Monkees back on TV (once!) – Ent Weekly

I’m off to the Vegas and Phoenix Monkees shows, I’ll send out another alert
when i return! By the way, there are lots of new tour photos up on the web
page now. See ya!

brad
www.monkees.net

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From: Kim

Monkees – One Man Shy
Type: Syndicated / Sitcom
Duration: 30 min
Description: Peter escorts a debutante to her coming-out party.
Airing: Fri 4/13/01 8:30am EST

This is showing on my local UPN station, which runs Screen Gems Network
programming in the daytime. It would be nice if this was the start of SGN
re-running the show, but it’s probably just part of some theme for the day.

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From: Stefanie

The new issue of Entertainment Weekly has a small Monkee mention…in their
Time Capsule paragraph, they review the date of March 30, 1967 and say..

“MUSIC, The Monkees (a.k.a. the Prefab Four) swing as their LP’s ‘More of
the Monkees’ and ‘The Monkees’ reside at Nos. 1 and 3, repectively on the
Billboard chart.”

Stefanie

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From: “Karen Brostrom”

Brad,
I live in Chicago and am planning on going to the Monkees show in phoenix
on Friday 4/6. I have three tickets but my two friends from Tucson are
not able to go to the show so now I need to sell two of the tickets.
The seats are located in Section A2, Row 10 and they cost me $58 a piece.
Do you know of anyone in the area looking for tickets?
I desperately need to sell these seats. You can pass my email address onto
anyone who may be interested.
Thank you so much for your help.

My email address is somesay1@h…

Karen

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From: SuzanneTigger

http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Apr-01-Sun-2001/living/15733957.html

Brad, In searching for a Los Vegas concert review I came across this
interesting article. Thought you
might want to read it. Sue

Sunday, April 01, 2001
Copyright c Las Vegas Review-Journal
COLUMN: Mike Weatherford
Strip needs new genre

Micky Dolenz of the Monkees had a request:
“Why don’t you ask your readers to coin a term for a show that is somewhere
between a musical and a concert?”
Funny, it was the second time that day the subject came up. It’s actually
something that, with any luck, will be discussed more on the Strip.
Dolenz was talking about a plan to take the Monkees to Broadway in a
theatrical musical. “There was an old famous Broadway show, which became a
(1941) movie called `Hellzapoppin.’ I guess you would call it a musical,
just a slightly different form. Musical variety, something like that.”
David Caldwell — who works for Broadway producer Richard Frankel — moved
to Las Vegas a month ago to try to talk the casinos into similar ideas,
including a revue based on the career of rock impresario Don Kirshner.
I mention this coincidence not to get caught up in semantics, though I
admit the phrase I’ve been using for Cirque du Soleil or De La Guarda —
“nonverbal theater” — is a little dry.
No, I mention this because, by any name, this sounds like a genre we could use.
Caldwell reminded me how dreary the showroom scene really is by the way you
can basically put every main-room offering into one of four categories:
1. Magic. 2. Traditional revues or production shows. 3. Singing and/or
comic impressionists. 4. Avant-garde or nonverbal performance art.
Sure there’s a couple of square pegs, such as Clint Holmes and the original
musical “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.” But basically, the Strip
works within defined genres, and three out of four don’t much need the
English language.
That’s a trend Caldwell doesn’t believe you have to fight. He’s not trying
to pitch the hotels “book” musicals such as “Damn Yankees,” which for
various reasons are a hard sell. Instead, he’s shopping “The Rocky Horror
Show,” a pop musical so well-known that Asian and European patrons sing
right along.
One potential problem is that the wrong shows or third-generation companies
may have made it to town first, prematurely souring entertainment buyers.
The Rio hosted “Footloose” to mediocre response last year. “Fame” is due at
the Aladdin April 18-22 and may fare better.
But out-of-town critics were far more gung ho about “Momma Mia!” — a show
that uses ABBA songs for a score. And the Who’s “Tommy” never got a fair
shake here; it finally arrived last year at Community College of Southern
Nevada
A longtime Pink Floyd fan had a great idea he doesn’t mind giving up for
free, since composer Roger Waters would probably never go for it anyway:
“The Wall.”
Here’s one of the best-known albums in the world, offering a nightly dose
of requisite Vegas spectacle when the wall collapses.
Call it what you will, just call me when it opens.
Mike Weatherford’s entertainment column appears Tuesdays and Sundays.

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From: Maryann Treppiedi Jacobs

You know, I hate spreading negative reviews like this, but then again, I do
so LOVE it when you guys jump all over the perpetrator, so I’m throwing
another bone your way. 🙂

A friend (who was at the Monkees’ Friday Taj Mahal concert and had a blast)
sent me this review from the Press of Atlantic City. While it doesn’t seem
quite as scathing as the DC review (at least he was kinder regarding
physical descriptions of Davy and Peter… but not so nice about Micky),
still, here is yet another idiot with no research skills passing himself
off as a reviewer. Among other little issues (uh, like the series’ air
date!), you’ll see one song title he totally botched (how could anyone get
that wrong even if they’d never heard it before – his screwy title makes NO
sense whatsoever!), and a couple others that are off. Also, at the bottom I
have included two links to pages with responses to the review – both well
written (I don’t know the reporter’s e-mail address, but then I haven’t
really looked for it on the site, either) Have fun…

By JOHN CURRAN
For The Press

It must be the reruns.

How else to describe the scene Friday night at Trump Taj Mahal Casino
Resort’s Xanadu Theater, where a sellout crowd of screaming, sign-waving
fans – many of them young women and girls who weren’t even around in the
1960s – welcomed pop legends The Monkees?

It was like something out of Beatlemania: They rushed the stage to give
bouquets of flowers to Micky Dolenz. They squealed like love-struck
schoolgirls when Davy Jones shook his mop top. Groups of women stood in
place at their seats, swaying and singing along.

