E! MonkeE! – Micky Interview

From: Kim

From the clicktv.com site:

True Hollywood Story – The Monkees

Duration: 2 hr
Description: The saga of the music group the Monkees and how the group’s
members came together and rose to stardom.

Airing: Thu 10/19/00 9:00pm (eastern daylight savings time)
Fri 10/20/00 10:00am (EDST)
Fri 10/20/00 4:00pm (EDST)

Please note that these times for the East coast, so please check your local
TV listings for the air showings in your time zone.

Kim

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From: “Nicole Banks”
To:
Subject: Micky Dolenz Interview
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 18:38:13 -0400
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I was lucky enough to interview Micky Dolenz on Wednesday, October
4th. This article ran, edited, in the October 12th edition of the
Williamsport (PA) Sun-Gazette.

Nicole Banks

In the late 1960’s, Micky Dolenz made his mark on pop culture as the star
the Monkees. The television show about a band blurred the lines between
reality and fantasy, and the four actors hired for the series Dolenz, David
Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork found themselves on unfamiliar
territory as major recording artists. Dolenz likens the transformation to a
Star Trek character coming to life: “It’s like Leonard Nimoy really became
a Vulcan.”

The Monkees have sold over 65 million records worldwide, and their
television show regularly plays in syndication. This summer, the TV music
channel VH-1 paid homage to the group with a made-for-TV movie and an
edition of the critically-acclaimed show “Behind the Music.”

The longevity of the Monkees phenomenon no longer fazes Dolenz. “I’m not
surprised by it any more. It has become much greater than any of us, and it
will continue long after we re gone. Now that I’m a director/producer, I
can identify the elements that have helped contribute to the success. It
wasn’t any one thing–it was a certain amount of serendipity, and the whole
was much greater than the sum of the parts.”

Dolenz sang the vast majority of the Monkees songs, but is unsure of how he
was placed in that position. “The Monkees was a TV show, and therefore it
didn’t exist. When they cast these parts, we didn’t have any input as to
who was going to be in it. In fact, I remember being introduced to everyone
one day. Recording was the same way: it was all in the hands of other
people. We had no control over anything. And I was quite happy at the time
to allow the producers to handle that.

“I think the reason I ended up singing then was because everyone had their
own styles. Peter was bluesy and folk, Mike was country western/country
rock, and David was Broadway/music hall style. I was the only one that had
a rock and roll style in fact I auditioned for the Monkees playing “Johnny
B. Goode” on the guitar. Not to be self-deprecating, but I think that might
have had something to do with it I was the only one with a rock and roll
style. I was the only one that could go, Waaaaaaaaa and screech out like
they wanted.”

None of the other Monkees ever confronted Dolenz about his increased vocal
representation. “But even if they had come to me, there wasn’t anything I
could have done about it. Sometimes we would all do lead vocals for a song,
and the producers would just choose the one they liked best. We had
absolutely no control over it. I mean, I would have liked to have sung I
Wanna Be Free, and I did, in fact, but they went with David.”

When asked if any of the Monkees songs were difficult for him to sing,
either because he disliked the material or because they were vocally
challenging, Dolenz responded, “We had fantastic song writers, and they
would come to me with demos. I was happy to go along with them. I don’t
remember having any that I didn’t like. But, you have to realize that those
two years were so busy that eventually it all just blurred together for me.
I would sometimes record 2-3 lead vocals a night, and this was after doing
the TV show all day.

“The song Gonna Buy Me a Dog, was difficult to sing because they wanted us
to sing it straight. David and I were in the studio, and we did a couple of
takes of it, but fortunately they used the one where we were goofing off. I
don’t know how anyone could have sung that song straight.”

For Micky Dolenz, life after the Monkees has been rich and rewarding. He is
a respected producer and director, both in the United States and in
England. Dolenz has several projects in development, including a show for
the Disney Channel that combines live action and animation.

He is actively involved in charity work, including playing at an upcoming
dance-a-thon in April of 2001 that will benefit the American Foundation for
Children and Youth. The Foundation aids organizations that aim to prevent
childhood emotional and behavioral disorders. “My daughter and my ex-wife
got me involved in the project. I thought it was a good idea. Sounds like a
lot of fun.”

