The lead singer of The Zombies, Colin Blunstone, expressed gratitude to bandmate Rod Argent for his role in his music career as they played a final concert in their hometown of St Albans. The event was bittersweet, as Blunstone performed without Argent, who retired from touring after suffering a stroke earlier this year. Blunstone praised Argent as a world-class keyboardist and plans to continue his solo career.
The Zombies formed in 1961 when three students from St Albans School and two from Verulam School came together. After winning a local band contest, they joined major British bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in achieving transatlantic success with hits like She’s Not There. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, recognized as the world’s longest-running band. Colin Blunstone fondly recalled their early days and praised Rod Argent’s exceptional talent on the keyboards, which he described as foundational to the band.
The two-day Begin Here festival in St Albans will honor Rod Argent with performances from both new and original members of The Zombies. Colin Blunstone noted that many musicians will express their gratitude for Argent’s inspiration and support. Though tinged with sadness, the event will celebrate Argent’s influence. Blunstone shared that Argent, recovering well from his stroke, plans to continue writing and recording, and he thanked Argent for giving him a career in music.
