Birth name James Walter Rodford Instruments Bass guitar Name Jim Rodford Children Steve Rodford | Occupation(s) Musician Years active 1960s–present Role Musician | |
![]() | ||
Associated acts The KinksThe Swinging Blue JeansArgentThe ZombiesThe Kast Off KinksBlue BishopsmOOn Dogs Movies Argent: Inside Argent, The Kinks: The Golden Years, The Kinks EP, The Kinks: One for the Road Similar People |
Zombies hold your head up with jim rodford intro story
James Walter "Jim" Rodford (born 7 July 1941) is an English musician who played with The Bluetones, The Kinks, The Swinging Blue Jeans and was a founding member of Argent. Rodford played in The Animals II for two years, leaving to join the reformation of The Zombies in 2001. He also works with a group of former Kinks members, in The Kast Off Kinks.
Contents
- Zombies hold your head up with jim rodford intro story
- Jim Rodford 1941 2018
- Early years
- Music career
- Personal life
- Songs
- References

Jim Rodford 1941-2018
Early years

Rodford was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he was a member of The Bluetones, the biggest band in St Albans at the time. Although he did not become a band member at this stage, Rodford was instrumental in helping his younger cousin Rod Argent form The Zombies in 1964. Rodford later joined the Mike Cotton Sound as bass guitarist.
Music career

Along with Rod Argent, Rodford was one of the founding members of Argent. When Rod Argent quit the band, the remaining three members (Rodford, Henrit and Verity) formed the short-lived band Phoenix. Eventually, Rodford joined The Kinks as bassist in 1978 and played with them until their final disintegration in 1996.

From 1999–2001 Rodford appeared in a band that ex-Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine formed, The Animals II, which also featured former Animals drummer John Steel and keyboardist Dave Rowberry. Rodford continued with this band (which changed its working name to "The Animals and Friends" after Valentine left) until joining Argent and Colin Blunstone in the revival of The Zombies.
Rodford never played with The Zombies in the 1960s, despite having been closely involved with them. However, he began to play bass with the band's reincarnation in the early years of the 21st century, with his son Steve on drums.
In 2008 Rodford joined The Kast Off Kinks, on the retirement of John Dalton, whom he had followed into the Kinks after Andy Pyle. In 2009 Jim Rodford regularly played in "The Rodford Files" along with Steve Rodford (Blunstone/Argent band) on drums, Russ Rodford on guitar, and Derik Timms (mOOn Dogs) on guitar,lap steel,slide and vocals.
In 2010 the original line-up of Argent reformed and resumed playing in concert. They mounted a short tour including gigs in Frome, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Leamington Spa and London.
Personal life
Rodford met his wife Jean at the Pioneer Club in the early days of his music career. They have two sons, Steve who plays drums, and Russell a guitarist.
Songs
Hold Your Head Up
Days
I'm Not Like Everybody Else
Dedicated Follower of Fashion
Dead End Street
Living on a Thin Line
Autumn Almanac
Father Christmas
God Gave Rock And Roll To You
You're No Good
Don't
Set Me Free
Destroyer
Better Things
Come Dancing
Low Budget
Don't Forget to Dance
Catch Me Now I'm Falling
Liar
Introduction to Lola
San Fansico Nights
Lost and Found
Superman
State of Confusion
Art Lover
Do It Again
Breathe Out - Breathe In
Good Golly Miss Molly
Don't Make Me Over
Around the Dial
A Rock 'n Roll Fantasy
Heart of Gold