Legendary rock and roll band The Zombies have canceled upcoming tour dates after founding member Rod Argent suffered a stroke.
Argent, the keyboardist and primary songwriter for the “Time of the Season” group, was hospitalized with a stroke after celebrating his 79th birthday in London with his wife of 52 years. He was released the next day, but doctors advised he will need several months of rest and recuperation, The Zombies’ management said.
“Rod has asked us to convey that he has made the very difficult decision to immediately retire from touring in order to protect his health,” a statement said Thursday. “He was already preparing to wind down his live performance schedule after health scares on recent tours (a Fall 2024 USA run was in the works that was intended to be his final overseas tour, and a farewell to the country that launched The Zombies’ career in 1964). However, the stroke was an unmistakable warning sign that the risks are too great.”
The Zombies had one Upstate New York concert scheduled on the planned farewell tour, but the Sept. 21 performance at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is now canceled.
Argent still plans to continue writing and recording with The Zombies, management said, and he “has already been back at his piano for some much-needed ‘Bach therapy.’” It’s unclear if the band will reschedule shows in the U.S.; the current lineup includes original singer Colin Blunstone, who is also 79.
“As Rod’s experience shows, we don’t know what the future holds,” the statement said.
The Zombies’ “Begin Here Festival” is still scheduled to go on Nov. 8-10, 2024, in St. Albans, UK. The fan weekend aims to replace the scheduled Zombies performance with a special show honoring Argent.
The Zombies were part of the British Invasion scene in the 1960s, hitting the U.S. charts with hits like “She’s Not There,” “Tell Her No,” and “Time of the Season.” The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Chris Tuthill and Cindy da Silva, who have managed The Zombies for more than a decade, urged fans to go see their favorite artists while they can.
“...If a classic artist that has made music you love is performing nearby, don’t miss the opportunity to see them,” they said. “You can sit on the couch and binge Netflix another day. The communal experience of a live performance by a veteran artist is a singular and joyous moment. These artists are treasures who have stood the test of time and are giving their all, but they are fragile human beings like all of us. Don’t miss out.”