So I was watching the Monkees bio on The Biography Channel last night and if you think about it, it's pretty amazing. "Let's get a bunch of nobody kids, and have them kind of imitate The Beatles. And we'll then we'll make a series and we'll have lots of slapstick. Oh yeah - and we'll just get a bunch of song writers to write the songs."
On paper this sounds like a recipe for disaster but do you know what? It worked. How did that happen? And I'm not saying that they're the best group ever but it's pretty amazing that this was a manufactured group and that the music still holds up.
To hear "I'm a Believer", click here.
My favorite song is probably "I'm Not Your Steppin" Stone". But I love when anyone does that song - especially Paul Revere and The Raiders. To hear that version, click here.
Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees and Chaka, from "Land of the Lost."
ReplyDeleteSeparated at birth?
Discuss.
I Loved the Monkees when I was a kid. Yup, a card carrying member of the Davey Jones fan club.
ReplyDelete"Steppin Stone" is a classic.
There's a phenomenom in France called "Le Boys Band". It's exactly what the Monkeys were, a group of boys who were formed into a musical group. It works pretty well here.
ReplyDeleteI loved Peter Tork.
The Monkeys rocked.
ReplyDeleteI too was a member of their fan club. Davey was so dreamy.
ReplyDeleteI went to a concert, many moons ago when they were trying to have a comeback. It rocked.
#1
I both thank and blame my Dad for my love of The Monkees. I thank him when I'm skipping down the street happily to The Monkees. I blame him when The Monkees won't get out of my head for three days straight.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very complex relationship.
2 words.
ReplyDeleteDavey Jones.
fuckin Marsha was on to something. however if this were today I'd fight the bitch for him like some bad reality tv show.
Well, they were no Hermans Hermits, but they were pretty good.
ReplyDeleteOh crap, did I just really date myself right there?
I totally had a crush on ALL of them at various times. I loved their show...too bad there weren't DVR's back then or I'd have seen ALL of them.
ReplyDeleteYou could get away with anything in the 60s, people weren't as jaded about the media. I bet 90% of the public didn't even know they were "manufactured". That said, their success is still pretty amazing. It's like if the Zack Attack went platinum.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know you know what I'm talking about.
Mike Nesmith was my favorite. He wrote "Mary, Mary", "The Girl I Knew Somewhere", & "You Just May Be The One", amongst others. He played a customized Gretsch twelve-string, and wrote "mixed meter" songs with complicated structures. Part of the reason he left the Monkees, was due to his creative frustration; he was only allowed to pen 2 songs per album. I pretty much thought the other guys were crap compared to him.
ReplyDeleteYou know what, I had not thought about it much, but you are right. It is pretty incredible.
ReplyDeleteDisney continues to do it.
ReplyDeleteHuge crush on Davy. Wanted to be best friends with Mickey and run wildly around empty building while being chased by people in bear suits.
ReplyDeleteI had every single album.
Loved the Monkees...and now can't get their song out of my head. I'll be cursed for days now. ;) I blame you, Zibbsy.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Monkees then but I was a kid. Believe it or not Davey Jones still does concerts or at least he did. I've been to see him twice - not to see him but because we live where there used to be the largest bar in the world and HE was the act when friends came to town wanting to see the bar. He sucked pretty badly.
ReplyDeleteholy cat crap! how did i never notice that peter could be a doppelganger for joe dubois, the husband/dad on Medium??!! maybe just this shot?
ReplyDeleteSo Davey Jones in the 70's was having a meet n greet outside Sam Goody's in the Roosevelt Mall.
ReplyDeleteI was there, my parents did not know, we were not allowed to walk to the Roosevelt Mall, even though it was a block away.
Davey was dreamy.....everything a girl wanted way back when.
Pissed me the hell off when he appeared on the Brady Bunch and kissed Marcia, that bitch.
my verification word is SODOMMI.....sweet
peace
#2
Wait, the Monkees weren't real?
ReplyDelete(Wink, wink...)
I have a love/hate relationship with The Monkees - I love to hate them! Davy Jones and the dark-haired guy in the back (Mickey something?), especially.
ReplyDeleteI've always had to be different...
I've always been a "Gonna Buy Me A Dog" guy, myself.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend in 1987 who had a big crush on them. She had pictures of them all over her notebook, her bedroom walls, and inside her locker. Totally bizarre.
ReplyDeleteI loved that show and had such a crush on Davey Jones.
ReplyDeleteI liked Davy (who didn't) but I always liked Peter the best...not sure why...weird.
ReplyDelete