They held signs: “Hey, Hey, We Love The Monkees” and “I’m Your Homecoming
Queen,” for example. The latter was waved by a girl who was 18 at most,
wearing a tiara and a beauty queen’s sash across the front of her dress.

The show, for my money anyway, was pure dreck, a bloated 2-and-a-half-hour
sham perpetrated by a made-for-TV band that had no musical talent when they
were cast as rock stars in the 1965 television show and, miraculously, have
just as little now. The only one of the originals with any chops was
Michael Nesmith, and he is conspicuously absent from this 35th anniversary
tour.

Worse still was the fact that Dolenz, Jones and Peter Tork spent much of
the time trying to prove that, yes, they really can play the music and sing
the songs Guess what? With two or three exceptions, they sounded positively
awful.

Then again, it’s not my money. Critics get paid to go to shows like this,
we don’t pay for the tickets. Maybe I was the only one in the 1,460-seat
house that felt this way.

Taking the stage three minutes late for the scheduled 10 p.m. show, The
Monkees’ eight-man backup band stood beneath their logo, an orange neon
sign in the shape of a guitar, with “Monkees” inside. The band whetted the
rabid crowd’s appetite, playing an instrumental medley of the group’s hits.

The place erupted when Jones, Dolenz and Tork strolled on stage and lit
into “Last Train to Clarksville,” one of a handful of their true pop
masterpieces.

Tork, 59, looked trim and healthy, his sandy-colored mop top replaced by a
receding hairline with a spiky perm. Jones, 55, looked substantially the
same, just older, with shoulder-length brown hair. But the years have not
been kind to Dolenz, 56, who looked considerably heavier all over, his long
hair replaced with a close-cropped, slicked-back ‘do that tried mightily to
cover his thinning top.

They played “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You,” another of their big hits,
with Jones on lead vocals. The crowd’s screams came in waves, triggered
either by a favorite lyric or some stage posing by Jones.

The backing band sounded great through “Here Comes Tomorrow” and “Randy
Scouse Git,” before Tork sang lead on “Auntie Griselda,” one of The
Monkees’ goofy filler tracks. Then came “Mary, Mary,” “Girl” and a
screeching Dolenz-led rendition of “Going Down,” followed by Little
Richard’s “Lucille” and “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher,” both sung by
Tork.

Dolenz reminded the crowd about the time when Jimi Hendrix was the band’s
warm-up act, and when a fan near the front nodded her assent, as if she
remembered, he replied: “Aw, c’mon, you weren’t even born yet. Your mother
wasn’t born yet.”

After that came “Since I Fell For You,” a blues wail sung by Dolenz that
was absolutely atrocious.

The show could have been cut by an hour and lost nothing. Filler like
“Lucille,” “Since I Fell For You,” Jones’ campy rendition of Louis Jordan’s
“Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?” was pointless – and painful to listen to.

Then there was the bit where Jones called the keyboard player and drummer
to center stage so they could imitate Edith and Archie from “All in the
Family.” It had nothing to do with the music, or anything else, and had
people in the crowd looking at each other as if to say “What gives?”

The highlights were “Shades of Gray,” “Valleri” and “I’m a Believer,” all
of which came before The Monkees broke at 11:10 p.m. and gave the stage
over to Natural, a new boy band from hitmaker Lou Pearlman. They played a
35-minute set that was big on Backstreet Boys-style choreography and vocals.

When The Monkees returned, they played “What Am I Doing Hanging Around?”
and “Take a Giant Step Outside (You’re Mine),” which sounded nothing like
the original. “Daydream Believer” got the crowd back on its feet, singing
and swaying, before “I’m Not Your Stepping Stone” and “Pleasant Valley
Sunday” rounded out the set.

Nostalgia is one thing. But unlike many of the oldies acts out there, The
Monkees really didn’t have a prime They were a flash in the pan, four
struggling actors who got lucky at a casting call and rode it for all it
was worth. Charging people $40 and $60 a ticket for a “reunion tour” 35
years later seems ridiculous.

But not everyone feels that way, obviously: Saturday night’s show was sold
out, too.

—Maryann Treppiedi Jacobs
http://www.ladyshutterbug.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR REGARDING THIS ARTICLE:

Hey, hey: Don’t bash Monkees

Regarding the March 18 John Curran review of the Monkees concert in
Atlantic City:

Curran obviously failed to do his research, as he had several song titles
wrong and couldn’t even get the proper title for “Higher and Higher,” a
song made famous by Jackie Wilson.

And, contrary to Curran’s reporting, each Monkee had musical experience
before joining the band; they weren’t merely four actors who “got lucky in
a casting call.”

It’s a shame that there is to this day a contingent in the media that still
doesn’t “get” what the Monkees were and are about. They never pretended to
be anything more than what they were from the start.

I was at the concert and I thought their vocals were superb. The Monkees
are still a breath of fresh air and set a good example for our children,
while Puff Daddy and Eminem disgrace themselves in their recordings and in
court.

MARK THOMPSON Wilmington, Del.

Curran too hard
on the Monkees
I am sure that John Curran was very impressed with his own review of the
Monkees concert. But he confuses serious fine art with people having fun.
The kids who are the fans of the Monkees, my 12-year-old among them, go to
these concerts because they enjoy them. The Monkees, for their part, seem
to enjoy them, too, based on the obvious warmth with which they return
their fans’ affection.
I think it’s great that a bunch of modern kids have taken so strongly to
this ’60s group. The tickets don’t cost a fortune; the show is clean, and
the performers are nice. My daughter got a kiss from Davey at the recent
concert and loved the show.
I am sorry that the show offended Curran. Perhaps he should confine his
future critical efforts to musical groups who are passing themselves off as
serious artists and avoid subjecting himself to the offensive sounds of
people just having fun.
My daughter does not understand why he wrote such a nasty article. Neither
do I. Be proud of yourself, Mr. Curran, that you were able to pull a little
of the smile off of a child’s face. Great contribution to the paper, sir.
SCOTT C. MARSH
Malaga

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

From: Krista Kegerreis

Brad,

Would you please post this for me? Thanks!

