"It’s a mistake going back, they tell me that nothin’s the same ever again, but when you walk through that door, it was just like before, oh, nothin’s changed now ?"
Those were the opening lines of three songs popularized by the legendary British pop band Zombies in the ‘60s. "The Way I Feel Inside" "She’s Not There" and "Nothin’s Changed" were songs that were sung by thousands of Filipino fans who watched the group perform in 10 sellout shows at the Araneta Coliseum and four more at the Plaza Restaurant in Makati, the Nile Club and the El Dorado Club on Roxas Boulevard in 1967.
After 39 years, the Zombies are coming back to relive their glory days here in a four-day series of concerts guaranteed to make you swoon, sing along and dance. Velvet-voiced frontman Colin Blunstone, widely known as one of the finest English singers ever, and keyboards wizard Rod Argent are returning to lead the five-man group whose other mainstays are former Kinks bassist Jim Rodford, his son Steve on drums and Keith Airey on lead guitar.
Promoter Steve O’Neal is bringing in the band from London. He didn’t think it could be done at first because the Zombies had not-too-fond memories of their Manila visit four decades ago. They were hoodwinked by their English agent Tito Burns into playing for peanuts, not realizing their records were big sellers in the Philippine market. Burns and the Zombies parted ways after the tour. O’Neal, however, persisted and finally persuaded Blunstone and Argent to make their first Asian appearance in nearly 40 years, citing the recent comeback successes of other British acts like the Searchers, Peter and Gordon and Chad and Jeremy in Manila. Blunstone told O’Neal he remembers singing before crowds of 18,000 to 30,000 here and promised an unforgettable show that will bring to life once more hits like "I Love You" "Time of the Season" "Tell Her No" "I Remember When I Loved Her" "Misty Roses" "Old and Wise" "I Don’t Believe in Miracles" "Indication" and "Summertime." Readers of this column know I’m a big British Invasion fan. I’ve written about British pop music of the ‘60s in past columns, begging for indulgence to give way to my other passion. Back when I was a teenager, I watched the Zombies perform at the Big Dome. I also watched the Searchers, the Dave Clark Five, Peter and Gordon and other British acts of the ‘60s. I never lost my passion for the music of that period. Today, my taste in music is still anchored on British pop with roots in the Beat Boom era of the Beatles. My collection of videos, CDs and books of the British Invasion artists is extensive and continues to grow with more and more reissues out in the market. My dream is to someday visit Merseybeat’s birthplace Liverpool.
In recent years, I’ve managed to watch Cliff Richard, the Hollies, the Searchers, the Who, the Merseybeats, Manfred Mann and yes, the Zombies perform in London and the Moody Blues in the US. You’re never too old to rock and roll and I’m hooked to British pop music of the ‘60s for good. If that’s what is called living in a time warp, then I’m guilty.
That’s why I can’t wait to watch the Zombies perform at the Hard Rock Cafe in Glorietta Makati on Feb. 10, the Manila Hotel on Feb. 11, the Araneta Coliseum on Feb. 13 and the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Feb. 14. I’ll be in the front row for every single show.
What makes the Zombies one of the most durable pop bands of all time is their unique sound. Most of their songs are originals characterized by the purity of Blunstone’s breathy vocals and Argent’s inventive piano and organ. "She’s Not There" and "Time of the Season" both went to No. 1 in the US Cashbox honor roll. "She’s Not There," a minor-key tale of heartbreak with a near-whispered vocal, topped the charts in Japan and Australia, too, and continues to be heard in radio stations all over the world. It sold over two million copies and earned a BMI award for a million US airplays in 1993 and another award for two million airplays four years later.
"Time of the Season," a track from the album "Odessey and Oracle," stayed in the US charts for 13 months in 1969 and also sold over two million copies. It is one of only 32 British singles in the record books for logging at least four million US airplays. The Zombies were formed in 1963 and disbanded in 1967. "Time of the Season" was a posthumous hit and a US promoter put up $20,000 for a reunion concert in 1969 but the Zombies wanted no part of it. With the Zombies in the grave, Argent formed a band aptly called Argent and Blunstone began a solo career that has spawned eight high-quality albums.
In 1993, the Zombies reunited to record the album "New World," disappeared and resurfaced five years later as Blunstone and Argent decided to embark on a rebirth. Since the Zombies’ return, they’ve produced two albums "Out of the Shadows" and "As Far As I Can See."
If a zombie never dies, then so the Zombies won’t. Their music is timeless, enduring and often, haunting. Whether you’re a Baby Boomer or a kid of the New Generation, the Zombies are a can’t-miss proposition. Music lovers of whatever persuasion will undoubtedly enjoy the Zombies in their Manila tour as I’m sure I will.
By the way, O’Neal is reminding you to get your tickets now from Ticketnet (Tel. 951-5555) for the Araneta, Manila Hotel and Ynares concerts. And reservations are being accepted for the Hard Rock show (Tel. 893-9661 to 64). The Zombies were initially booked to perform in only three shows but a huge ticket demand led O’Neal to sign them up for a fourth show at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. See you with the Zombies.