The Zombies 2019 Rock Hall Induction Was a ‘Dream’
by Best Classic Bands Staff
The Zombies on the Red Carpet, prior to their induction into the Class of 2019 on March 29 in Brooklyn, NY (L-R: Rod Argent, Hugh Grundy, Chris White, Colin Blunstone)
The Zombies showed genuine appreciation on March 29, 2019, when they were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2019.
There was no evidence of sour grapes for the British Invasion band, eligible for entry decades ago. For the group’s two principals, Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, the feeling was “dreamlike,” a word they frequently repeated before, during and after their induction at the Barclays Center. “I’m finding it hard to believe,” said Blunstone, the band’s primary vocalist and singer of such ’60s pop hits as “She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season.”
He added, “It’s a bit dreamlike and a recognition from our peer group.”
Watch them perform “She’s Not There” at their induction ceremony
Related: Stevie Nicks’ Class of 2019 induction
Susanna Hoffs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, March 29, 2019, Brooklyn, NY
The group were presented on stage by Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, a fan of theirs for decades, who noted that it started when she was “a little girl in the backseat of my mom’s station wagon. They were on the radio and I was transformed. In 1964, they had two hits, ‘Tell Her No’ and ‘She’s Not There,’ and it was those two songs.” Watch her speech below.
Blunstone remarked that “‘Time of the Season’ was #1 on Cash Box 50 years ago to the day, so there are many, many memories that come back and it makes for quite an emotional evening for us.”
Argent and Blunstone were joined by fellow members Hugh Grundy and Chris White at the induction. Paul Atkinson, an original Zombie who later became a successful A&R executive for several major record labels, died in 2004 and was honored posthumously.
Watch Hoffs’ induction speech (“When I grow up, I want to do that”)
The Zombies have had a renaissance in recent years thanks, in part, to the 50th anniversary of their 1968 LP, Odessey and Oracle. The album had an unusual path to success: by the time it was released, the band had broken up. The album, now considered the group’s masterpiece, includes “Time of the Season.” Their recordings are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Related: Our interview with the Zombies about their masterpiece
Watch them perform the song at the induction
Thank you to Michael Mellon for the videos.
The Zombies have a 2023 studio album, Different Game. See them on tour. Tickets are available here and here.
8 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThe Zombies were/are awesome. About way past time they were voted in. Great songs like A Rose For Emily, I’ll Call You Mine, etc., and of course She’s Not There among others. I got Zombie love.
Ooooof, his voice is shot.
And that’s not Suzanna Hoffs in that picture.
You’re right. It’s Susanna Hoffs in the picture.
I have to give Colin credit for trying…but I have to agree, his control and voice quality is gone. Argent playing is excellent.
Maybe his voice quality is gone, but we have to realize it’s been going on six decades! They gave us some great memories!
Unless you’re Tony Bennett, you have no hope sounding like your younger self. The audience has to adjust their mindset when the “wrinkled teenagers” are on stage. Rather they didn’t play at all?
Yes you’re right, it’s a rare performer whose voice can withstand that many decades. Maybe Tony Bennett or a Rod Stewart?
It’s about them making their sounds in their time. I remember them as the host recalled, hearing their sound back in the sixties and thinking what strange and mesmerizing songs they were.
All good, it carries on.
Or David Crosby.