To anyone who attended the Monkees concert in Easton
PA: If anyone took pictures and wpuld be willing to
share them with me I would really appreciate it. I
will gladly pay for them. I took plenty of pictures,
but unfortunately I was having trouble with me flash,
As I was afraid of they came out too dark. I was
really disappointed that my shot of Micky and the
birthday cake did not turn out. Thank you in advance
for your help.

Sincerely.
daydreambelievin@y…

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Reviews:
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From: Callie AKA Blush

Las Vegas Concert!

Oh, the joy!

I just got done writing a six page concert review to my friends, but
I’ve shortened it a good deal for you guys. 🙂

Saturday, March 31, my three little sisters (ages 14, 15, and
16), and my folks (hey, we wanted drivers!) my friend Candace (20),
her little sister (15), and I (20) went to Las Vegas to see the
Monkees. We were so stoked! We’re all big fans, and this was a dream
come true!
We didn’t know where our seats would be until we picked up our
tickets, and I was kind of scared that they’d be a bit away from the
stage. I wanted to be noticed. Oh, how I wanted to be noticed. So I
came up with this clever idea about two weeks before the show. Why
not dress in a way that HAS to be noticed? Monkee Men! Candace and I
had already made T-shirts to wear, so I proposed the idea to the
sisters. They were a bit hesitant. What teenager wouldn’t be? Go to
a concert dressed in red tights, black shorts, a long-sleeved, red
turtleneck with a pink `M’ on it, and a black cape? But it wasn’t
hard to convince them. I set right to work at making costumes.
Jump back to March 31. We got to Vegas and got our tickets.
Row D. As we were wandering around the casino, Candace said to me,
“Callie, I keep seeing all of these posters for the concert, and they
all say that it’s the final tour. I have an extra $50 and I’m so
tempted to get tickets for the 10:30 show as well.” I was having
similar thoughts, so we went to get more tickets. The lady said that
she did indeed have extra tickets and then said that they were first
and second row. Then (get this) she asked if that was okay with us!
OH MY GOSH!
We asked if we could exchange our 8:00 tickets for 10:30 ones,
so that my sisters could be front row as well. The lady said that
that would be fine, so I ran to find my dad and get the tickets from
him. Candace and I ended up keeping our aisle Row D seats for 8:00,
and then we got everyone front row seats for the 10:30 . Candace and
I would be front row, stage right, and our sisters were front row,
stage left. So we’d be separated from the Monkee Girls but we would
still be front row
Blah blah blah…At 6:45 Candace and I headed towards MGM.
The theater is set up with tables, so row D was actually a lot farther
back than you would have imagined. We could still see alright, but
there was no way the guys would have seen us. We were SO happy we had
gotten those other tickets as well.
The show started with Natural, and they were awesome! But
then, THE MONKEES CAME OUT!!! AAAAAAHHHH!!!! They did the Monkee
walk, and Last Train to Clarksville started. I was dying. It was
unreal! I couldn’t contain my happiness! Candace just kind of sat
there, letting it all soak in. She wanted to save her energy for the
second concert. I eventually calmed down and did the same thing.
They skipped out on a lot of songs. I guess if they have two
shows in one night, they make them shorter. So I didn’t get to hear
Peter sing Can You Dig It, which was a bit of a bummer, since that’s
my favorite song of his. Oh well.
We’ll skip on now to the little break before the second
concert. Candace and I went out into the casino and found our
sisters. They were in their costumes, and looked great. The time
came to go into the theater again. As we’re waiting for an usher,
right to our left was this guy in a colorful Hawaiian shirt, talking
to the head usher. The bright shirt guy looks at the Monkee Girls and
says, “What is this?”
I said, “They’re Monkee Men! Or Women. Whatever.” He turned
to the head usher and said, “Let these girls backstage after the
show.”

