The Zombies Weren't Hung Up on a Dream; They Got to Live It

 

This evening, I attended a screening of the documentary Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Boston's Seaport District.

It was the first time I've ever been to an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema anywhere. It has a format in which you dine in the theatre while also strictly enforcing no late admissions, no talking and no cell phones during screenings.

There was no danger in me violating any of these rules. I was looking forward to seeing the movie. My anticipation for the movie was built as the theatre played videos of '60s and '70s rock including Fanny's Beat Club performance of "Ain't That Peculiar". 

Hung Up on a Dream: The Documentary began with a montage of YouTube reactors providing reviews of their 1968 landmark album Odessey & Oracle as well as reactions to the big hit from that album "Time of the Season."

Zombies lead singer Colin Blunstone said he wasn't sure if the band was "lucky or unlucky." Oh, they were most definitely lucky. 

They were lucky in the circumstances under which they met, crafted their music, earned a recording contract, debuted with the smash hit "She's Not There" becoming one of the most popular bands of the British Invasion.

It isn't to say that there weren't difficult times. Like many other of their contemporaries, they earned a pittance if they were paid at all. The Zombies would end the 1960's with a number one hit in "Time of the Season" but by this time the band had broken up and several of its members were working regular jobs including Blunstone. To make matters worse, there were fake Zombies bands making public appearances lip-syncing "Time of the Season". One of these bands included future ZZ Top members Dusty Hill and Frank Beard.

But the good times outweighed the bad times for The Zombies. Its four surviving original members - Blunstone, Rod Argent, Chris White and Hugh Grundy get on reasonably well with no litigation disputes amongst them. Paul Atkinson passed away in 2004 but would become a highly respected record executive. 

The group would have a second act this century when the opportunity presented itself to play Odessey & Oracle in its entirety. On a personal note, I had the opportunity to attend one of those shows in Boston at the Wilbur Theatre 8 years ago this month. These shows gave The Zombies an opportunity to pass on their musical legacy to a new generation of fans while also earning reverent treatment from the likes of Dave Grohl, Post Malone and Haim. All the surviving members expressed gratitude that they were able to have another chance to play music and to have it resonate across generations culminating in their induction into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. In this respect, they were not hung up on a dream. They got to live it. 

Sadly, all things do come to an end. After the film was completed in 2023, Rod Argent was forced to retire from touring after suffering a stroke last summer. Despite this setback, Argent and company give the sense they are content with their lot in life. For this reason, I was able to leave the theatre with a smile.