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People Say He Monkees Around
Micky Dolenz will sing fan favorites when the ‘Happy Together’ tour makes a stop in New BrunswickTHERE’S a moment during the Happy Together tour when the Monkees’ Micky Dolenz pays tribute to his former bandmate and friend, Davy Jones, honoring the singer who died less than four months ago.
It’s perhaps the only moment of the two-hour plus show where people won’t be smiling, but Mr. Dolenz promises that his song dedications to Jones, while emotional, will still be a treat for any Monkees fan.
”I think when you look at all these great bands collaborating — the Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, the Grass Roots, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, and the Buckinghams — whether you were a fan of the Monkees or not, you won’t be disappointed,” he says. “People really seem to enjoy it all.”
The Happy Together Tour 2012 will visit the State Theatre in New Brunswick on June 20.
Mr. Dolenz had first done the tour a couple of years ago, but last year was committed to a Monkees tour so he had to decline. When asked to join once more, the singer couldn’t wait to hit the stage.
”When I did it last time, it was such a good time,” Mr. Dolenz says. “It’s such a great group of people and real easy-going and over two hours of solid top-10 hits. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of it?”
In addition to Mr. Dolenz singing “wall to wall Monkees hits,” the concert will feature Turtles’ hits “Happy Together,” “It Ain’t Me Babe,” and “You Baby;” Gary Puckett & The Union Gap performing “Woman, Woman” and “Young Girl;” The Grass Roots’ “Let’s Live for Today” and “Midnight Confessions;” and The Buckinghams’ “Kind of a Drag,” “Don’t You Care” and “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.”
”At the end of the concert, we all go on stage together for one big group number,” Mr. Dolenz says. “It’s really a treat for us and everyone coming out.”
For his part, Mr. Dolenz plans on playing hits like “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer,” “Daydream Believer” and “Mary, Mary,” songs that helped the Monkees to 65 million sales worldwide.
”I think the music really stands up or we wouldn’t still be singing it today. They were written really well,” he says. “I was blessed to have some of the greatest songwriters write for me — Carole King, Paul Williams, Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka — and when you start out with solid material, you have a better chance of finding some success.”
The singer/drummer of the famous television group has fond memories of the show and his time with Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Mike Nesmith. He credits the strong people around the show and the non-topical comedy for its continued success more than four decades later.
”On our show, what not everyone realizes is that our characters were never famous. We were always looking for work. It was essentially about a band that wanted to be the Beatles,” he says. “I think that had a lot to do with our appeal because we represented all those little kids out there in garage bands who wanted to be the Beatles, just like we were.”
Even though the show ended more than 40 years ago, the Monkees toured successfully throughout the years, playing around the world. Mr. Dolenz also stayed busy as a radio host (most notably on WCBS-FM in New York), doing some acting and performing in a number of theatrical musicals.
”I was always a fan but I had lived in Los Angeles for a long time so I didn’t really know how to get into it,” Mr. Dolenz says. “After the Monkees, I was offered some dinner theater and summer stock and even though I came at it late in life, I really enjoy doing musical theater. It’s the real deal.”
He starred on Broadway in Grease and Aida, played London’s West End in Hairspray and did productions of Pippin and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
”After I started doing musicals, it occurred to me that the Monkees was like a little half hour Marx Brothers musical,” he says. “A lot of people always compared us to the Beatles and ‘A Hard Days Night,’ but I think it’s much more accurate to compare it to Marx Brothers musical.”
After the Happy Together Tour ends, Mr. Dolenz may return to London for another play. He’s also considering another radio gig and will be playing some of his solo material at shows around the country.
”I’m not sure what my next move will be, but I just want it to be good material,” he says. “I’d rather play a great rock show than be in a bad musical, or vice versa. I’ve been lucky to have so many great opportunities and that they continue to come.”
Micky Dolenz will perform on the Happy Together Tour 2012 at the State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, June 20, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35-$85; 732-246-7469; www.statetheatrenj.org
