’60s rock legend Rod Argent, who founded The Zombies, has been forced to immediately retire from touring after suffering from a stroke.
The incident occurred after the English rock band returned from their tour of the UK.
“Rod had recently returned home from a triumphant Zombies tour of the UK, and spent a weekend in London with his beloved wife Cathy, celebrating his 79th birthday and their 52nd wedding anniversary, before the stroke occurred,” an announcement from their management said, as per Variety.
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“He was hospitalised overnight, and released the next day. Doctors have advised that Rod will need several months of rest and recuperation.
Argent therefore decided to make the decision to step away from the stage.
“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,” the announcement continued.
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The keyboardist was already planning to end his live performance schedule after suffering health scares on recent tours, with their planned Fall USA tour for this year intended to be his final overseas tour as “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. 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.’ the statement concluded.
Argent and vocalist Colin Blunstone formed The Zombies in St. Albans, north of London in 1961. They achieved notoriety for their hit song She’s Not There, allowing them to score their first in the US and the UK. This was followed up with the success of their 1965 hit Tell Her No and 1968’s Time of the Season.
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Their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle was ranked number 100 on Rolling Stone‘s 2012 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and number 243 on their 2020 list.
The band had split one year before, in 1967, but Argent and Blunstone decided to reunite in 2004 and have been performing, mostly as The Zombies, ever since. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
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