In Memoriam: Jim Rodford

Sad news to report: Jim Rodford, who played bass with The Kinks and The Zombies, has passed away after falling down stairs. He was 76 years old.

Rodford was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England in 1941. He began his musical career in a Skiffle band called Bluetones. He helped his cousin Rod Argent form The Zombies in 1961 by lending them equipment and coaching them. Though Argent asked him to join the band, he declined at the time and spent the rest of the ’60s in the Bluetones and the Mike Cotton Band. After The Zombies broke up in 1968, Rodford joined his cousin for the band Argent, which had the hits “Hold Your Head Up” and “God Gave Rock & Roll To You”.

Argent also broke up in 1976 and it was then that he became a member of The Kinks. He was featured on their 1979 album Low Budget and kept with them until 1996. Three years later, his career came full circle.

“When Colin and I put together our second incarnation of The Zombies in late 1999, our first phone call was to Jim,” Rod Argent said. “He gave us absolutely unflagging commitment, loyalty and unbelievable energy for eighteen years, and our gratitude is beyond measure. Jim was a wonderful person, loved by everybody. When Colin and I, shocked and hardly able to talk, shared the news this morning, Colin said: “I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about him…” He will be unbelievably missed. Goodnight and God Bless dear friend.”

Rodford also performed with his sons Steve and Russell as The Rodford Files. He received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the UK’s University of Hertfordshire in September 2017 and was working on his autobiography at the time of his passing.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jim Rodford.