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

We all go take our seats and try to be patient. Candace and I
had a much easier time of it, since we knew what to expect. But we
were still so stoked, because we were right AT the stage. I had my
knees touching the stage, and I could lean forward and put my arms on
it.
Yadda, yadda, yadda…The Monkees come out. They’re doing the
Monkee walk, and Peter looks over at our sisters, who are on their
feet screaming, and points them out to the other two! Since he was on
their side of the stage, he was making faces at them the whole time!
The lady next to me (never met her before, but she was so much fun!)
and I stood up and were cheering so loud!! Micky was right there!!
His mic stand was no more than five feet away from us!
When they brought out the timpani drums for Randy Scouse Git,
we were going crazy! You should have seen my sisters! Micky sure
did! He looked over at them and grinned. Then he looked at the rest
of the audience and said, “Watch this.” He looked back at our sisters
and said, “Cucumber!” They screamed so loud! The guys were laughing
at them! Peter gave them this adorable look and said, “You guys are
such suckers!”
Then Peter did Auntie Grizelda! He was doing this dance all
around the edge of the stage. The lady and I jumped up and were
screaming! We were reaching up every time any of the guys came close
to us. Micky was such a tease! He’d reach his hand out to touch
ours, and then pull it away last minute. All of the guys were so
funny! The lady and I kept looking at each other and laughing.
OH! During Steppin’ Stone, Micky came over to us. He pointed
right at me! I don’t remember what line he was singing, but he was
pointing right at me, smiling! He was so close! I reached my hand
out, and he started backing away! But he had the cutest mischievous
look on his face, so it was easy to get over it. Plus, since I’d been
to the first concert, I knew he would come over to shake hands after
the show.
Poor Peter was sick. Occasionally he’d cough in the middle of
a song. I felt bad for him! And I was afraid that he wouldn’t come
backstage to meet us all! He’s my favorite Monkee!
There were all kinds of other really cool parts! Micky sang
this awesome blues song called Since I Fell For You. He did a
wonderful job on it!
I have never had so much fun in my entire life! I was
dancing, screaming…You can’t imagine the joy! I was SO close to all
of them! After the last song, they walked around the stage grabbing
people’s hands. Before that, the only one that touched anyone’s hands
was Davy, and that was mostly our sisters. But Micky came straight
over to Candace and I and shook our hands. He looked at Candace and
said “Thank you!” She had been yelling, “We/I love you Micky!”
through the whole show. He looked at me and smiled, and I smiled
back.
Then Peter came over. We reached out our hands, and he
reached his out, but then turned away really quickly and coughed.
Candace and I looked at each other and said, “Poor Peter!” He was so
sick!! But he turned back and took our hands. Sure, he had just
coughed into his, but it was Peter germs! That made it alright.
Then Davy came. The lady next to me started freaking out! He
opened his arms wide, came right at her, and gave her a big huge hug.
She was so happy, she started screaming. He pulled away and held his
ear. It was funny, but he didn’t make it to me, because he was
rubbing his ear for so long. Then they all got together and walked
away.
And so the concert ended, and it was time for backstage!!!!!
The Hawaiian shirt guy (the tour manager, I assume) came
through the door to let in pass holders. A lot of other people were
gathered trying to get in as well. He said, “Monkee Girls only!” I
said, “And sisters! Our names are on the paper!” So we ran through.
We were warned that the Monkees might not come into the room.
Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. I was starting to get a
little worried. But then someone said, “Here comes Peter!”
Peter walked into the room, saw our girls, and paused. He got
this huge grin on his face and said, “MONKEE MEN!” Then he proceeded
to tell the whole room about how there were a couple episodes where
they dressed up as super heroes and said, “This looks like a job
for…Monkee Men!”, and that the girls were wearing costumes JUST like
them. He walked right over to us and started signing autographs. I
asked if I could get a picture of him with my sisters, and he said,
“Sure!” He seemed to really liked the costumes. As they were getting
together to pose I was telling about how we tried to make them look as
genuine as possible. But then I started feeling like I was rambling,
so I shut up and took the picture. But Peter was cool. We got a pic
of him with Candace and I as well.
It was great! I mostly just sat there and listened and
watched. He’s so cool! Eventually he got up to go.
After Peter left we sat around for another minute or two, and
someone said, “Davy and Micky aren’t coming. Everyone needs to
leave.”
NO! How could this be? Peter was so sick, and yet he came!
But I’m sure Micky and Davy had their reasons for not coming.
Oh well. I got to go backstage and meet Peter! Why should I
be upset? I’m so lucky! And it was a great show, and I had a ton of
fun. I’m going to be on a high for years to come!
(pictures of the Monkee Girls with Peter will be scanned
soon…let me know if you wanna see! (hundredpapes@h…) )

Callie AKA Blush

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

From: Laurie Nason

What a dissapointment it was to meet Mickey and Davy yesterday in Las
Vegas. I had some surgery and came home a day early just so that I could
meet them. I stood on the line to get an autograph and it was so
impersonal. They never even looked up to see who they were signing for.
I asked Mickey a question and Daveys response was “just another ploy to
make the line run longer” I was shooed away by the big guy standing
there. It was just a yes or no question. I was standing behind the stage
when it was all over. ( i have friends that are on the stage) We asked
for a quick picture as they were walking back to the Limo, (only a very
few people standing there) and they waved and kept walking. I used to be
SUCH a big fan, and was so hurt by this. If there were an address on
this site i would mail my autograph back to them.
Laurie Nason

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

From: Mallory

Brad,

My name is Mallory, and I went to the first concert in Las Vegas. It was
great! I started to cry at the start because I was so happy! Peter and
Micky were really funny. Davy was really cute. I am only 12 but I love
them. After the concert there was a guy saying that if you had backsstage
passes to go this way. My mom and I thought we would follow them and this
lady followed us. We got to the entrance to see them and the people with
passes went in. There manager asked if we had passes and we said I wish. My
mom was talking to him and she told him I was there biggest fan, he replied
“no she’s not”. My mom then said “well one of them”! He said he would check
to see if there was any room and he came back and let me, my mom, and this
lady back! There were
no more than 12 people there. Then Peter and Micky walked in and I was so
happy. They signed my picture and our tickets. I wondered where davy was so
I asked. He said he might be coming, then about 10 minutes later he walked
in! He signed all my stuff too! I got my picture taken with all of them
seperate. They all put there arms around me and peter hugged me!!! It was the
best night of my life!!!
Would you please put this in the newsletter!

Thanks,
Mallory

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

The Monkees Alert list is moderated, meaning you cannot post directly to
the list yourself. To submit an item for the list, send to:
bradpager@m…

For info on posting to, subscribing, or removing yourself from this list,
send an e-mail to: alert@m… for an automatic response. Thanks!
239 From: Brad Waddell
Date: Thu Apr 12, 2001 10:14pm
Subject: New Monkees Tour Date! New Tork CD! New Monkees DVD’s! Monkees on TV!

Nothing from the promoters yet, but Monkees Summer tour dates are slowly
leaking out. We have heard about them doing more US dates and then the UK –
who knows where they will show up next? Stay tuned!

The Vegas show was way too short, and the audience was dead. I was glad we
went to the Phoenix show, the concert in the round with the spinning stage
was great, and they put 3 Nez songs back into the set, as well as For
Pete’s Sake, an excellent show – though I can’t get used to “I’m a
believer” leading into the acoustic set, unless there is a break in
between. Great show as always! Happy to meet all of the fans!

brad

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

From: BeckiHogsten@a…

I’m a HUGE fan from Lexington, KY who recently had the amazing opportunity
to see the guys at the Columbus Palce Theatre show and thought that would
be my last chance this year. However, in my local paper they have THE
MONKEES listed to appear at our new local Lexington Legends Ballpark on MAY
27th SUNDAY and this is confirmed on the Kentucky Connect Website!!! Is
anyone aware of additional dates being added to the tour!?! I am presently
trying to obtain additional info and will let you know, but if anyone has
heard anything, please email me and let me know!!!
Becki Hogsten
Thanks

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

From: “Robert P. Scaglione”

Hey Brad and everyone!

