The Zombies with late bassist Jim Rodford on left (Andrew Eccles)The Zombies have found a bass player to step in for the late Jim Rodford on the band’s upcoming U.S. tour, which begins Tuesday, February 27, in New York City.
In a Facebook message, founding keyboardist Rod Argent writes, “Jim is irreplaceable, but his wife Jean and son [Zombies drummer] Steve [Rodford] were immediately insistent that we must carry on and not falter…and we have now had the great good fortune, after a glowing recommendation, to have been introduced to a terrific Danish bass player, Soren Koch.”
Argent continues, “After a fine audition a few days ago, where Soren played and sang beautifully, our management team…have narrowly accomplished the enormously demanding task of getting the relevant visa and work permits in time…and we should be opening on our first night in New York as planned.”
Rod adds that Soren, who’s nicknamed “Kooks,” “is not only a fine musician and a lovely guy, but also a huge Zombies fan,” noting that the bassist traveled to the U.K. last autumn to just see the band perform at the Palladium in London.
In the note, Argent admits that Rodford’s loss has been “numbing and shattering” for The Zombies, and says, “It’s going to be surreal for us, after being so used to Jim driving the rhythm section for more than eighteen years, to be without him on stage.”
Having said that, Rod assures fans that the band will “give everything we have to perform to the standard that Jim would demand. He adds, “I know that everyone of us in our minds will be dedicating each night’s show to the great Jim Rodford.”
Rodford died January 20 at the age of 76 after a fall.
Here are all of The Zombies’ upcoming U.S. tour dates:
2/27 — New York, NY, City Winery New York
2/28 — New York, NY, City Winery New York
3/1 — New York, NY, City Winery New York
3/3 — Boston, MA, City Winery Boston
3/4 — Boston, MA, City Winery Boston
3/7 — New York, NY, Carnegie Hall – Led Zeppelin Tribute
3/8 — East Greenwich, RI, Greenwich Odeum
3/9 — Woodstock, NY, Levon Helm Studios
3/10 — Collingswood, NJ, Scottish Rite Auditorium
3/11 — Annapolis, MD, Rams Head On Stage
3/13 — Alexandria, VA, The Birchmere
3/14 — Annapolis, MD, Rams Head On Stage
3/16 — Atlanta, GA, City Winery Atlanta
3/17 — Nashville, TN, City Winery Nashville
3/19 — Chicago, IL, City Winery Chicago
3/20 — Chicago, IL, City Winery Chicago
3/23 — Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, Fallsview Casino
3/24 — Kent, OH, The Kent Stage
3/25 — State College, PA, The State Theatre
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