The Zombies perform at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College on Sept. 29, 2019. (Photo by Jason Nicholson)

Upon induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, keyboardist Rod Argent of The Zombies recalled hearing “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley at the age of 11. “For the next year or so, I just sought out the rawest rock ‘n’ roll I could find: I was totally transfixed by American rock ‘n’ roll; it seemed to represent a world and a culture that was not only magical, but so far removed from our ’50s England that whatever I did, I could never dream of any of us ever being anywhere near it.”

Inspired by Elvis, Miles Davis, and The Beatles, The Zombies recorded two remarkable albums in the ’60s then disbanded. But much like their heroes, The Zombies discovered the public would not forget them, and an initial regrouping in the early ’00s led to a full-blown reunion and The Zombies receiving their due with the Rock Hall in New York in March. Still on a career high from that experience, Rod and vocalist Colin Blunstone took their current Zombies show on the road and appeared at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center in Rockville, Maryland, recently.

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