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Artwork for The True Story of the Fake Zombies

The True Story of the Fake Zombies

iHeartPodcasts
The Zombies
Delta Promotions
ZZ Top
Rolling Stone
The Archies
The Animals
Sugar Sugar
Frank Lymon
Teenagers
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame
Bay City
Time Of the Season
Michigan
Texas Blues
Motown
Question Mark and the Mysterians
Rock and Roll
Music History
Seab Meador

In 1969, the Zombies had a huge hit single, despite having broken up two years earlier. To meet the unexpected demand, one promoter did the only sensible thing: Hire four kids from Texas to tour America pretending to be a defunct British psych-rock band.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes12Foundeda year ago
Categories
ArtsMusic HistoryMusic

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Artwork for The True Story of the Fake Zombies

Latest Episodes

Hi, Fake Zombie listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts' latest release, Live Wire: The Loud Life and Shocking Murder of Alan Berg.

Live Wire: The Loud Life and Shocking Murder of Alan Berg: Alan Berg was starting ... more

Slow Burn's Leon Neyfakh sits down with Daniel to talk about the art of investigations and the pursuit of a good story.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a story full of artifacts from music’s past, one looms larger than any other. Doo-wop legend Frankie Lymon’s tombstone lives in Bay City, Michigan. Here’s how it got there.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fake Zombies, Fake Animals, Fake Archies -- oh my! It's the final episode of The True Story of The Fake Zombies and the jig is up. Legendary Rolling Stone writer Ben Fong-Torres, who broke the imposter band story in 1970, shares details of Delta Prom... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gary Johnson
Bay City's resident rock and roll historian
Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Museum
Episode: Frank Lymon’s Tombstone Blues
Joanne Leff
A SAG actor and jazz singer who performed as 'Veronica' in the touring version of the Archies.
Episode: Never Play the Game Too Long
Mark Ramsey
The youngest guitarist in the fake Zombies band, later became a math teacher
Episode: The Ballad of Seab and Mark
Seab Meador
Guitarist known for his looks and distinctive playing style, part of the fake Zombies
Episode: The Ballad of Seab and Mark
Gordon Thayer
Member of the Dick Rabbit Brothers Band and opening act for The Fake Zombies.
Episode: That Little Ol' Band From ...England?
Bobby Balredama
Guitarist and founding member of Question Mark and The Mysterians
Question Mark and The Mysterians
Episode: Bay City Rolling

Host

Daniel Ralston
Host and producer with a background in writing, known for capturing intricate music history stories and personal narratives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 135 ratings
  • Fascinating story from rock’s back pages

    Amazing story and many great interviews - some info though is repeated a bit too much.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mark Eggins
    Australia6 months ago
  • Missed opportunity

    I love The Zombies and probably would have enjoyed learning about this side of their story, but I couldn’t get past the first episode. Lame sound effects and boring storytelling ruined it for me.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Oscar458
    United States7 months ago
  • Good story. Bad telling

    This is a compelling story but the narrator/writer does not seem to excude the same conviction as the facts. In a skilled hand, this would have been a five star award winning podcast. But with this author, he somehow dulls it into tedium.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    swizzah
    United States10 months ago
  • This how I’d write a 500 word essay as a kid

    It’s an interesting story but it could have been told in 45 minutes. There’s even a few minutes about Madonna being born in Bay City as a filler non sequitur. Actually most of this is repetition and non sequiturs.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Head soccer = awesome
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good story but no need for so many episodes!

    This story could have been told in one or two episodes…way too repetitive- and I love The (real) Zombies.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    GaryPartridge
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the fascinating narratives presented, highlighting compelling interviews and well-researched stories about lesser-known figures in music history.
The content resonates well with those who enjoy deep historical dives into music, though some find the style less captivating than the subject matter itself.
There are critiques regarding pacing and repetitiveness in storytelling, suggesting some episodes could benefit from tighter editing and a more concise format.
Reviews praise the engaging narrative style of the host, with many expressing strong interest in the cultural exploration of the music industry during the late 1960s.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Interview
Q: Why did it take so long to develop this story?
There was a 6-year gap where nobody was interested in it, even after it was initially written about, and there were challenges in accessing key figures.
The Interview
Q: What did you want to know about the fake zombies?
I wanted to learn the details of their experiences, what it felt like, the essence of being part of that era, which was often neglected.
The Interview
Q: What captured your imagination in the story?
As an obsessive music fan, especially of British music, the idea of a forgotten piece of music history intrigued me and led me to explore it further.
The Interview
Q: How did the journey of making this podcast begin for you?
It started with my obsession with a little tidbit about Americans pretending to be The Zombies after their break-up, which had been lodged in my mind for a decade after I read a line in a biography about them.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The True Story of the Fake Zombies

What is The True Story of the Fake Zombies about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the world of impersonation in the music industry, this show narrates the odd saga of a group of Texan musicians who impersonated the legendary British rock band The Zombies during the late 1960s. Through a mix of storytelling, interviews, and musical history, the episodes highlight the complexities and absurdities behind the phenomenon of 'imposter bands', the impact on original artists, and the broader cultural implications of impersonation in music. From personal narratives of musicians entangled in this scheme to reflections on the nature of rock and roll fame, the content strikes a chord with listeners who appreciate deep dives into lesser-known historical music events.

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Which podcasts are similar to The True Story of the Fake Zombies?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The True Story of the Fake Zombies:

1. Search Engine
2. DISGRACELAND
3. Decoder Ring
4. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
5. WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

How many episodes of The True Story of the Fake Zombies are there?

The True Story of the Fake Zombies launched a year ago and published 12 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The True Story of the Fake Zombies?

Recent guests on The True Story of the Fake Zombies include:

1. Gary Johnson
2. Joanne Leff
3. Mark Ramsey
4. Seab Meador
5. Gordon Thayer
6. Bobby Balredama

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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