Ollie Millington/RedfernsJim Rodford, who played bass for The Kinks, Argent and the most recent incarnation of The Zombies, has died. He was 76. The news was announced by Rodford’s cousin, Zombies and Argent member Rod Argent, on The Zombies’ Facebook page.
“It is with deep sadness that I learned this morning that my dear cousin and lifelong friend, Jim Rodford, died this morning after a fall on the stairs. More details are not yet known about the exact cause of death,” wrote Argent.
While Rodford, via Argent, was very involved with the Zombies’ career in its early years, he wasn’t actually a member of the band. In 1969, following the Zombies’ breakup, Argent and and Rodford co-founded the band Argent, best known for the hit “Hold Your Head Up.”
Rodford then played bass with The Kinks from 1978 to their split in 1996. During that time, The Kinks scored some of their biggest American hits, such as “Better Things,” “Destroyer” and “Come Dancing.”
Argent writes, “When [Zombies lead singer] Colin [Blunstone] and I put together our second [Zombies] incarnation in late 1999, our first phone call was to Jim. He gave us absolutely unflagging commitment, loyalty and unbelievable energy for eighteen years, and our gratitude is beyond measure.”
He concludes, “Jim was a wonderful person, loved by everybody. When Colin and I, shocked and hardly able to talk, shared the news this morning, Colin said ”I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about him…’ He will be unbelievably missed. Goodnight and God Bless dear friend.”
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