There was musical history in the air as the surviving members of 60’s band The Zombies took to the stage to perform their legendary album ‘Odessey And Oracle’.

Before that though, we were treated to a set by the current Zombies touring band consisting of originals Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, plus ex-Kink Jim Rodford, Keith Airey and Steve Rodford.

Not only did we have some classic Zombie songs, which included the exquisite ‘I Love You’, but some examples of the solo repertoire of Rod’s and Colin’s.

Blunstone’s ‘Say You Don’t Mind’, ‘I Don’t Believe In Miracles’ and his excellent version of ‘What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted’ were performed with feeling and the set was completed with a rousing version of the Argent hit ‘Hold Your Head Up’.

But, onto the main event, which was a complete rendition of ‘Odessey And Oracle’ to celebrate its’ 40th anniversary.

The other two surviving original band members, bassist Chris White and drummer Hugh Grundy, came on to rapturous applause and started the ball rolling with ‘Care Of Cell 44’, the track which Dave Grohl of The Foo Fighters said “changed my life”.

Sadly, the original guitarist Paul Atkinson, died five years ago, but his spirit lived on in the fingers of Keith Airey.

With the album being played as it was on the album, the band were augmented by two backing singers, a four piece brass section, and an extra keyboard player in the form of Darian Sahanaja, the man who helped Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys play live again.

The attention to detail was first class, as evidenced by the fact that to recreate the exact sounds on ‘Butcher’s Tale’, Argent had bought an 1896 Victorian Pump Pedal Organ.

‘A Rose For Emily’, always a favourite, was sublime; ‘Hung Up On A Dream’ and ‘Friends Of Mine’ showed how excellent the band is.

It didn’t seem that these guys had only played a few shows together in 40 years.

‘Time Of The Season’, an American hit, brought the album to a close and resulted in a well deserved standing ovation.

But it didn’t end there, as the band encored with ‘Going Out Of My Head’, ‘She’s Not There’ and ‘Summertime’.

It has to be said that the music was exemplary, as we have come to expect from these fine musicians, but the timbre of Colin Blunstone’s voice is the perfect complement to it.

Breathy and full of emotion; Colin doesn’t move much on stage but he has a presence unlike anyone else. It’s as if you are in awe of his voice.

All too soon, the show was over. The band did the concert three times last year and are only doing four this time, and this was the third.

It’ll never happen again, and that is sad.

But the emotion and joy of these legendary musicians coming together for these last few shows will live on in the mind.