Rod Argent — founder, keyboardist and primary songwriter of UK psych rock outfit the Zombies — has announced his retirement from touring after suffering a stroke.
In a release, the band's management wrote how doctors have advised that Argent will require "several months of rest and recuperation" following the stroke.
"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," management writes. "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 has already been back at his piano for some much-needed 'Bach therapy.'"
Management notes that with this news, "all upcoming performances by the Zombies will be cancelled," save for their appearances at the second annual Begin Here Festival in St. Albans, UK, in November: "Our hope is to replace the scheduled Zombies performance with a special show honouring Rod, and ask fans to hold on to their tickets until we've had time to regroup and announce new plans."
An official Zombies documentary titled Hung Up on a Dream, directed by Robert Schwartzman, is slated for theatrical and streaming release later this year. The band's most recent album is 2023's Argent-produced Different Game.