THE legendary Zombies are taking to the road next month.

The band, having celebrated their 50th anniversary last year, are busier than ever these days and are in ever-increasing demand.

“The 50th anniversary shows were absolutely great,” says founder-member and keyboard player Rod Argent.

“It was a very intense year as we toured just about everywhere, and this year is proving to be even more so.”

The band, which features original members Rod and singer Colin Blunstone, along with bassist Jim Rodford (ex-Kinks and Argent — and Rod’s cousin), guitarist Tom Toomey, and Jim’s son Steve Rodford on drums, has just returned from America where things have gone exceptionally well. The band formed in St Albans in 1962 and had a hit with She’s Not There, which was only the third song Rod composed and was later covered by Santana.

Further success eluded them until the release — in America — of the album Odessey and Oracle.

The album spawned the single Time of the Season and the album has since become one of the most feted.

However, the success that should have been theirs was passed up because the band had split up.

Rod formed Argent and Colin had a very successful solo career.

They got back together 12 years ago and have been touring ever since.

Apart from a brief reunion tour by the band Argent last year, Rod says that he is concentrating on The Zombies these days.

A new live album is being released around the time of the tour.

Colin’s vocals — a trademark of the band, are as clear as ever — and the solos allow the band some creative freedom on stage.

“There’s a lot of improvisation in the set which means that we can play what we feel,” says Rod. The set list for the UK tour promises to be exciting for the band as well as the audience.

Rod said: “Obviously there are tracks that we have to play and of course we’ll do a selection from Odessey and Oracle as well as Argent’s Hold Your Head Up and some of Colin’s solo stuff.

“We recently came across Tom Petty’s version of our I Want You Back Again which we haven’t played, so we may include that this year, and some very old ones like You Really Got a Hold On Me and Going Out of my Head.”

n The Zombies will be appearing at The Lowry Theatre, Salford, on Monday May 20. Tickets are available from the box office on 0843 208 6000 and from all the usual agencies.