“Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary” premiered at the 2023 South by Southwest Film Festival and had its official theatrical release in May. Director-producer Robert Schwartzman and Zombies frontman Colin Blunstone will be promoting the film in person over the coming weeks.
They will be joined by surviving Zombies members Rod Argent, Chris White, and Hugh Grundy for screenings and Q&A sessions on June 24 and 26 and July 5 in England. The June 24 event in London will be hosted by EGOT winner Tim Rice on Blunstone’s 80th birthday. Following these, Blunstone and Schwartzman will head to the U.S. for seven more screenings, starting July 9 in New York City. These events will feature Q&As and performances of Zombies songs by Blunstone, accompanied by Schwartzman’s band Rooney, which has previously opened for the Zombies.
“I’m a big believer in creating events so that people feel excited to be part of it,” Schwartzman told Billboard in a joint Zoom call with Blunstone, who was in England. “Culturally, people are used to waiting for movies to hit their doorstep. I think it’s important to emphasize seeing movies within a community. Colin was supportive of screening the film on the road, and it’s a great way for fans to see it in an unconventional setting.”
Blunstone expressed enthusiasm for the shows, and Schwartzman noted that careful consideration will be given to the song selections, including hits like “She’s Not There,” “Tell Her No,” and “Time of the Season.”
“We’ve been focusing on the crowd-pleasers,” Schwartzman said. “We want to support the evening musically in a way that’s good for everybody.”
“Hung Up on a Dream” offers an authorized telling of the Zombies’ story, featuring vintage footage, home movies, photographs, and contemporary interviews. It traces the band’s journey from its formation in 1961 in St. Albans to early successes, a 1968 breakup before the release of “Odessey and Oracle,” and subsequent reunions leading to a 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
“Odessey and Oracle is one of the slowest burners there ever was,” Blunstone noted. “It took about 30 years for it to get some acknowledgment. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if we’d gotten that acknowledgment when we were younger.”
The Zombies reunited in 1989 and recorded five more studio albums, with “Different Game” released in 2023. The group is currently dormant following Argent’s stroke last year, while White and Grundy have appeared only as special guests since 1997. Guitarist Paul Atkinson passed away in 2004.
Blunstone is working on a solo album but hasn’t ruled out additional Zombies music. “Rod has just started writing,” he said. “I’m due to go down there, but I’m not sure I can before heading to the States to promote the film.”
Schwartzman has been refining “Hung Up on a Dream” over the past couple of years, cutting about 20 minutes from the initial version. “I think it runs a lot better now,” Blunstone said.
The documentary retains the heart of the Zombies’ story, capturing the warmth of the band members’ friendships. Schwartzman noted, “They feel hopeful and lifted. It’s authentic, and I’m happy it translated to the screen.”
The U.S. screenings will be followed by digital, on-demand, and Blu-ray releases later in the year. “We’re still in the theatrical cycle right now,” Schwartzman said. “I encourage people to not wait for streaming platforms. There won’t be another night like this.”
Upcoming events for “Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary” include:
– June 24 – Picturehouse London, Finsbury Park
– June 26 – Picturehouse London, Hackney
– July 5 – Odyssey Cinema, St. Albans, England
– July 9 – Gramercy Theatre, New York City
– July 11 – Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre, Somerville, Mass.
– July 13 – State Theatre, Falls Church, Va.
– July 15 – Thalia Hall, Chicago
– July 16 – Majestic Theatre, Detroit
– July 18 – Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
– July 19 – The Bellwether, Los Angeles