01Profile
A The Zombies Photo
The Zombies
Singer/Songwriter — Hertfordshire
03Interview
Colin Blunstone (second from the right) and The Zombies in the early 1960s
Name
Colin Edward Michael Blunstone
What do you do?
I'm a singer songwriter though I sing more regularly than I write.
Where are you from?
I'm from Hatfield in Hertfordshire though I went to school in St. Albans where I met the rest of The Zombies.
Describe your style in three words?
"Never Say Die".
Which band had the biggest influence on your music?
The Beatles are my all time favourite band. They changed everything and in particular created a world wide interest in British music.
You can spend an hour with anyone from history - who would it be?
Without meaning to sound irreverent I would genuinely like to ask Jesus for some simple and precise answers about the meaning of life and death.
With their seminal hit singles such as ‘She’s Not There’ and ‘Time Of The Season’ forming part of the 1960s British invasion, generations of new bands have cited The Zombies’ songs as cultural touchstones. The diverse list of artists to credit their influence includes Paul Weller, Steve Cradock, The Moons, Nick Cave, The Vaccines, Beck, Belle and Sebastian, Beach House, Temples and many more.
Founder members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent reformed the band in 2000 and still tour to this day, with their album ‘Still Got That Hunger’ released in 2015. For upcoming live dates and more information visit www.thezombiesmusic.com
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
First track you played on repeat?
'Hound Dog' by Elvis Presley. What a voice what a drum sound. No one had ever heard anything like it before and I just played it over and over again.
One record you would keep forever?
'She's Not There' by The Zombies. One session in Decca's West Hampstead studio changed my life forever!
Song that defines the teenage you?
I was 18 when The Zombies won the "Herts Beat Competition" in 1964 and for the first time I dared to believe we could possibly have a career as professional musicians. One of the songs we played in the competition was 'You Can't Do That' by The Beatles and we played it again in a U.S. Beatles festival earlier this year.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Fragile' by Sting is my favourite song. It's simple lyric seems to capture the very essence of life, re-enforcing how precious life is and yet how easily it can be taken away.
Best Gig you have ever been to?
In the early 70's I saw Carole King and James Taylor at The Fairfield Hall in Croydon. I remember Carole King saying that 'Tapestry' had just gone to No. 1 in the U.S. charts ...so many great songs like, 'I Feel The Earth Move', and 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' and James Taylor complimented her so perfectly with songs like 'Fire and Rain'. A magical night that I will never forget!
A song you wished you had written?
'God Only Knows' by the Beach Boys. Brilliant song beautifully arranged and Carl Wilson's vocal is breathtaking!
Four new songs you're listening to at the moment, and why?
I'm collecting material for a new solo album and listening to demos by writers like Chris Eaton and Christian Phillips and also old classic masterpieces but I'm not going to tell you what in case you record them before me!
03Interview
Colin Blunstone (second from the right) and The Zombies in the early 1960s
Name
Colin Edward Michael Blunstone
What do you do?
I'm a singer songwriter though I sing more regularly than I write.
Where are you from?
I'm from Hatfield in Hertfordshire though I went to school in St. Albans where I met the rest of The Zombies.
Describe your style in three words?
"Never Say Die".
Which band had the biggest influence on your music?
The Beatles are my all time favourite band. They changed everything and in particular created a world wide interest in British music.
You can spend an hour with anyone from history - who would it be?
Without meaning to sound irreverent I would genuinely like to ask Jesus for some simple and precise answers about the meaning of life and death.
With their seminal hit singles such as ‘She’s Not There’ and ‘Time Of The Season’ forming part of the 1960s British invasion, generations of new bands have cited The Zombies’ songs as cultural touchstones. The diverse list of artists to credit their influence includes Paul Weller, Steve Cradock, The Moons, Nick Cave, The Vaccines, Beck, Belle and Sebastian, Beach House, Temples and many more.
Founder members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent reformed the band in 2000 and still tour to this day, with their album ‘Still Got That Hunger’ released in 2015. For upcoming live dates and more information visit www.thezombiesmusic.com
04Playlist Notes
First track you played on repeat?
'Hound Dog' by Elvis Presley. What a voice what a drum sound. No one had ever heard anything like it before and I just played it over and over again.
One record you would keep forever?
'She's Not There' by The Zombies. One session in Decca's West Hampstead studio changed my life forever!
Song that defines the teenage you?
I was 18 when The Zombies won the "Herts Beat Competition" in 1964 and for the first time I dared to believe we could possibly have a career as professional musicians. One of the songs we played in the competition was 'You Can't Do That' by The Beatles and we played it again in a U.S. Beatles festival earlier this year.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Fragile' by Sting is my favourite song. It's simple lyric seems to capture the very essence of life, re-enforcing how precious life is and yet how easily it can be taken away.
Best Gig you have ever been to?
In the early 70's I saw Carole King and James Taylor at The Fairfield Hall in Croydon. I remember Carole King saying that 'Tapestry' had just gone to No. 1 in the U.S. charts ...so many great songs like, 'I Feel The Earth Move', and 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' and James Taylor complimented her so perfectly with songs like 'Fire and Rain'. A magical night that I will never forget!
A song you wished you had written?
'God Only Knows' by the Beach Boys. Brilliant song beautifully arranged and Carl Wilson's vocal is breathtaking!
Four new songs you're listening to at the moment, and why?
I'm collecting material for a new solo album and listening to demos by writers like Chris Eaton and Christian Phillips and also old classic masterpieces but I'm not going to tell you what in case you record them before me!