Brad, I sent an e-mail to you yesterday saying that I heard on the radio
that the Monkees and the Beach Boys were going on tour this summer. Well, I
e-mailed the DJ that said this and here is what he wrote back:

At this point it’s just a rumor, but it looks like there will be a Beach
Boys/Monkees tour this
summer. Beach Boys are in Sarasota June 7 for two sold-out shows, then
they’re off for a tour of
Europe. Don’t have any details, but will let you know as soon as they’re
available. Thanks for the email, and thank you for listening.

I just wanted to pass this along! I hope the concerts are great and
everyone if having a blast! My fingers are crossed for a summer tour!

Laura Scaglione

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

From: Knos

Hi:
Did you know that the brand new CD: ONCE AGAIN is now available by Peter Tork
and James Lee Stanley. It can be ordered through Beachwood Recordings.
Here is one of the links:
The Official James Lee Stanley Web”>http://www.jamesleestanley.com/”>The Official James Lee Stanley Web
Site www.jamesleestanley.com
Let me know if you need more info.
Regards,
Knos

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

From: “Valorie Winn”

Hi!
Screen Gems is airing an episode of The Monkees on Friday the 20th. I
went to their web site to look at the schedule, but they didn’t have
one. So I don’t know which episode or if it will be on again, but i
just wanted to make sure that everyone knew.
Valorie

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

From: Estrella Lee

The following is an article I found from the
Albuquerque Journal that contains a telephone
interview with Peter about The Monkees’ concert.
Here’s the link to see it in a better format:

http://www.abqjournal.com/venue/289674venue03-30-01.htm

Estrella

– – –

Friday, March 30, 2001

Be a Believer

By David Steinberg
Journal Staff Writer

The bubble-gum pop group that started out life as a
made-for-TV boy band is coming to Albuquerque almost
35 years after its first episode aired.
Well, at least three-fourths of the aging,
ageless Monkees – who spawned the hits “Daydream
Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a
Believer” – will be at Kiva Auditorium for its concert
Thursday.
Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork, three
of the original Monkees, will be there.
Michael Nesmith, the fourth Monkee, hasn’t gone
on the road with the band since the late 1960s, except
for a 1997 tour of England and Ireland.
Are they aging?
Tork, for example, just turned 59. “I’ve had a
bit of a cold recently. I’m fighting it off with
echinacea and Vitamin C,” Tork said in a phone
interview from Columbus, Ohio.
“But my voice seems to be doing OK…. Overall,
my voice is probably in better shape than it’s ever
been. Mickey is singing way better than he’s ever
been. He’s an astounding machine if you just want a
pure pop singer who can do almost anything with his
voice.
“And Davy sings pretty little ditties that get
the hearts aflutter,” Tork added.
Are they ageless? Do graying guys still get
groupies?
Tork had a quick sociological take on the
Monkees’ audiences.
“There are screaming young things, screaming
middle-age things and a few screaming old things,” he
said.
“Some of the original Monkees fans are now
mature, responsible adults. They’ve brought their
children and some their grandchildren. There are a
substantial number of kids in single-digit years, an
awful lot of teen-agers and a lot of attractive 20s,
30s, 40s and 50s. It’s really an astounding thing.”
What may be just as astounding is that the
Monkees keep going out on tour and fans keeping paying
to see them.
After tours in 1967 and ’68, the Monkees took a
tour break through the next decade. The Monkees sans
Nesmith returned to the road in 1986, ’87 and ’89,
then up and out again in 1996 and ’97.

LIFE ON THE ROAD
Tork loves this business of touring. “It has its
compensations like nobody’s business,” he said. “Right
now I’m reclining in a kingsize bed in a suite in a
hotel in Columbus, Ohio. I’m sipping French roast
decaf, which is my favorite stuff, and I’ve got three
TVs in the room.”
Nice gig.
The peripatetic life of a musician is still
entertaining for Tork.
And he keeps his hand in other musical projects.
He performs with the band Shoe Suede Blues, which
opens for the Monkees, and is in a pop-music duo with
his singer/songwriter friend James Lee Stanley.
Tork, a Washington, D.C., native who lives in Los
Angeles, said he’s a born entertainer. Truly.
Even before he was in school, Tork said he
remembers thoughts he had about being in show
business, or at least wanting attention.
“I remember, age 4, I didn’t know at the time but
I did notice it was pretty much, ‘Hey ma, look at me.’
I really wanted to be seen. Getting attention is part
of what I am,” he said.
Tork studied piano from age 9 to 14. By that time
he had learned to play a guitar and a five-string
banjo. In high school and in college, Tork played
French horn.
A few years later he migrated to the Greenwich
Village folk scene playing bass in clubs and coffee
houses.
Whether Tork, nee Thorkelson, was being
threatened with eviction from the city or whether it
was a fantasy for something much less sinister, he
indeed left New York for the West Coast.
“I was instructed to leave town by agencies
unknown, unseen, unheard but I understood very
clearly…. Whatever it was, I was given to know it
was time,” Tork said.
By the end of June he was in Los Angeles and
within six weeks of having arrived, Tork was
auditioning for a planned TV show called “The
Monkees.”
The NBC-TV show debuted on Sept. 12, 1966, with
him in it.

