Back in nineteen sixty nine, this was the hottest song around. It's so hot that some guys from Michigan tried to steal it overseas and futher. My name is Daniel Ralston. For ten years, I've been obsessed with one of the most bizarre and audacious cons in rock and roll history.

Back in nineteen sixty nine, this was the hottest song around. It's so hot that some guys from Michigan tried to steal it overseas and futher. My name is Daniel Ralston. For ten years, I've been obsessed with one of the most bizarre and audacious cons in rock and roll history.

A group would have a hit record and quickly they would hire a bunch of guys to go out and be the group.

A group would have a hit record and quickly they would hire a bunch of guys to go out and be the group.

I think it was a terrible deal.

I think it was a terrible deal.

People were being cheated on several levels.

People were being cheated on several levels.

That year, four hot shot young musicians from Texas were hired to impersonate the British psychedelic rock band The Zombies.

That year, four hot shot young musicians from Texas were hired to impersonate the British psychedelic rock band The Zombies.

I was like blowing away.

I was like blowing away.

I said, you know, these guys are not going to get away with it The Zombies who popular.

I said, you know, these guys are not going to get away with it The Zombies who popular.

Two of those Texas guys went on to play in another legendary band, zz Top. Meanwhile, back in England, the real Zombies were breaking up.

Two of those Texas guys went on to play in another legendary band, zz Top. Meanwhile, back in England, the real Zombies were breaking up.

The manager sister Chris Well, Yes, we've started up as Zombies in honor of Colin Blunstone, the lead singer from the band, who was tragic killed in a car crash. I mean they knew I hadn't been killed in a car crash.

The manager sister Chris Well, Yes, we've started up as Zombies in honor of Colin Blunstone, the lead singer from the band, who was tragic killed in a car crash. I mean they knew I hadn't been killed in a car crash.

The real Zombies ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The fake Zombies brought them closer together.

The real Zombies ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The fake Zombies brought them closer together.

There were impostors out there using their hard earned, well established, well respected names and making money off of them.

There were impostors out there using their hard earned, well established, well respected names and making money off of them.

We talked to family members.

We talked to family members.

They learned Zombies songs. The lead singer tried to pull off an English accent, and they went on the road distal Zombies opening acts.

They learned Zombies songs. The lead singer tried to pull off an English accent, and they went on the road distal Zombies opening acts.

We were all facing twenty years, all that good stuff.

We were all facing twenty years, all that good stuff.

Girlfriends, are you telling secrets? And a few music legends along the way.

Girlfriends, are you telling secrets? And a few music legends along the way.

My name is Mike Campbell from Tom Kitty and the Heartbreakers.

My name is Mike Campbell from Tom Kitty and the Heartbreakers.

This is Ben pon Torres, former senior editor at Rolling Stone Magazine in San Francisco.

This is Ben pon Torres, former senior editor at Rolling Stone Magazine in San Francisco.

I'm Suzannah Hoffs.

I'm Suzannah Hoffs.

I'm a Zombies super.

I'm a Zombies super.

Fan, and we talked to the band that started it, all the real Zombies, to find out how it feels to be the band that inspired this outrageous scheme.

Fan, and we talked to the band that started it, all the real Zombies, to find out how it feels to be the band that inspired this outrageous scheme.

I had no money, I had no idea of what I.

I had no money, I had no idea of what I.

Was going to do. After years of searching, we bring you the true story of the Fake Zombies. Listen to the True Story of the Fake Zombies on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts

Was going to do. After years of searching, we bring you the true story of the Fake Zombies. Listen to the True Story of the Fake Zombies on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts