Monkees tour to perform a classic album
By Paul Freeman
For The Daily News
Posted: 10/31/2012 06:44:08 PM PDT
Updated: 10/31/2012 11:14:04 PM PDT
In the summer of 2011, The Monkees -- Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Davy Jones -- toured (including a show at Saratoga's Mountain Winery). They played to packed houses and earned some of the best reviews of their careers. It seemed like the group would go on forever.
Then, in February, Jones suffered a massive heart attack and died at age 66.
"It was a shocker," Dolenz tells The Daily News, "totally out of the blue."
But Jones' passing does not mean the end of The Monkees. Dolenz, Tork and the reclusive Michael Nesmith are teaming for a dozen concerts this fall, including a Nov. 11 date at Cupertino's Flint Center.
Of Papa Nez returning to the fold, Dolenz says, "Mike has toured with us before, in '97, when we recorded an album, called 'Justus.' And he came on the road a couple times, over the years, when we were at the Greek Theatre, for one. And, of course, originally, especially when we did 'Headquarters.' And that's what we're featuring on this tour, is the album 'Headquarters.'
"And it is interesting, in that, over the years, David and Peter and I, of course, always did a lot of Mike tunes. Right from the get-go, we were doing a lot of his tunes -- 'Girl I Knew Somewhere,' 'Listen to the Band,' and 'Circle Sky.' And I would sing them, or David or Peter. And this new set is sounding really wonderful. We were rehearsing last month [in Monterey], and that's really been great, hearing Mike sing his vocals."
Dolenz, Tork and Jones had been discussing this type of concert concept a year ago. "Somebody came up with the idea, said, 'You know, there's a lot of bands that are going out and they're playing like their whole album, start to finish, some classic album of theirs. And it might be a great idea to go out and do 'Headquarters,'' which was like a seminal album in the Monkee world."
So, this tour features the entire 1967 "Headquarters" album, as well as earlier and later tunes. It was the third Monkees LP, but first following what Dolenz calls "the palace revolt." Led by Nesmith, the band rebelled against the Monkee TV show's music maven, Don Kirshner. From that point forward, the foursome chose their songs, writing many of them, and playing their own instruments, as well as doing all the vocals. That led to some of their finest recordings.
After Jones' passing, Dolenz and Tork had to rethink The Monkees' future. They wanted to honor their friend.
"Mike and Peter and I were at a memorial together in Los Angeles, discussing all this," Dolenz recalls. "And what should we do? Should we do anything? Should we do a memorial concert? And if we do, where do we do it? Because David had friends all over the place, and family, New York and England, and here and there. So we thought, maybe we'll do two or three. And that sort of blossomed into this current tour.
"But, having said that, I don't want to be misleading. It is not, officially, the Davy Jones Memorial Tour. However, he will be remembered. There will be a tribute and an homage."
Despite internet conjecture, The Monkees never considered finding a replacement for Jones.
"David had his own unique appeal," Dolenz says. "He was Davy Jones, for Chrissakes. And that's why, in a case like The Monkees, you could never consider replacing one of the members, whereas, in lots of groups, over the years, that have lost members for one reason or another, they have replaced them and they've done it quite successfully at times. But I don't see how you could possibly do that with The Monkees."
Dolenz is elated that Nesmith is ambling into the spotlight again. The country-rock and video pioneer had a successful solo career following The Monkees.
"I'm so glad to see that Mike is out touring again. He's doing a solo tour right now in the U.K., which is fantastic. Then, after the Monkees tour, he's going to do some touring in the spring, here in the States, which is wonderful.
"He just hasn't been on the road much ... ever. Mike's just been doing a lot of other stuff. He was running a big business and he has Video Ranch 3D. And even before David passed, last year,
"I'd seen him at an event, where he did a little acoustic set. And he said, yeah, he was thinking of getting back on the road and doing some performing. I was totally encouraging, because I'm a huge Mike Nesmith fan."
Dolenz fans will be thrilled to learn that he has just released a new album called "Remember." The concept is a musical scrapbook of songs that impacted his life and career. Among them are Dolenz originals, like an updating of the U.K. hit "Randy Scouse Git." There's a country-tinged "I'm A Believer." And a couple of songs that Dolenz had first shot at -- "Diary" and "Old Fashioned Love Song" -- before Bread and Three Dog Night had smashes with them. The title track was penned by his close friend, the late Harry Nilsson.
Also included is "Good Morning Good Morning." Dolenz was at Abbey Road studio when The Beatles recorded that song.
"I went to England and there was a press/photo op with me and Paul McCartney. Monkee meets The Beatles kind of thing. We'd been at his house and hung out. And then he invited me down to a session the next day. They were doing a new album called 'Sergeant' something," Dolenz quips. "I was such a huge fan, I was just trying not to embarrass myself.
"So, I showed up the next day and I do remember expecting there to be some sort of Beatlemania, fun-fest, freak-out, love-in. And I got all dressed up in my paisley bell bottoms and my tie-dyed underwear. And it was just the four guys, sitting there, playing. And George Martin. And, of course, that experience remained with me forever, as you can imagine."
Perhaps only The Beatles could fully understand the mania The Monkees faced in those days.
Dolenz says, "The Monkees started out as a television show about a band that wanted to be The Beatles. And, on the television show, we were never successful. It was the struggle for success that I think had a lot to do with endearing us to that generation.
"The television show was about an imaginary band. It didn't exist. We lived on a set on Soundstage 7 at Columbia Pictures. And then, of course, we became a band, going out and touring for tens of thousands of people, all by ourselves. As Michael has said, it was like suddenly, Pinocchio became a real little boy."
