# The Zombie who read about his own death: “It was the ’60s, man”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-zombie-who-read-about-his-own-death-it-was-the-60s-man/
- Published: 2026-11-10T09:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T09:37:36+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/zombie-who-read-about-his-own-death/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- The Zombies split before their biggest US hit took off.
- A fake touring group used a false story about Blunstone’s death.
- Future ZZ Top members played in the substitute band.

## Summary

When “Time of the Season” became a surprise US hit in 1969, The Zombies had already split up and could not tour to meet demand. A promoter filled the gap with a fake version of the band, reportedly spreading the false story that singer Colin Blunstone had died in a car crash and been replaced.

The article traces the band’s path from early chart disappointments to the later success of their album *Odessey and Oracle*. A Boise, Idaho, DJ’s repeated plays helped the song gain radio attention; it reached number one in the US. The stand-in group included a young Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, later of ZZ Top, and the real Zombies eventually reunited decades later.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.