Just a wee bit after the Zombies, came Argent. Former lead singer of the Zombies Rod Argent created his own band with a different focus in sound than the Zombies, coming along in 1968 as the band began producing demos.
Original members of the band included Argent on keyboards, Argent’s cousin and bassist Jim Rodford, drummer Bob Henrit and guitarist Russ Ballard. Unlike most bands, the lead singing role in Argent was actually shared between Ballard, Rodford and Argent across different songs and albums.
When Ballard left in 1974, he was replaced by guitarist/vocalist John Verity and guitarist John Grimaldi. This lineup produced two albums and a film that was never released. The band’s decision to stop touring late in 1976 has never been fully explained, though the decision might have been influenced by the declining health of one of its members. Rodford, Henrit and Verity briefly continued together under the name Phoenix before going their separate ways, with first Rodford and then Henrit becoming members of The Kinks.[1] Meanwhile, Rod Argent went on to work with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and to produce a couple of solo albums. He also opened a keyboard shop in the West End of London.
The original Argent lineup reunited at the High Voltage Festival in Victoria Park, London in 2010, and undertook a short five-date concert tour later that year.
Argent also reunited for a five show tour from January to February 2012, before performing one last show at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury in a benefit concert on 2 June 2013, supporting The Zombies.
The band had three UK Top 40 singles, including the massive marching anthem, “Hold Your Head Up”, which reached number five and spent 12 weeks on the chart.
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