederhalle Hegelsaal
Nov 02 – Saarbrucken – Garage
Nov 03 – Treves – Europahalle Trier
Nov 04 – Offenbach – Offenbach Capitol
Nov 06 – Essen – Lichtburg
Nov 09 – Regensburg – Auditorium Maximum
Nov 12 – Hamburg – Docks

Watch the Zombies perform “Time of the Season” on Conan in 2017