SHOW CLOTHES
As Tork gently approaches 60, he isn’t shy about
dressing up in outrageous outfits for this reunion
tour. And he will get heaps of attention.
He comes out on stage in something that might be
from an old Monty Python episode: “I wear a
three-quarter coat of red velvet and big brass buttons
cut in the continental version of the American
Colonial era. And red brocade pants. There’s an
anachronistic touch of red patent leather, gum-shoed
sneakers.”
Dolenz, Tork said, walks out in a Johnny Cash
three-quarter-length black coat, black slacks and
black boots.
As for Davy, why he’s striding out in a gray
sparkle suit. Ooo-eee.
During the course of the show, however, the
winsome threesome change into something comfy –
pullovers.
And comfort is what Tork finds on stage, perhaps
now more than ever.
“We’re insulting to each other in a really
friendly way,” he said.
“Davy has sometimes been an amazing improviser,
but as a whole we’re so much more comfortable,
laughing and goofing off and doing tunes.”

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

From: “Grant Taylor”

Hi,

Slated for release on 22nd May, 2001 is Rhino’s first DVD of The Monkees
television series (apart from the already available “Our Favorite
Episodes”). The first DVD will carry Volumes 1 & 2 and retails for $19.95.

Episodes contained are as follows:

Here Come The Monkees / Picture Frame / Alias Micky Dolenz / Hillbilly
Honeymoon (Although 6 episodes per disc would have been nicer!!)

Catalogue number: R2 976025

Cheers

Grant Taylor

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

From: “Michelle”

From: “William Naylor”

I’m writing from BBC TV in England to let you know about a major 8 part
documentary series on the history of 20th century popular song. The last
programme in this series – to be shown on BBC2 on Saturday 5th May (at 8.15
pm) – will open with a sequence on The Monkees. Unfortunately, there’s
nothing new in the way of Monkees footage but it does feature part of an
interview with Micky Dolenz.

The series is titled ‘Walk on By – The Story of Popular Song’ will be shown
(possibly under a different title) later this year on the Bravo channel.

I hope you might have a way, via your website, of alerting Monkees fans of
the series. I think they might find it of interest.

Many thanks
William Naylor

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

From: Niall Hood

On Tuesday, April 24th, dren records will release:

Pap Nez: A Loose Salute To The Work Of Michael Nesmith.

A tribute album that recognizes the songwriting and arranging of Michael
Nesmith’s career as both a solo artist and as a member of The
Monkees. Stylistically, the album’s foundations are in alt-country, power
pop, and that early seventies southern California sound. The album will be
available exclusively through Miles of Music (www.milesofmusic.com) for the
first month, after that, it will be available elsewhere, such as at
Amazon.com.

“Michael Nesmith ain’t some Monkee. Well, he was, but he’s also a pioneer
of country rock and of music videos, and a visionary television and film
producer. To paraphrase one of his many hits: Listen to the man.”
-Ben Fong-Torres,
Former Senior Editor; Rolling Stone
Author; Not Fade Away and Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons

Some of the artists and bands paying tribute to Nez:

John Jorgenson: of The Hellecasters and The Desert Rose Band, session
guitarist for Bob Dylan, Elton John, etc.

Western Electric: includes Sid Griffin, formerly of The Long
Ryders; “trippy with a twang” L.A. Times

Simon Raymonde: formerly of The Cocteau Twins

The Mary Janes: includes Janas Hoyt, session violinist for John Mellencamp

John Beland: session guitarist for Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash, Arlo
Guthrie, Dolly Parton, etc.

The Heavy Blinkers: “the baroque style of Wilson and his co-composer Van
Dyke Parks” MTV, Asia

Last Train Home: ” a very likable mixture of bluegrass, country and
folk-rock” -Chicago Sun Times

Frog Holler: “the ensemble playing is exhilaratingly organic.” No Depression

Sixty Acres: “some of the best rootsy rock” Washington Post

Some of the songs on the album:
Different Drum
Listen To The Band
You Just May Be The One
The Girl I Knew Somewhere

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

From: Carlisle Blessing

I was visiting www.timbuckley.com today, and in the ‘video’ section, there
is a clip of Tim playing Song to the Siren from the Monkees episode MIJACOGEO.

just passing it along,
Carlisle

———-
“Reebersacken Reebersacken Elephants…. Chickens…” – Davy Jones
http://www.shoopies.net
http://www.ninetimesblue.com
http://www.electricbubbles.com

+++++++++++

From: “Sally Carpenter”

Some of the reviews for the new “Josie and the Pussycats” movie make
comparisons to The Monkees. By the way, the actors in that movie not only
don’t play their own instruments, they don’t even do their own
singing. The vocals are dubbed in by Kay Hanley.

From the LA Daily News (April 11): “The girls basically run around,
squeal and frolic through cheesy montages and what could very well be a
record number of brazen product placements. Some of this
short-attention-span cinematic shortcutting is redeemed by an infectious
giddiness that evokes pleasant memories of The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s
Night” or less pleasantly, The Monkees’ “Head.”.

From Daily Variety (April 9): “Borrowing a few pages from Peter Watkins’
dead serious “Privilege” (1967) and Bob Rafelson’s comic-fantasy “Head”
(1968), Kaplan and Elfont [writers-directors] imagine a world in which
pre-fab pop stars are manufactured and sold to masses of pliable, trend
conscious teens, while shadowy government-corporate co-conspirators
manipulate those masses to maintain social order and, more important, a
booming economy.”

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

From: Shempster1

Hi,
There is a new Nesmith interview on a show titled “Video Killed the Radio
Star” on VH1. Check their website to see if it will air again. He talks
about when he started “Popclips” which inturn became the idea for MTV. Check
it out. It is has pretty good clips and interview stuff all about the start
and continuing phenomenon of MTV.

