Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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ARGENT, Rod

(b 14 June '45, St Albans) UK rock keyboardist, producer. Success came early with first group Zombies winning talent contest straight out of school, transatlantic hit with second song 'She's Not There' '64. Resisted alleged six-figure offers to revive band after posthumous US success, formed Argent instead, with Russell Ballard (b 31 Oct. '47, Waltham Cross), guitar, vocals; Jim Rodford (b 7 July '45, St Albans), bass; drummer Robert Henrit (b 2 May '46, Broxbourne). Argent (with ex-Zombie Chris White) and Ballard (ex-Roulettes, Unit 4+2) wrote the songs; Henrit, Argent's cousin, was recruited from Unit 4+2. (Argent and White formed songwriting/production partnership Nexus Productions; they guided early '70s solo career of former colleague Colin Blunstone.) Zombie-esque LP Argent '70, heavier Ring Of Hands critically well received; Ring provided 'Liar', US hit for Three Dog Night. Breakthrough came with All Together Now, hit single 'Hold Your Head Up', no. 5 in UK and USA. In Deep '73, live LP Encore and Nexus '74 followed by Ballard's departure, allowing Argent's pseudo-classical pretensions full rein; replacements John Verity (b 2 May '44), vocals, rhythm guitar, and John Grimaldi (b 25 May '55), lead guitar, couldn't redress the balance and the music declined in a welter of synths, the band split '76 after two more LPs. Commercial edge which set them apart from Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer etc was only present in mid-period work; the talented original lineup promised more than they delivered. Verity, Rodford and Henrit recorded unsuccessfully as Phoenix before Rodford joined Kinks; Verity then had his own band, Henrit went into musical instrument retailing. Argent played numerous sessions (Chris Rea, the Who etc), founded retail keyboard shop in London. Returned to records on MCA '78 with jazz-influenced LP Moving Home, all-star group incl. Phil Collins, Al Johnson of Weather Report. He did session, film, TV, prod. work, was close to Andrew Lloyd Webber and played on his Variations '78. Argent re-formed for charity appearance after fire at Bradford Football Club '85.