Happy Year Of The Monkee!

HAPPY YEAR OF THE MONKEE!

By Eric Lefcowitz

Is it some cosmic coincidence that the Chinese Lunar New Year is the Year of the Monkey in 2016? Take out the Y and substitute an E and you’ve got The Year of the Monkee!

If you hadn’t noticed it just so happens to be the 50th anniversary year of “The Monkees” TV show and, not coincidentally, lots of happy and exciting things are happening. So let’s celebrate.

First off collectors and fans might like to know the dynamic duo of Ed Finn and T. Bone (anyone remember the Monkees Scrapbook?) have produced a The Year of the Monkee t-shirt featuring a “Monkee” sporting an iconic a wool hat and a double-buttoned shirt. It costs $19.66 (get it?) for the shirt on eBay and Amazon. I will provide a link for the shirts at the bottom of this article. Pick one of these attractive shirts up while they last and wear it with pride.

By the way, 1966, the year “The Monkees” TV series made its debut, was the Year of the Horse. That brings to mind Davy—lover of all things equine. It’s almost four years since we lost Davy and we still feel his loss. How much better would it be if Davy Jones were alive to celebrate with us?

The best way to honor Davy is to keep his memory alive. Rhino is certainly doing their part. They have the new Blu-Ray set coming out with remastered episodes, Head outtakes and much more we’re told.

And news that Micky and Peter will be recording songs by Andy Partridge (XTC), Rivers Cuomo (Weezer) and Noel Gallagher (Oasis) on an album to be produced by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), is certainly welcome news. Good times indeed!

So how else should we celebrate this Year of the Monkee? My suggestion is we mount a major campaign to make sure the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts the Monkees via a fan ballot. If Kiss is enshrined surely the Monkees should be a shoe-in. Please check out a video I made for YouTube on some of the reasons why the Monkees should be inducted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtnT38CggxE

The influence of the Monkees certainly continues to be felt. Let’s recall all the joy they’ve brought into our lives by supporting the guys on tour and spreading the good word. We have a lot to celebrate.

Year of the Monkee T-Shirt is available at eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/231837626410? and Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BJ0HI68?redirect=true

Here’s to making it a great Year of the Monkee!