CONTACT:
Randi Millman
The Wilbur
Randi@TheWilbur.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Zombies Come to The Wilbur
WHAT: On Tuesday, October 6th, 2015, The Zombies are coming to The Wilbur in Boston’s historic Theatre District.
For the first time ever, British psychedelic pop legends, The Zombies, will bring their seminal 1968 album “Odessey & Oracle” to American stages – an event fans have awaited for almost 50 years!
This unique presentation will unite past and present….featuring both the current incarnation of The Zombies performing material from their highly-anticipated new studio album……and a reunion of all 4 surviving original members, who will lovingly recreate “Odessey & Oracle” in its entirety with full instrumentation.
Founding and current members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent will be joined original bassist/co-songwriter Chris White and drummer Hugh Grundy for their first American tour together in 5 decades…bringing to our shores the long-overdue live debut of the album that marked the end of their career… and the beginning of their legacy.
#100 of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” (Rolling Stone)
“a beautifully arranged, harmony-drenched pristine pop paean to memory, the changing of seasons, the passage of time and lost love – [it] slowly began to be recognized as one of the greatest albums of the 1960’s.” (New York Times)
“[Odessey & Oracle] bore not only the timeless hit “Time Of The Season” but an accompanying suite of songs that are among the very best ever in the pop era.” (Rolling Stone)
“Odessey and Oracle was their shining moment – a cornucopia of pop-art songs and elegant arrangements worthy of McCartney at his Revolver-era best.” (Record Collector)
“Anyone with an interest in 60s artistic pop will adore the underrated Odessey and Oracle” (Q,)
“Their masterpiece… without doubt one of the best albums of its era.” (Mojo)
“The beat boom’s most refined and elegant group, they specialised in unashamedly romantic pop – whether heartfelt and personal, wistful and nostalgic, or inspired by literature… Released at the height of hippie hedonism and narcissism, [Odessey & Oracle] was a last gasp from the age of innocence…” (The Times)
“The Zombies were psychedelic gods…[Odessey] moved them from of-their-time to timeless” (The Guardian)
YESTERDAY
Original line-up: Hugh Grundy (drums), Colin Blunstone (lead vocals), Chris White (bass/vocals),
Rod Argent (keyboards/vocals), Paul Atkinson (guitar)
By 1967, The Zombies had already ridden the wave of the “British Invasion”, following The Beatles as the 2nd UK band to score a #1 hit in America. With the initial success of their singles “She’s Not There” and “Tell Her No”, the band entered Abbey Road Studios in London with experimental ideas and 12 new songs written by keyboardist Rod Argent and bassist Chris White. The result was “Odessey & Oracle”, released by CBS Records in 1968, with its famously misspelled album cover by artist Terry Quirk.
Sadly, the album failed to generate any attention upon its release, prompting the group to disband and move on to other projects. The Zombies never performed the material live, and the band would remain dormant for decades. However, this decision proved premature.
A year after their break-up, the last track on the album, “Time of the Season”, became the surprise world-wide chart-topping song of 1969. And by the 1980’s, “Odessey & Oracle” had been rediscovered as an enduring pop masterpiece – to this day, it continues to be embraced by new generations of fans, cited by breaking artists as a major influence, and lauded by critics as a touchstone in music.
The band members continued to stay active in the music industry throughout the years as performers, writers and producers – guitarist Paul Atkinson was a successful record label executive until he passed away in 2004.
TODAY
Current line-up: Jim Rodford (bass/vocals), Rod Argent (keyboards/vocals), Steve Rodford (drums), Colin Blunstone (lead vocals), Tom Toomey (guitar/vocals)
Following the break-up of the original band, lead singer Colin Blunstone went on to develop an acclaimed solo career, and keyboardist/songwriter Rod Argent rocked ‘70’s arenas with his eponymous band ARGENT, but the legend of The Zombies continued to take on a life of its own. By the start of the new Millennium, Blunstone and Argent were inspired to resurrect The Zombies, recruiting bassist Jim Rodford (formerly of ARGENT and The Kinks), Rodford’s son Steve on drums, and renowned session guitarist Tom Toomey.
2013-2014 marked a major resurgence for the band, with two U.K. and five U.S. tours (including stops at SXSW in Austin, NYC’s Central Park SummerStage, Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival and Milwaukee SummerFest)…the American release of their new album, “Breathe Out, Breathe In” (Huffington Post’s David Wild called the album “inspired” and said “some songs recall the haunting melodic heights of the group’s 1968 masterpiece Odessey and Oracle.”)… the debut on RollingStone.com & VEVO of their first-ever music video for “Any Other Way”… a PBS Special filmed on the legendary Austin City Limits stage….Eminem’s sample/cover version of “Time of the Season” on his comeback album… the amazing Keira Knightley “She’s Not There” campaign for Coco Chanel… and the announcement of their first nomination to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
The Zombies returned to the studio in early 2015 to begin work on a new album – only taking breaks to debut new songs live during a triumphant return to SXSW, a live Yahoo! Screen broadcast from House of Blues New Orleans, and their first appearances at the UK’s Great Escape and Glastonbury Festivals. The new album, “Still Got That Hunger”, slated for a September 2015 release, was produced by Chris Potter (The Verve “Urban Hymns”, Rolling Stones “Steel Wheels”) and has been the focus of a PledgeMusic campaign, giving fans the first-time opportunity to come behind-the-scenes and the band writes and records.
