The Zombies
By Dave White, About.com Guide
The Zombies in 1964
Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images
Origins of The Zombies:
Original Members:
Rod Argent - keyboards, vocals, songwriterColin Blunstone - lead vocals
Chris White - bass, vocals, songwriting
Paul Atkinson - guitar, vocals Hugh Grundy - drums
First Album:
The Zombies (1965)Most Recent Album
The Zombies Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London (2007)Signature Songs:
"She's Not There""Tell Her No"
"Time of the Season"
Essential CD:
Odessey and Oracle
The album with the misspelled title was the last the band recorded before disbanding. Its unique melodies and harmonies set the group apart from others who were part of the British Invasion of American rock in the mid '60s.
The Zombies Begin:
Like so many Brit bands of the era, The Zombies started as a group of schoolboy chums with a lineup that was dictated by whose house had enough room to rehearse.
Their showing in a band competition led to a deal with Decca Records which produced their first single, "She's Not There" in 1964, followed in short order by "Tell Her No" in early 1965.
Powered by Colin Blunstone's voice, lyrics by Rod Argent and Chris White, and a generous infusion of jazz and classical influences, The Zombies put together a sound that was quite unlike anyone else's, and helped define [http://classicrock.about.com/od/glossary/g/psych_rock.htm]psychedelic rock.
The Zombies End, and Begin Again:
It wasn't personal or creative differences that led the group to disband in 1968 after recording only their second studio album. It was simply that they weren't making enough money to continue.
In 2000, Blunstone and Argent had a chance meeting at a benefit concert that resulted in an impromptu performance, then to a tour, a new original album in 2004 and a live album in 2007.
All of the surviving members (guitarist Paul Atkinson died in 2004) toured in 2008 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Odessey and Oracle. A 50th anniversary tour and new album are planned for 2011.
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