Rod Argent—the primary songwriter, keyboardist, and founder of the wildly influential 1960s rock group the Zombies—will immediately retire from touring following a stroke. Argent and the Zombies’ team at the Rocks Management announced the news today, writing, in a statement, that Argent’s stroke occurred not long after he returned home to London from a tour with his band. The stroke led to an overnight hospitalization, with Argent’s doctors advising “several months of rest and recuperation.” Find the full statement here.
“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,” Chris Tuthill and Cindy da Silva wrote in their announcement. “He was already preparing to wind down his live performance schedule after health scares on recent tours. However, the stroke was an unmistakable warning sign that the risks are too great. Rod still firmly intends to continue his other creative joy of writing and recording with the Zombies, and has already been back at his piano for some much-needed ‘Bach therapy.’”
Argent formed the Zombies in St Albans, England, in 1961 alongside vocalist Colin Blunstone. They were famously the second UK band, following the Beatles, to scale the American charts with a No. 1 hit. Tracks like “She’s Not There,” “Tell Her No,” and “Time of the Season” edified them as greats of the British Invasion.
In 1975, Argent retired from touring with the Zombies for the first time, hoping to spend more time with his family and focus on songwriting and producing. But, in 1999, Blunstone asked him to play six of his solo shows. Six concerts turned into an additional 25 years of touring and recording with the Zombies.