Legendary English rock band The Zombies are celebrating their 50th band anniversary by touring their 1968 album, “Odyssey & Oracle” one last time before respectfully putting its live performance days to rest.

Original Zombie band members Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, alongside the band’s newly added members, showed those at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center Friday night The Zombies are as alive and rocking as ever.

“We are going to take you on a musical journey from way back in ’64,” Argent said to the audience at the beginning of the show.

Mixing songs linked to the band’s roots in the ’60s with selections from its recent 2015 album, “Still Got That Hunger,” the band kept fans on their toes with the night’s variety — they never knew what was coming next.

The Zombies started off the night with “I Love You” from its 1965 album “Begin Here,” followed by “I Want You Back Again” from “Odyssey & Oracle.”

After performing “I Want You Back Again,” Argent revealed to the audience that the band’s anniversary tour and album “Still Got That Hunger” have breathed new life into the song.

Not only was “I Want You Back Again,” reworked and featured on The Zombie’s new album, but this tour is also the first time the song has ever been performed before a live audience.

Breaking up the past with the present, The Zombies exposed the audience to songs from their new album, including “Moving On” and “Edge of the Rainbow.” However, after performing a few new songs, the band quickly returned to the ’60s.

“This is a very special year for us,” Argent said, “because we don’t like to look back in the past a lot, but it’s our 50th year.”

As The Zombies dig up their songs from the past, they do so in an effort to celebrate the “Odyssey & Oracle” album. Cherishing these songs also allows the band to express their overwhelming gratitude to their fans for supporting them all these years and for letting them continue to live their dreams.

The Zombies returned back to the years where it all began with “A Rose For Emily” and fan favorite “Time of The Season” from “Odyssey & Oracle.” The act was followed by the band’s debut single “She’s Not There” and “Hold Your Head Up” from their 2005 album “Live at The Bloomsbury Theatre.”

Argent joked with the audience about the song “Hold Your Head Up” before the band performed it, claiming many people mess up the lyrics of the song when they sing along by saying, “Hold your head up woah” instead of “Hold your head up woman.”

“If you sing along tonight, and I really hope you do, for God’s sake get it right,” Argent said.

The Zombies not only brought together their musical past and present with their 50th anniversary tour, but their performance brought together fans of younger and older generations as well. From as young as teens to as old as those well within their 80s, all fans struggled to sit still throughout their musical journey with The Zombies.

The Zombies concluded the night by performing once again the popular song that can be attributed to starting the band’s career, “She’s Not There.” Savoring their last moments with The Zombies, fans shouted along every word to the song.

Once the music stopped, nearly every individual took to their feet, thanking The Zombies for their talent and dedication over the past 50 years, and celebrating the songs that will carry on in rock history for hopefully another 50 more. 

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