The Zombies' Rod Argent Announces Retirement from Touring as He Recovers from Stroke

The Zombies' Rod Argent is hanging up his tour hat for good after suffering a stroke.

According to the group’s management team, the keyboardist, 79, was recently hospitalized overnight after returning home from touring with his rock band in the U.K. Beforehand, he had spent a weekend in London with his wife, Cathy, as they celebrated his birthday and their 52nd wedding anniversary. 

Per management, doctors advised Argent that he’d need “several months of rest and recuperation” following his hospital release, thus confirming his retirement from the road.

“Rod has asked us to convey that he has made the very difficult decision to immediately retire from touring in order to protect his health,” The Zombies’ managers, Chris Tuthill and Cindy da Silva, said in a press release shared with PEOPLE. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was apparently “already preparing to wind down his live performance schedule after health scares on recent tours,” although a fall 2024 farewell tour had been in the works that was intended to mark Argent’s last time overseas.

“However, the stroke was an unmistakable warning sign that the risks are too great,” Tuthill and da Silva continued. “Rod still firmly intends to continue his other creative joy of writing and recording with The Zombies and has already been back at his piano for some much-needed ‘Bach therapy.’”

They concluded, “As heart-breaking as this is for us, the band, our crew and our team, we are a family and fully support Rod in this decision.”

Argent first retired from touring with The Zombies in 1975 to focus on his family and making music after dedicating much of his late teen years and 20s to the road. He returned in 1999 after lead singer Colin Blunstone, 79, convinced him to fill in on the keyboard for six of his solo gigs following a last-minute dropout.

According to the Zombies’ management, Argent recently noted how “incredible and unexpected” it was that those six lone shows turned into 25 additional years of touring and recording with his surviving band members.

The group most recently concluded a tour in the U.K. and wrapped up their extended Different Game tour this past spring. However, per an announcement on social media, they were forced to cut it short in October 2023 after Argent was hospitalized after suffering migraines, fatigue and exhaustion.

On account of his retirement, all upcoming performances from The Zombies have been canceled, but management confirms that the band’s second annual Begin Here Festival — happening Nov. 8-10 in the U.K. — will continue as planned, potentially with a “special show” to honor Argent. Per a press release, fans have been asked to hold onto their tickets until the group announces new plans.