Pop Quiz: The Zombies

Pop Quiz: The Zombies

Aidin Vaziri | The Zombies wrote some of the era-defining songs of the past century, including "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season." Too bad the British group, led by singer Colin Blunstone and arranger Rod Argent, broke up just weeks before it released its "Pet Sounds"-rivaling 1968 classic, "Odessey and Oracle." Four decades later, the two men are back at it with a new CD/DVD set, "Live at the Bloomsbury Theater, London," and a reunion tour.

Colin Bluntstone of The Zombies
Q: Does being back on the road feel like the old days -- same drugs, same groupies, same flared trousers?
A: Not quite. I don't think the Zombies ever saw any drugs, let alone took any drugs. We came from the country, and I don't remember seeing any drugs at all in the '60s.
Q: Who exactly were you hanging out with in 1968?
A: We worked with most of the British bands. We worked a lot with the Searchers because we had the same manager. Never worked with the Beatles. Only did a TV show with the Rolling Stones.
Q: Well, it sounds like you have a lot of catching up to do.
A: Being on the road now, one thing you have to do is pace yourself. There's not much partying going on.
Q: That's funny because every time they show drugged-out hippies from the '60s on TV, guess what song they play?
A: For a lot of people "Time of the Season" kind of represents that period. But it was recorded before all that happened. I don't think we were really part of the movement that it became synonymous with. It's a shame.