Rolling Stone: The Monkees (minus Nesmith) Resolve Personal Issues for 45th Anniversary Tour

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Exclusive: The Monkees Resolve Personal Issues for 45th Anniversary Tour
'I had a meltdown on the last tour,' says guitarist Peter Tork. 'I ticked the other guys off good and proper'



Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees pose during portrait session to announce the bands 45th anniversary tour held at The Groucho Club on February 21, 2011 in London, England.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-the-monkees-resolve-personal-issues-for-45th-anniversary-tour-20110307

By Andy Greene
March 7, 2011 12:15 PM ET

When The Monkees last hit the road together 10 years ago things didn't go so well. Guitarist Peter Tork quit near the end, later telling the press that Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz were drinking to the point that they became "mean and abusive." In 2009 Jones told the National Enquirer that he had no interest in a reunion, adding that he "couldn't imagine sharing a stage with Micky Dolenz."

So it came as surprise last week when they announced a 45th anniversary world tour. "It was the estimation of certain professional people that this could work," Tork tells Rolling Stone. "They asked if the three of us were interested in doing it. After some discussion we all said 'yeah.' That's just about the bottom line of it."

In a significant shift, Tork now takes full responsibility for the backstage problems on the 2001 tour. "We were getting along pretty well until I had a meltdown," he says. "I ticked the other guys off good and proper and it was a serious mistake on my part. I was not in charge of myself to the best of my ability – the way I hope I have become since. I really just behaved inappropriately, honestly. I apologized to them."

He now says alcohol played only a small role in the group's problems. "I'm sure it played a part, but I cannot honestly say it was anything more than a very slight part," he says. "It could have been very, very minor. But the main thing was that I had a meltdown and I messed up."

[LynneSin]

1. How can it be a reunion tour without Mike Nesmith?

Trivia: What commonly used office product was invited by Mike Nesmith's mother?

[Swede]

2. Raw corn liquor?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. Too easy...Liquid Paper n/t

[LynneSin]

4. DING DING DING DING - we have a winner. As our winner - here is your blue ribbon

Served to you by our Messiah - enjoy!!

[Swede]

6. Well,I was close.

They both get you high,and they both are essential in the office. :shrug:

[edbermac]

17. They still haven't found his hat yet.

[NoGOPZone]

5. Like their music, they've aged well nt

[AngryOldDem]

11. I do, too.

They did some really good stuff.

[LibDemAlways]

7. I'm just glad to see Peter is still with us. I know he's had some

serious recent health issues.

I saw a Monkees reunion show back in the 80s. Mike made a surprise appearance on stage at the end of the show but I don't think he's ever been a participant.

The worst thing about these oldies reunion shows is that I look around and realize that all of the aging people there are my age. :(

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. I saw the first reunion...

...the "That Was Then, This Is Now" tour in the 80s, at Marine World (before it moved to Vallejo, when it was still in its original location on the Redwood City / Belmont border).

It was a package tour with "The Grass Roots" and "Herman's Hermits." Actually, it was one big house band. Rob Grill (original lead singer of The Grass Roots) was the only "Root," and "Lek" Leckenby fronted the Peter Noone-less "Hermits" with a few other pick-up musicians.

For the Monkees set, Dolenz played drums throughout most of the show (but was not the only drummer), and Tork played guitar, not bass. His big moment of the show was whipping off the "Valleri" guitar solo in note-for-note perfection (performed on the original record by Glen Campbell). Jones shook a tambourine or maracas here and there.

It was good to see them but I sat through the whole show wishing Nesmith would somehow magically emerge from the wings.

[LibDemAlways]

10. I think that was the tour I saw as well. It was at the Universal

Amphitheatre in LA where Mike made his brief appearance.

Peter Noone still plays shows with a band he bills as "Hermans Hermits Starring Peter Noone." I caught him at a free show he put on in a park in Thousand Oaks a few years back and I know he plays small club dates. A local venue also recently featured Chad and Jeremy. I had no idea they were still touring. Ah, the 60s!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

12. Catwoman steals Chad & Jeremy's voices as they sing "Distant Shores"...

...the Catwoman episodes of Batman were always my favorites, and this was my first exposure to Chad & Jeremy...enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biH_oM4v-D0

:toast:

[LibDemAlways]

14. Thanks for sharing! They also made appearances on

the Patty Duke show and Dick Van Dyke show (as the "Redcoats"). Wonderful memories.

[AmandaRuth]

9. I really, really want to go

but the ticket prices are beyond ridiculous - $70 for a cheap seat, and close to $200 for a decent seat.

[LibertyLover]

13. As a once and future Monkees fan, this is interesting news

I liked Micky Dolenz, but realized Mike Nesmith was the best musician of the group. Still it's good to hear that Peter Tork seems to be beating his health issues. I wish them all the best on this tour. I probably won't get to go - the ticket prices are much too dear - but hopefully it will be filmed and a documentary made.

[bikebloke]

15. It would be nice for Mike Nesmith to join up.

Back in junior high school there were always guys wearing watch caps on the back of their heads.

But the Monkees have been touring minus a member or two for a while. I was in Australia back in the mid-80's and the Coogee Bay Hotel had two the members billed as the 'Sound of the Monkees".

[Amerigo Vespucci]

16. The famous review of the "Changes" album...

...the final album from Dolenz and Jones, during the original run, after Nesmith bailed. One critic wrote something like "If this trend continues, we can look forward to the next album being billed as "The Monkee."

[gratuitous]

18. The Pre-Fab Four minus One

But, for people who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they'll definitely like.