The Zombies’ Rod Argent Recovering From Stroke, Announces Retirement From Touring

The Zombies founding keyboardist and leader, Rod Argent, announced his retirement from touring after suffering from a stroke. Argent recently returned home from wrapping up The Zombies’ tour of the UK, and his management wrote in a statement he has been released after staying overnight at the hospital. They also wrote that doctors advised he will need several months of rest and recuperation.

“Rod has asked us to convey that he made the very difficult decision to immediately retire from touring in order to protect his health,” his management, Chris Tuthill and Cindy da Silva, said in a joint statement. “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. Rod still firmly intends to continue his other creative joy of writing and recording with The Zombies, and als already been back at his piano for some much-needed ‘Bach therapy.'”

This isn’t the first time Argent has retired from touring, as he took time off the road from 1975 until 1999 to focus on his family. He eventually returned after being asked to fill in on Colin Blunstone’s solo gigs as a keyboard player, with Argent initially committing to perform just six shows.

“What we have to tell fans today is that all upcoming performances by The Zombies will be canceled,” management said in a statement. “However, our second annual Begin Here Festival in St. Albans, UK (Nov. 8-10, 2024) will continue. This fan weekend celebrating The Zombies and the historical and vibrant city where they formed is made even more important by this news. Our hope is to replace the scheduled Zombies performance with a special show honoring Rod, and ask fans to hold on to thier tickets until we had time to regroup and announce new plans.”