Dolenz is also an accomplished painter whose art focuses on scientific
issues. “Since I was a child, I was very involved in electronics, chemistry
and physics. I don’t know I must have had a great junior high teacher. I’d
say in the late 70’s it found its way into my artwork.”

Dolenz has released two children’s albums through Rhino Records. He also
writes music. “Recently I’ve been writing country tunes. I don’t know why,
but every time I pick up a guitar, I write country. I’m not a prolific
songwriter, though.

“I would love to do another solo album. However, I’m realistic about the
industry. It’s hard to get a record deal. I don’t think I could get someone
to back me at this point, but I’d love to. I released the CD Demoiselle
over my website. But, as for a full-blown record album that gets airplay,
that’s different.”

Currently, Dolenz is on the road with the Teen Idols Tour, which also
features Peter Noone, formerly of Herman’s Hermits, and Bobby Sherman. He
performs a selection of Monkees tunes, including I’m A Believer and
Pleasant Valley Sunday.

Dolenz feels the Teen Idols Tour has one great advantage to the tours the
Monkees did in the 1960’s. “In the 60’s, the equipment was prehistoric. It
was equivalent to a karaoke machine. I couldn’t hear what I was playing
because the kids were screaming so loudly. I could just barely hear my
snare drum. In fact, Mike and I worked a code to keep things going. We
didn’t have any monitor systems in those days, but Mike could hear me, and
he was on guitar, so he would tap his foot in rhythm to the music, and I
would follow his lead. The other two were kind of on their own, though.”

At this time, the Monkees have no reunion plans. But, says Dolenz, “I’ve
learned to never say never. I wouldn’t rule it out.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: “BONNIE VERRICO”

Hi everyone,

I’ve been spending the day sending out press releases to California
newspapers, radio and TV stations about SSB’s upcoming performance at
the Benefit Dance on October 21st, and I thought that sharing some of
the information from the press release might be helpful and/or
informative to some of you. Please feel free to post this information
on your sites, lists, etc… or share it with friends and colleagues.
This is a terrific cause & one the guys have a lot of feeling for, so it
would be great to have a big showing!

Take care, Bonnie

Here’s the info:

Peter Tork, original member of the 60’s pop group The Monkees,
and his classic Rock & Blues dance band, Shoe Suede Blues, will be in
Santa Monica to perform at a return engagement on Saturday, October 21,
2000 at The Church at Ocean Park in Santa Monica from 8pm-midnight. All
proceeds from this dance will benefit Beyond Baroque Child Care Program,
Felicity House (a women’s recovery home) and the Lorna Poe Independent
Living Center. The Church at Ocean Park is located at 235 Hill Street,
corner of 2nd and Hill Streets. Tickets are $9.00 at the door. For
more information regarding the benefit, please call Becky at
310-202-7934.

Shoe Suede Blues was formed when Peter Tork and friend, Tadg
Galleran, were asked in 1994 to put together a band for this same
benefit, held that year in Venice Beach, CA. The band has continued to
perform at the benefit ever since. Following their initial performances
for this benefit, Shoe Suede Blues quickly began to receive performance
requests from clubs in California and other states, and the band has
grown in popularity to the point that they now tour across the nation,
performing for benefits, private functions and in nightclubs. Plans are
also underway for the band to tour abroad in 2001.

This event has become a labor of love for the national band, due
to the members’ high interest in assisting community help groups around
the country. Fans will have the opportunity to meet and speak with all
of the band members, including Peter Tork, who will also sign autographs
and have their picture taken with anyone requesting such.

Shoe Suede Blues plays a lively and unique combination of Swing-
and Jump-Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Classic Blues, Blues Rock and Pop. They
perform original music as well as covers from such legends as Muddy
Waters, Junior Wells, Wilson Pickett, The Coasters, Chuck Berry, Little
Richard, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Warren Zevon and, of course, The Monkees.

In addition to performing at the benefit on October 21st, the
Shoe Suede Blues can be seen at Harvelles, 1432 4th Street, Santa
Monica, CA on October 15 and 22, 2000. The cover for each show is $8.00
at the door. Harvelles’ phone number is 310-395-1676 for more
information.

Shoe Suede Blues, featuring Peter Tork
Visit shoesuedeblues.com & petertork.com!

To purchase Monkees CD’s, Videos and Collectable rare items, visit
www.monkees.net

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