Who are The Zombies?

You can't be serious. Sure, they got their start before many of you were probably born (1961 to be exact), but The Zombies are one of the seminal rock bands of the 20th century. They are now finding a new fanbase in the festival scene, playing events like Bumbershoot, Austin Psych Fest, and the upcoming Wickerman Festival in Scotland. Still not sure who they are? Let's see if any of these songs ring a bell: Time of the Season, Tell Her No, She's Not There...

Yeah. Those Zombies.

We were fortunate enough to speak with the band about their recent return to the stage, and more specifically, festivals. 

As a band who got their start in the early '60s, the festival landscape has certainly changed. How does playing festivals then compare to playing festivals today?

"Everything happened so fast for us in the '60s and '70s that it was a bit of a blur. We're enjoying our festival experiences now much more. Of course, looking out into a sea of thousands of eager fans isn’t too shabby either."

What do you like most about playing at festivals?

"You never know who you’ll discover. You find yourself in all sorts of surprising and inspiring pairings with bands with whom you might not normally share a bill. Last year we played Bumbershoot, a festival we'd wanted to be part of for several years, and the band before us was Vintage Trouble. They were fabulous, gave the evening a huge injection of energy, and sent us on stage with a whirling sense of passion."

Have there been any wild experiences you've had while playing at festivals?

"Loads of pretty girls throwing themselves at us and fans being thrown off stage too—you know...the norm. Can’t beat that! Oh and....we’re being recognized."

And if you still need a refresher course, here's a Zombies classic, from their performance at Austin Psych Fest.