“only a whimsical notion”

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

From: Tiffany Spiecker

Folio Weekly, a news and opinion magazine available for free throughout
northeast Florida, has an article called ‘Guilty Pleasures’ in its April
10th issue. The author, Danny Kelly, polled several of northeast Florida’s
musicians regarding music they’re embarrassed to admit liking. Mr. Kelly
contacted my sister for her response and here’s what was printed on page 31 –
Anastasia (singer/songwriter): My favorite bad song is “Daydream Believer”
by the Monkees. The piano at the beginning kind of catches you, and the
melody is goofy, but it’s still well done.”

-Tiffany

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

From: Laura

‘ello ‘ello!
I picked up a copy of “Guitar World: Acoustics” today.
(No. 41) They have a big thing in it about The Beatles
White Album. (With John, Paul, George and Ringo on teh
cover)
Inside the magazine, on page 59, there is E-Z Guitar
notes for “I’m A Believer”. And on pages 61-63, is
more complicated (?) guitar notes for the same song.
I don’t play guitar, so, it’s probably not too
complicated…dunno.
Just thought the collectors might like to know about
it. 🙂
Peace and Love,
Laura

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

From: “Sally Carpenter”

On Sunday, April 7, the Los Angeles Times ran an obituary for Larry
Tucker. He passed away on Sunday in Los Angeles from multiple sclrosis and
cancer. He was 67 years old. The obit reads in part, “Tucker and Mazursky
developed, wrote and produced the mid-1960’s TV series `The Monkees’.” The
complete obituary can be read at www.latimes.com/obits.

Larry Tucker; Film and TV Producer, Writer

Larry Tucker, 67, producer and writer of such films as “I Love You, Alice
B. Toklas” and “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.” Born in Philadelphia, Tucker
had an eclectic career working as an actor and a prolific writer and
producer for motion pictures and television. After working with humorist
Mort Sahl at the Hungry i music and comedy club in San Francisco, Tucker
joined Paul Mazursky and began writing for such TV staples as “The Danny
Kaye Show.” Tucker and Mazursky developed, wrote and produced the mid-1960s
TV series “The Monkees” and followed that success with the movies “Alice B.
Toklas” in 1968 and 1969’s “Bob & Carol,” which was nominated for an
Academy Award. Tucker’s more recent TV shows as writer and producer
included the 1980s series “Mr. Merlin,” “Jennifer Slept Here,” “Teachers
Only” and “Stir Crazy.” As an actor, Tucker appeared in such films as the
1962 “Advise and Consent” and the 1971 “Angels Hard as They Come.” On
Sunday in Los Angeles of complications of multiple sclerosis and cancer.

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

From: “~*~* Izzy *~*~”

Hi. I just wanted to let you and everyone know that the Monkees’ pilot
episode will be on TV. The date I have is Friday, April 20 at 8:30 a.m. on
UPN. I live in Connecticut, so you might want to check your local listings
if you do not live in that state.

Monkees
Pilot Episode
30 min.
In the series pilot, the group auditions for the Sweet Sixteen Party—and
Davy falls for a sweet 16-year-old. Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork.
Rudy: Bing Russell. Vanessa: Robyn Millan. Russell: Richard St. John. Jill:
Jill Van Ness.

– Izzy

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

From: “Bonnie Verrico”

Hi Guys,

I can’t remember if I sent this information before I left
for the Monkees’ AZ & NM shows, so I am going to post it
again to make sure no one gets lost in New York:

Chicago Blues is located on 73 8th AVENUE not Street. This
is really important for people to know because the addresses
are in two totally different parts of the city. I just
received the official paperwork back from the venue, saw the
different address & confirmed the correct one with them.
Please let anyone you know who is attending the show on
April 27 & 28 about this change. Thanks!

Bonnie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter Tork & Shoe Suede Blues
Spring Tour! April 20-May 6, 2001
www.petertork.com
www.shoesuedeblues.com
http://electricbubbles.com/shoopies

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

From: Kim

The Trouble Network is showing the Monkees at 1:30pm GMT and 9:30pm GMT.
This may be Monday to Friday only, or it may be also airing on the weekend.

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

From: “Anissa”

For anyone who is interested . . .

Invisible Mom 2 on Showtime East with Micky
Friday, April 13 1:00 PM
Thursday, April 19 3:00 PM
Monday, April 23 4:35 PM

Before They Were Rock Stars on VH-1 with Mike
Saturday, April 14 5:30 PM

Before They Were Rock Stars on VH-1 with Davy
Friday, April 20 4:30 PM

All information from tvguide.com

Anissa

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

From: Althofft

Regarding Broadway musical comedy classifications and names.
In the past there’ve been a number of famous productions (Certainly Olsen &
Johnson’s Hellzapoppin’ is one).

I’m partial to:
Ziegfeld Follies (Monkees Follies?)
Broadway Brevities (various years)
Dumbell Review of 1922 (my grandfather was in that one)
Broadway Blackouts
Midnight Follies

or since they’ve been compared to the Marx Brothers sooo often why not:
Monkee Soup (or Soup to Nuts)

Monkee Business

Monkeeing Around

Bananas (with appologies to Woody Allan)

or perhaps “No No Nez-ette” (No-No Nanette)

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

From: “Videoranch Foreman”

Hi there. It’s me, Slim.

This email is intended for serious Nez collectors. Last week we Ranch hands
spent 3 days going through the Nez archives down in Los Angeles. We found a
Nez goldmine. Perfectly itemized, organized, and packed original LPs from
the 70s. Beautiful picture-sleeved 45s. 8 Track tapes (Laugh away – we
actually sell some to collectors). I believe we even found some 1960s
Michael Blessing 45s, but don’t hold me to this.

Examples of stuff we found:
Cruisin’ 45s
Shrink-wrapped Wichita Train Whistle LPs
I Fall to Pieces 45s.
Velvet Hammer (Red Rhodes) LPs
Television Parts Key Chains

Rather than list all the stuff we found, we’d like you to email us if
you’re interested in anything in particular. Is there something you’ve been
wanting for a while? Let us know. You want a list of available 45s? Let us
know. It might take us a day or so after your request to do the research.
We will get back to you with availability and prices. We can also scan
items and email them to you so you can have a look at them.

