The Zombies' Rod Argent back on stage after stroke

The Zombies founding member Rod Argent has returned to the stage for his first live performance in two and a half years after suffering a stroke.

The 81-year-old keyboardist said he had felt "really nervous" before joining bandmate Colin Blunstone at St Albans Cathedral as part of the band's annual Begin Here Festival.

Founded in the Hertfordshire city in 1962, the band most recently became active again in 2004 before stopping after Argent's stroke in July 2024.

"I felt people were all trying to make me feel at home in the best possible way, and then after each song they all stood up and cheered... It was very emotional," he said.

Argent was welcomed to the stage with a standing ovation, with the audience rising again after each song.

Singer Blunstone said: "It was very emotional and I think the crowd felt it and we certainly felt it on stage... It was a wonderful reaction to him.

"They were a wonderful audience. They really, really were and they lifted us... It was very moving."

Argent initially thought he had suffered a transient ischaemic attack before hospital tests confirmed it had been a stroke.

The songwriter said: "In my head, if I'm just thinking through things, I've got absolutely no lack of fluency at all.

"But when I speak, sometimes I lose my thread, lose where I'm going... but it is getting better."

Argent also paid tribute to his wife for her support during his recovery, and said he did not want to tour again.

The songwriter – who also founded the eponymous band Argent – said: "Over the last two years she's been wonderful because she's got a few health issues herself, but she was with me when I had the stroke.

"I want to spend more time with my wife now really, because I was away all the time before."

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