Email Paul Freeman at [email protected].
Read More
For The Daily News
Posted: 10/31/2012 06:44:08 PM PDT
Updated: 10/31/2012 11:14:04 PM PDT
In the summer of 2011, The Monkees -- Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Davy Jones -- toured (including a show at Saratoga's Mountain Winery). They played to packed houses and earned some of the best reviews of their careers. It seemed like the group would go on forever.
Then, in February, Jones suffered a massive heart attack and died at age 66.
"It was a shocker," Dolenz tells The Daily News, "totally out of the blue."
But Jones' passing does not mean the end of The Monkees. Dolenz, Tork and the reclusive Michael Nesmith are teaming for a dozen concerts this fall, including a Nov. 11 date at Cupertino's Flint Center.
Of Papa Nez returning to the fold, Dolenz says, "Mike has toured with us before, in '97, when we recorded an album, called 'Justus.' And he came on the road a couple times, over the years, when we were at the Greek Theatre, for one. And, of course, originally, especially when we did 'Headquarters.' And that's what we're featuring on this tour, is the album 'Headquarters.'
"And it is interesting, in that, over the years, David and Peter and I, of course, always did a lot of Mike tunes. Right from the get-go, we were doing a lot of his tunes -- 'Girl I Knew Somewhere,' 'Listen to the Band,' and 'Circle Sky.' And I would sing them, or David or Peter. And this new set is sounding really wonderful. We were rehearsing last month [in Monterey], and that's really been great, hearing Mike sing his vocals."
Dolenz, Tork and Jones had been discussing this type of concert concept a year ago. "Somebody came up with the idea, said, 'You know, there's a lot of bands that are going out and they're playing like their whole album, start to finish, some classic album of theirs. And it might be a great idea to go out and do 'Headquarters,'' which was like a seminal album in the Monkee world."
So, this tour features the entire 1967 "Headquarters" album, as well as earlier and later tunes. It was the third Monkees LP, but first following what Dolenz calls "the palace revolt." Led by Nesmith, the band rebelled against the Monkee TV show's music maven, Don Kirshner. From that point forward, the foursome chose their songs, writing many of them, and playing their own instruments, as well as doing all the vocals. That led to some of their finest recordings.
After Jones' passing, Dolenz and Tork had to rethink The Monkees' future. They wanted to honor their friend.
"Mike and Peter and I were at a memorial together in Los Angeles, discussing all this," Dolenz recalls. "And what should we do? Should we do anything? Should we do a memorial concert? And if we do, where do we do it? Because David had friends all over the place, and family, New York and England, and here and there. So we thought, maybe we'll do two or three. And that sort of blossomed into this current tour.
"But, having said that, I don't want to be misleading. It is not, officially, the Davy Jones Memorial Tour. However, he will be remembered. There will be a tribute and an homage."
Despite internet conjecture, The Monkees never considered finding a replacement for Jones.
"David had his own unique appeal," Dolenz says. "He was Davy Jones, for Chrissakes. And that's why, in a case like The Monkees, you could never consider replacing one of the members, whereas, in lots of groups, over the years, that have lost members for one reason or another, they have replaced them and they've done it quite successfully at times. But I don't see how you could possibly do that with The Monkees."
Dolenz is elated that Nesmith is ambling into the spotlight again. The country-rock and video pioneer had a successful solo career following The Monkees.
"I'm so glad to see that Mike is out touring again. He's doing a solo tour right now in the U.K., which is fantastic. Then, after the Monkees tour, he's going to do some touring in the spring, here in the States, which is wonderful.
"He just hasn't been on the road much ... ever. Mike's just been doing a lot of other stuff. He was running a big business and he has Video Ranch 3D. And even before David passed, last year,
"I'd seen him at an event, where he did a little acoustic set. And he said, yeah, he was thinking of getting back on the road and doing some performing. I was totally encouraging, because I'm a huge Mike Nesmith fan."
Dolenz fans will be thrilled to learn that he has just released a new album called "Remember." The concept is a musical scrapbook of songs that impacted his life and career. Among them are Dolenz originals, like an updating of the U.K. hit "Randy Scouse Git." There's a country-tinged "I'm A Believer." And a couple of songs that Dolenz had first shot at -- "Diary" and "Old Fashioned Love Song" -- before Bread and Three Dog Night had smashes with them. The title track was penned by his close friend, the late Harry Nilsson.
Also included is "Good Morning Good Morning." Dolenz was at Abbey Road studio when The Beatles recorded that song.
"I went to England and there was a press/photo op with me and Paul McCartney. Monkee meets The Beatles kind of thing. We'd been at his house and hung out. And then he invited me down to a session the next day. They were doing a new album called 'Sergeant' something," Dolenz quips. "I was such a huge fan, I was just trying not to embarrass myself.
"So, I showed up the next day and I do remember expecting there to be some sort of Beatlemania, fun-fest, freak-out, love-in. And I got all dressed up in my paisley bell bottoms and my tie-dyed underwear. And it was just the four guys, sitting there, playing. And George Martin. And, of course, that experience remained with me forever, as you can imagine."
Perhaps only The Beatles could fully understand the mania The Monkees faced in those days.
Dolenz says, "The Monkees started out as a television show about a band that wanted to be The Beatles. And, on the television show, we were never successful. It was the struggle for success that I think had a lot to do with endearing us to that generation.
"The television show was about an imaginary band. It didn't exist. We lived on a set on Soundstage 7 at Columbia Pictures. And then, of course, we became a band, going out and touring for tens of thousands of people, all by ourselves. As Michael has said, it was like suddenly, Pinocchio became a real little boy."
Email Paul Freeman at [email protected].
Read More