The Zombies will never say die
When The Zombies were formed in 1961, founding member Rod Argent never thought they would still be playing music over 50 years later. Today, the British band continues to tour the world with Argent and lead vocalist Colin Blunstone enjoying a revival in their celebrated careers.
Who would’ve imagined that, at the height of the British Invasion in the mid-‘60s, The Zombies would outlive The Beatles? But then, they’re not called The Zombies for nothing. Argent and Blunstone refuse to fade away because their fans won’t have it any other way. They’re now both 67 with their vocal cords incredibly intact. Blunstone says he sings Zombies songs today in their original keys from the ‘60s with no enhancement, no artificial sweeteners and no backing assistance.
Argent says it’s phenomenal that in five decades of performing Zombies songs, fans crossing generations still loyally patronize the band. “We’re selling records more now than ever,” says Argent. Before flying over to the Philippines for two shows recently, The Zombies did three gigs in Tokyo. Next year, they’re booked for three US tours, one of which involves a cruise from Florida to the West Indies with another British band, the Moody Blues.
The Zombies initially invaded Manila in 1967. They returned in 2006 and for their third visit, performed at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu last Oct. 17 and at the PICC Plenary Hall in Manila two nights later. The Cebu show featured 21 songs, including three encores (Going Out Of My Head, Summertime and How We Were Before). The Manila set list struck out Sticks and Stones and Whenever You’re Ready but included Old and Wise. The songs that drew a standing ovation in both shows were Miles Away, The Way I Feel Inside, She’s Not There, Tell Her No, You Really Got A Hold On Me and Time of the Season.
Blunstone, widely regarded as one of the greatest British pop vocalists of all time, says the Philippine repertoire is unlike any other because The Zombies’ resonance with Filipino fans is unique. It is only in the Philippines where the band performs Miles Away, How We Were Before and The Way I Feel Inside, so Blunstone sticks lyric sheets onstage “for safety” as he’s not used to singing the songs. No matter the unfamiliarity, Blunstone sang them in his impeccable style and at the PICC, co-producers Rajan Gidwani and Steve O’Neal approached the stage after Miles Away to bow in admiration.
It was The Zombies’ 45th anniversary of their Manila tour in 1967 and Filipino fans got their money’s worth thrice over. Levi Castillo said he was 19 when he watched The Zombies at the Araneta Coliseum in 1967 and couldn’t believe how “Nothing’s Changed” with the group. PAL vice president Bong Cruz said Blunstone’s voice is as smooth and powerful as ever. Even Rep. Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady, went backstage to pose for pictures with The Zombies, thanking the band for honoring the country with its brand of music. Betsy Tan-Cowper remembered hosting The Zombies at their family home in 1967 and brought a scrapbook with pictures of the visit to show Argent and Blunstone backstage. Former Chief Justice Renato Corona and wife Cristina, Anmarie Paris-Achacoso, Cuquita Genato-Jordana and Manuel Genato also took pictures with The Zombies after the PICC concert.
On their free night in Manila, the band joined friends to celebrate the birthday of their No. 1 Filipino fan in Alabang Hills. Argent and Blunstone even did a duet of “Happy Birthday” which is now on YouTube. Among the guests who met The Zombies were Hermie and Malou Esguerra, Rajan and Sheila Gidwani with their daughter Karishma, Danee and Mady Samonte, Noli and Irene Eala, Patrick Gregorio, Rajko and Tanya Toroman, Dave Dichupa, Gee and Karen Abanilla, Bonnie and Virma Vergel de Dios, Juno and Agnes Sauler, Mac Cuan and Blenda, Dr. George and Glennda Canlas, Dr. Manny and Regie Canlas, Mari and Christy Ojeda, Jun Limpot, Tommy and Tess Loanzon, Dondi and Jennifer Verano, Mon and Tweetie Gonzalez, Jun del Rosario, Manish and Ana Mahtani and Mary Anne Gomez.
Talking about his personal life, Blunstone says his daughter Rosie, an only child, is back in school taking up medicine after graduating with a history degree. He jokes that in his old age, it’s good to have a daughter who’s a doctor. With four more years of school left to pay for, Blunstone laughs that it’s why he still has to do gigs. Kidding aside, Blunstone is happy that his daughter has found her true calling. His wife Suzy is a former flight attendant with British Airways. As for Argent, his daughter Elesa recently gave birth to her first child, Henry Luke. Elesa has a doctorate in sports science and is writing a book on her expertise. She is married to an Austrian banker.
Argent says he began listening to classical music when he was four. He took up piano lessons when he was nine, was turned on to rock and roll by Elvis Presley when he was 11 and sang with a cathedral choir until he was 16. Argent could’ve studied at a university but was determined to make music his career. In 1964, Argent knew he would be a professional musician for life when The Zombies’ first single She’s Not There zoomed to No. 1 in the charts. The song eventually registered over four million airplays in the US. Another single, Time of the Season, posted six million airplays.
Bassist Jim Rodford, Argent’s cousin, was an original Zombies member in 1961 but left before She’s Not There hit it big. Rodford performed with The Kinks for 18 years and The Animals, too, before rejoining The Zombies in 1998. Rodford’s son Steve is now The Zombies’ drummer. Guitarist Tom Toomey, who is involved in a charity foundation called Music For Africa that provides music lessons for impoverished blacks in South Africa, joined The Zombies three years ago.
Make no mistake about it, The Zombies are alive and going strong. They’re literally a never-say-die act for the ages.
