"Fan Draws Firearm on Band Members in Dressing Room, Prompting Name Change: A Boost in Popularity for a Counterfeit British Musical Group among American Audience"
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In the late 1960s, a wave of deception swept across the United States music scene when a band management and promotion outfit named Delta Productions exploited the success of the British psychedelic rock band, The Zombies. The cunning scheme involved creating a fake band that impersonated The Zombies, touring widely and playing to large audiences while profiting significantly.
The fake Zombies were so convincing that they even issued a second lineup, with musicians who sounded so authentic that listeners couldn't distinguish them from the real band. The band members adopted British accents, provided signed affidavits claiming to include original band members, and even concocted stories such as the lead singer being killed to explain discrepancies.
However, The Zombies, particularly bass guitarist Chris White, found out about the scam and tried to warn US promoters and radio stations. Their warnings were largely ignored or disbelieved. The scam only ended after Eric Burdon of The Animals, another band that Delta Productions had imitated, physically intervened to stop the fake Zombies' performances.
The fake Zombies' success was built on the back of "Time of the Season," a single that reached number 3 in the US charts and topped the chart in Canada in 1969, despite the original members having disbanded. In the pre-internet age, it was difficult for people to verify the authenticity of the band members.
Tom Hocott, a former employee of Delta Productions, recalled the enterprise starting out with good intentions but later becoming insidious. Mark Ramsey, a musician posing as a member of The Zombies, recalled in a Buzzfeed piece that he was told the original band didn't exist and was only a studio sound.
The fake Zombies toured across North America, performing to ever-crowded venues. However, an irate fan pulled a gun on the fake band in the 1990s, causing them to stop using the band's name. Delta Productions discontinued their fake band campaign after realizing things could get violent and serious.
The original Zombies, particularly Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, have reflected on the band's breakup and the impact of the fake Zombies. Colin Blunstone expressed understanding for the musicians who filled the vacuum left by the original band and felt it helped pave the way to the success of Frank Beard and Dusty Hill in ZZ Top.
Despite the deception, The Zombies have left an indelible mark on the music industry. Their debut single, "She's Not There," entered the US Billboard charts at number 2, and their last single, "Time of the Season," remains a classic psychedelic rock anthem. The Zombies' legacy continues to live on, even though their story is a reminder of the darker side of the music industry.
[1] For more details about the Eric Burdon incident, refer to the following sources: - Eric Burdon: I Smashed Up a Fake Animals Band - The Fake Animals: Eric Burdon's Battle Against Counterfeit Bands
- The deception didn't stop with The Zombies as Delta Productions also impersonated Eric Burdon and The Animals, leading to a confrontation between Burdon and the fake band.
- In the realm of pop-culture, the fake Zombies' story serves as a cautionary tale in the intersection of general-news, crime-and-justice, and entertainment, highlighting the darker aspects often overlooked in the music industry.
