A special homecoming concert is being performed by Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent of The Zombies at St Albans Cathedral next Friday, October 21.

The rare acoustic piano and vocal performance by the founders of The Zombies’ brings the duo back to St Albans where the band was formed.

It was in the Blacksmiths Arms in the city centre where five St Albans students met to form the band with keyboardist/songwriter Rod beginning his musical career at a boy chorister at the cathedralfounders, The pub now carries a plaque commemorating the launch of the band.

The Zombies became famous for hits like She’s Not There and Tell Her No but ironically, they broke up in 1968 just before achieving their greatest success, the chart-topping single Time of the Season from their album Odyssey and Oracle.

In the intervening years, lead singer Colin went on to develop an acclaimed solo career and keyboardist/songwriter Rod formed his eponymous band Argent, responsible for the hit Hold Your Head Up.

Generations of new bands have cited The Zombies’ work as pop touchstones, including such artists as Neko Case and Nick Cave, Paul Weller, The Vaccines, She & Him, Beck, Belle and Sebastian, The Black Angels, The Fleet Foxes, Beach House and The Beautiful South.

Colin and Rod reunited in 2000 with a new Zombies line-up, which has now come full circle with the October 2015 release of Still Got That Hunger.

They describe themselves as ‘honoured and excited’ by the invitation to perform in The Abbey as it is known locally. Colin remarked: “Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such a breathtaking opportunity.”

Joined by a guest string quintet, the concert will span the musicians’ five-decade careers from its origins in St Albans.

Tickets and further information can be found here.