Ex-Zombies, legendary keyboardist Rod Argent and wispy-voiced singer Colin Blunstone, have reunited after 30 years to tour with songs from their duo album from last year, as well as Zombies favorites:
Former Zombies keyboardist Rod Argent and singer Colin Blunstone kicked off a nine-city U.S. tour this week. Though the Zombies officially broke up in 1969, Blunstone and Argent had remained friends over the years and decided to get back together after playing a benefit show in London last year.
Argent told LAUNCH that in addition to the obvious hits and songs from the duo's recent album Out Of The Shadows, released last year, fans can expect to hear songs from Blunstone's solo career as well as brand a new song or two. "We go over the whole career. I mean, we do several songs from Odessey & Oracle--obviously we do 'She's Not There' and 'Time Of The Season' and 'Tell Her No' and the big hits that we were associated with as singles, but we do some B-sides. We do things that other people have covered that were big hits, but not for us, I mean. In fact, the other day we decided just to try...There was a song, a B-side that we had on one of the early singles that People covered called 'I Love You,' which was a big hit in the States. We never, ever played that, ever, and we just ran it through the other day and I think we might even put that in."
Argent said they also plan to perform several of his songs that others had hits with over the years. "We do some Argent stuff. We do 'Hold Your Head Up,' we do things from Argent that were huge hits for other people but not necessarily for us--like, Three Dog Night had a big hit with 'Liar,' and we do that on stage. We had an enormous hit in Europe called 'God Gave Rock And Roll To You,' which didn't mean anything in America, but of course Kiss covered it many years later and had a huge hit with it."
Article comments
1 - Dick McEwen
I happened to catch the opening show on the tour at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg, PA (a great, intimate venue by the way). Even though they were playing with a last minute substitute drummer since their regular one had visa problems, they were excellent.
Refreshingly, the show didn't have a nostalgic "oldies" feel, even though most of the songs were familiar. They did all of the hits except "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" which I would have loved to hear. They did "I Love You" which I was unaware had originally been done by them and sprinkled in some obscurities from their albums, particularly "Odyssey and Oracle", and some interesting covers, including "Summertime" and "Misty Roses". They also did a brand new, unreleased song that was one of the best of the evening.
The presentation was relaxed, featuring a lot of between songs storytelling. The war stories gave the concert something of a "Storytellers" feel. It was a great atmosphere, with both the band and the audience equally as excited at what they were hearing.
The original bass player from the Kinks was also in the band.
2 - Eric Olsen
Nice review Dick - the show sounds great. I hope people get out and see it.
3 - Bob Fagan
I believe the bass player touring with them is Jim Rodford, who WAS with the Kinks from about 1978 on, but was not the original Kinks bass player - rather, the fourth, after Pete Quaife, John Dalton and Andy Pyle. He also was bassist in Argent before he joined the Kinks, I believe.
4 - Jean
Colin,where can I find the CD with a song about "Tiger tiger burning bright". It was the last song on the soundtrack of a movie I saw on TV. Can't recall the name. It was such a lovely song, I'd like to have it. I wish someone would sing such a song to me!
Thanks, Jean
5 - Cletus
Is it "the way she acts and the color of her hair.", or is it, "the way she accents the color of her hair". The latter would be a much more incisive observation.
6 - katus
I''ve written a song called "dance in the smoke" inspired by rod argent's 'dance in the smoke'.i need to talk to him or his publisher.
7 - zingzing
i'd change the title before doing so. one might get confused.