The Zombies are one of the most influential bands of the 60s. Now they're back on tour with fellow 60s legends the Yardbirds. Rod Argent answered a few questions.

YOU'RE ON TOUR WITH THE YARDBIRDS. HOW WILL THE SHOW ACTUALLY WORK?

I believe the Yardbirds will open with a set of about 50 mins. After an interval we will do the second half of 60-75 minutes.

IS IT TRUE THAT YOU'VE NEVER TOURED TOGETHER BEFORE?

Absolutely true.

WITH SUCH A LARGE BACK CATALOGUE TO GO AT, HOW HAVE YOU ARRIVED AT YOUR TOUR SETLIST?

We love to play songs from every stage of our careers: we'll do early and later Zombies stuff - (i.e. She's Not There, Time of the Season), some Argent (Hold Your Head Up, God Gave Rock n' Roll To You ) some of Colin's solo stuff (Say You Don't Mind, I Don't Believe in Miracles), a couple of brand new songs, probably one or two Odessey And Oracle songs as well.

LOOKING BACK, DID YOU EVER THINK YOU'D BE STILL TOURING AFTER OVER 40 YEARS

No. But the band we tour with - Jim Rodford (ex Argent, ex Kinks), Steve Rodford and Keith Airey - is so good, it makes playing each night feel better than it's ever been.

SO MANY ARTISTS CITE THE ZOMBIES AS AN INFLUENCE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

It's really gratifying. I can't really believe it. The band seems to be the slowest-burning ever - it seems to have taken 40 years for so many people to talk about us.

AS A RESULT OF NAMECHECKS BY THE LIKE OF PAUL WELLER AND THE THRILLS, DO YOU THINK A WHOLE NEW AUDIENCE IS DISCOVERING YOUR MUSIC?

Yes. I was knocked out that at the three sold-out nights we've just played at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, where we premiered the complete Odessey and Oracle (40 years late!), we had Snow Patrol, Garbage and Robert Plant in the audience. Paul Weller had tickets for all three nights and sent us two magnums of champagne on the second night. That sort of endorsement has really helped that album in particular to grow, and we find that wherever we play in the world, young people in particular are aware of it. We did a TV show in Norway recently and Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters had told the station only the previous week that he'd played O & O every morning for six months. When that album came out it took 15 years before it gradually started to sell anything at all - and now it's reached the point where it sells substantially year in, year out, around the world.

YOU'RE COMMITTED TO A FAIRLY HECTIC TOUR SCHEDULE. YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN TAKING THINGS EASY THEN?

We're honestly only doing this because it's such a buzz to be on stage playing with musicians as good as I've ever played with. It feels like a privilege to be this age and having so much fun working.

WHAT'S NEXT AFTER THE TOUR?

A month's tour of the US, some dates in the Ukraine and a DVD and CD release.

  • The Zombies and The Yardbirds play the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on Wednesday, May 14 (0161 907 9000)and Preston Guild Hall on Wednesday, June 11 (0845 344 2012).