What about prices, you ask? Depends on the piece. And, we can only sell a
small amount of these, because we must maintain the archives.
We’re really excited Nez has allowed us to sell a few of these excellent
items. We hope to find them good homes.

To celebrate our discoveries, we’re going to sell “The Prison” LP, signed
by Nez, for half price ($50.00) for one week beginning today.
http://www.videoranch.com/gshop/index.html?t=frindex&c=1″>http://www.videoranch.com/gshop/index.html?t=frindex&c=1

Oh, and you can also call us toll free at 1-866-727-2639 for more info.

Get out your turntables!
Sincerely, Navajo Slim
Videoranch Archivist
www.videoranch.com

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

From: “rhurt”

Hi Brad,I first want to tell you how much I love the Monkees site and the
mail alert service!! I have started my own business, a music collectors
magazine called Inner Groove. Below I’ve listed our website and email
address. Our first issue which will go out in early will be a Monkees
special issue!! Here’s where I need some help to make sure it’s a great
issue. Could you please mention it in your next Monkees email alert?? I
need fans to contribute the following on the 2001 tour, if possible I’d
like to cover all the shows I can. I need concert reviews, stories, photos,
ect. Anything related to the tour. We want to let the people who really
know about the artist to write about them. I feel that mags like Goldmine &
Discoveries tend to get too clinical sometimes and you loose that warm real
fan feeling. So as I said we want the REAL experts to handle alot of the
writing for a change. Our website has all the info on how to subscribe and
info on upcoming issues of I.G. I can really use your help to get the mag
off to a good start. So please help me if you can. There is a printable
form online to subscribe, or anyone who would like one we’ll mail them our
flyer if they email us there address and also if they mention the
Monkees.net site we’ll give them a free 25 word ad when they join!! I want
to offer you a free subscription for helping me out if you’d like to
recieve I.G.
I want to thank you in advance for any help you can give us here at
I.G. , below are our web address and email.Again thank you.

http://www.innergroovemagazine.homestead.com

EMAIL: innergroove@m…

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

From: “Videoranch Foreman”

Hi everyone,

We’ve had so many email responses regarding the items in the Nez archives
that it became necessary to send out another email to the Videoranch
Mailing List. Sorry for not getting back to those of you who wrote us
individually.

We went through a lot of what we have and inspected the pieces very
closely. We took some time to research the market and get a sense of what
these items are worth.Below is an inventory of items we are allowed to
sell. It’s first come first serve. If you’re interested email us or call us
at 1-866-727-2639.

NOTE! Nez will sign any of these items, if requested, except the Michael
Blessing 45. Keep in mind, the shrink-wrap would have to come off in order
for him to sign. These items have never been played. Everything’s first-hand.

LP’s: All of these LP’s come in their original shrink wrap.
Compilation $150.00
Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma $150.00
The Prison in a cardboard sleeve $100.00
The Prison in a box, currently on sale for $50.00
Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash $150.00
And The Hits Keep On Comin’ $150.00
Live at the Palais $150.00
From A Radio Engine to a Photon Wing (has “Includes the single “Rio”
sticker on the shrink wrap) $175.00
The Michael Nesmith Radio Special $200.00
Wichita Train Whistle Sings $150.00

45’s: All of these 45’s come in a plain white sleeve, unless a picture
sleeve is noted.
Rio/ Casablanca Moonlight with picture sleeve of Nez in tux with Rio
Dancers $125.00
I’ve just begun to care/ Roll with the flow $45.00
Rio/ Fat ‘n Sassy from Pacific Steele with Red Rhodes doing Rio and JayDee
Mayness doing Fat ‘n Sassy $50.00
Magic/Dance $50.00
Cruisin’/ Horserace $50.00
I Fall to Pieces, Some of Shelly’s Blues, Silver Moon, Joanne Picture
Sleeve close-up of Nez’ Face $100.00

Cassettes: All of these cassettes come in as is condition. They are still
in their original shrink wrap and although we haven’t had any problems
getting them to play, we cannot guarantee they all will. They’re pretty old.
From a Radio Engine to a Photon Wing $25.00
Live at the Palais $25.00
Compilation $25.00
Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma $40.00

8 Tracks: The 8 tracks also come in the original shrink wrap.
From a Radio Engine to a Photon Wing $40.00
Live at the Palais $40.00

Michael Blessing:
Colpix Records Promo 45 . Has “Not For Sale” on Label. Does not have a
sleeve. “The New Recruit” on one side and “A Journey with Michael Blessing”
on the other. $500.00

Misc:
August 14, 1981 BAM Magazine issue #110. Nez on the cover and the cover
story with pictures. The story is called “Michael Nesmith A Video Visionary
Leaps into the Future”. $100.00
Medium Black Nez t-shirt from 70s. It’s the Photon Wing graphic of him in
the space suit with the cowboy hat and above is “Papa Nez. Never worn.
Excellent condition. $50.00
Poster. 30″ wide by 23 1/2″ tall. Nez in full makeup and white suit from
Rio video sitting at a table. Very stylized. Very special. Very rare. Good
condition. $400.00
Poster. 3′ by 3″ Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma. Same art as the LP
Cover. Good condition. 200.00
Tapeheads yellow Medium t-shirt. Very cool. Never worn. $35.00

We have not gone through everything. There might be a few more Michael
Blessing pieces, some Quad 8-tracks, some Mike John and Bill 45s and some
Pacific Steel or Velvet Hammer LPs. We’ll email you when we have that info.

We got a lot of inquiries specifically about the Television Parts keychain.
We also found a pin. We’re probably going to auction these. We’ll let you know.

Yours truly,
Navajo Slim
foreman@v…