Paul Atkinson, who played guitar in the British invasion band The Zombies and later became a successful music industry executive who signed such acts as ABBA, died Thursday, said his publicist Susan Clary. He was 58.

Born in Cuffley, England, Atkinson had lived in Los Angeles for the past 20 years.

He started his music career with The Zombies, which had hits in the 1960s with "She's Not There," "Tell Her No" and "Time of the Season."

Later, he went on to work as an artists and repertoire executive, signing acts including ABBA, Bruce Hornsby, Mr. Mister, Michael Penn, Judas Priest and Patty Smyth.

In January, Atkinson received the Recording Academy's President's Merit Award at a tribute and benefit concert in his honor at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.

The event included a reunion of The Zombies.



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That's really too bad. Was he part of the current tour?

i dont believe so.

That is really sad. I love the zombies-in my opinion, way ahead of their time and sadly underappreciated.

Is that Keith standing behind him?

no

He does look pretty hot. Maybe it is me.

no, im sure. its not you

crazy thing happened last night when i was eating dinner at cozymel's mexican restaurant. i was talking to someone about the "tell her no" song and asking them how it went because i couldn't remember. well, the next song they played was that song!!!!!!!!!!!!! and cozymel's only plays salsa/samba/reggae!!!! not oldies!!! it freaked all of us out!!!

Very sad news. I think he had the cancer. I love how understated his playing was in the Zombies.