RECENT PRESS QUOTES
“having influenced the likes of Nick Cave, R.E.M. and Foo Fighters, (The Zombies are) riding the wave of a heralded comeback album (2011’s Breathe Out, Breathe In), and chomping into a new generation of brains with their time-tested earworms.”
Rolling Stone Magazine: “SXSW 2015: 30 Artists You need to See”
“Just because South By is best known as a place to showcase the freshest young talent doesn’t mean a legacy act can’t bring down the house, because that’s just what The Zombies did at the Rolling Stone showcase.”
Billboard Magazine: “12 Unforgettable Moments From Music’s First Big Day”
“One new song, “Maybe Tomorrow,”…sounded like a lost B-side from 1966”
Rolling Stone Magazine: “50 Best Things We Saw At SXSW”
“SXSW is where you want to catch emerging acts, but when a vintage act this good comes to town, you go. The Zombies are sixties icons. The end.”
Vogue Magazine: “The Best Music Shows to See at SXSW”
“I couldn’t help throwing my hands in the air, singing with my head lifted to the heavens…
the Zombies’ music…it’s FOREVER!”
The Lefsetz Letter
“…these Zombies sounded as timeless as their music. Like Tony Bennett, (Colin Blunstone’s) voice is a miracle preserved in amber, unchanged for the last 50 years.
Dallas Morning News
“…the legendary English outfit’s concert Tuesday night had the feel of a showcase for a buzz-worthy band making a big splash rather than a British Invasion original formed more than 50 years ago”
Orange County Register
“Every musician at Bumbershoot, however, could’ve taken a cue from The Zombies’ faultless program of irresistible hits and baroque pop masterworks…spectral-voiced lead singer Colin Blunstone routinely hit notes that’d intimidate singers a third of his age”
The Sun Break, Seattle
“Argent’s keyboard playing showcased nearly all of his tricks that he’s learned over his career. That man is a bad ass and definitely something to watch.”
SSG Music Portland
“This was a vital, involving pop parade fashioned from the past but built very much for the here and now.”
Kentucky.com
“I’ve never been to a show where I’ve felt more humbled or surprised”
Phoenix New Times
“The Zombies are brilliant for sold-out Largo Center. An impeccable performance can sometimes leave you speechless or in this case hesitant to formulate sentences. That was my reaction after witnessing The Zombies concert…Maybe a simple interjection would suffice…WOW. The Zombies were spectacular!”
Examiner.com
“The Zombies….played a wonderfully fun show last night at New York’s Highline Ballroom… Best of all, they played their hits with genuine verve….It’s fun when the band wants the crowd to have good time. It’s nice when everyone, on-stage and in the audience, is wearing their Nice Jeans for a reason.”
Vanity Fair
For tickets and more information about The Wilbur and other great events visit https://wilburboston.wpengine.com.
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WHEN: Tuesday, October 6th, 2015 – 8:00 PM
COST: $45.00 – $65.00
WHERE: The Wilbur | 246 Tremont Street | Boston, MA 02116 | 617.248.9700
TICKETS: Visit www.wilburboston.wpengine.com, or call the box office at 617.248.9700
About The Wilbur:
Celebrating 100 years, The Wilbur, nestled in Boston’s historic Theatre District, is the premiere destination for comedy and music in Boston, MA. Built in 1914 by The Shubert Brothers, The Wilbur opened in 1915 and was named for The Shubert Theatre’s manager A.L. Wilbur. Recently revitalized by former Comedy Connection owner Bill Blumenreich in July of 2008, The Wilbur has become a first-class venue showcasing A-list comedians and musicians. A Comedy Central verified venue, the theater has attracted the best of the best in comedy including Aziz Ansari, Louis CK, Kevin Hart, Katt Williams and Jim Gaffigan. They also boast award-winning musicians from all genres such as Boyz II Men, Lauryn Hill, Lyle Lovitt and Smoky Robinson. Offering an intimate show setting, The Wilbur provides the perfect environment for enjoying comedy sensations and chart topping artists in the heart of Boston’s historic Theater District.
The Wilbur is located at 246 Tremont Street in Boston, MA. For more information, please visit www.wilburboston.wpengine.com, or call 617.248.9700.
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