The Weird Afterlife of The Zombies
Summary
This episode explores the bizarre history of the British band The Zombies, whose 1969 hit "Time of the Season" charted two years after the group disbanded. Hosts Ben Bullen and Noel Brown discuss how the band's breakup led to a massive con by Delta Promotions, which toured the US with fake versions of The Zombies and other acts like The Animals. The story highlights the era's lack of instant communication, allowing these impostors to exploit fans' hunger for live music before being exposed by the real musicians.
Topics discussed
Intro and producer banter
Sponsors and episode introduction
Nostalgia for oldies radio and the Zombies' 1969 hit
The Ship of Theseus and the band's origin story
Forming the band and choosing the name The Zombies
Breakthrough with 'She's Not There' and early success
Recording at Abbey Road and touring struggles
Internal conflicts and the band's breakup
The 'Odyssey & Oracle' album and 'Time of the Season'
Unexpected US success while the band is split
Delta Promotions and the rise of fake Zombies
Sponsor breaks and transition to the con story
The fake band's tour and the grift details
Comparison to tribute acts and the real band's return
The fake Animals incident and modern parallels
ZZ Top connection and episode conclusion
Outro sponsors and credits
End of episode
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