THE MONKEES BIOGRAPHY:
Unlike most bands, The Monkees were not formed by its members but rather by TV producers. You see, the Monkees weren't originally a real band -- they were a fictional band in a TV show of the same name. While four members sang, they did not play their own instruments or write their own songs, at least at first. And yet thanks to contributions by top songwriters and session musicians, a carefully crafted image, and of course, the successful TV show, The Monkees became one of the most popular pop groups of the '60s, at one point outselling the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Though the group later seized control of it's destiny--learned to play their own instruments, write their own lyrics and help screenwrite a movie.
The inspiration for The Monkees came from the 1964 Beatles movie Hard Days Night. Two TV producers, Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson, who formulated an idea for a show about a Beatles-like band, then put ads in newspapers seeking "four folk and rock musicians" to star in the series. The ads resulted in hundreds of auditions, but only singer-songwriter Mike Nesmith was accepted. The other three members were recruited via other connections - "drummer" Micky Dolenz and "singer" Davy Jones had experience in musical theatre; "bassist" Peter Tork was an actor and part-time folk singer. The show debuted on NBC in the fall of 1966 and became a huge hit. Each week the group would sing a song or two written by top industry names like Carole King, Neil Diamond and Boyce and Hart while instrumentation was provided by talented musicians including Stephen Stills and Harry Nilsson.
As their fame grew, The Monkees themselves grew upset at not being able to play their own instruments or write their own songs - especially bona fide musician Mike Nesmith - and began to rebel against their producers and record company, going public with the truth about their songs. While this disappointed many older fans, most didn't seem to care. The Monkees began playing their instruments and writing some songs on 1967's Headquarters, though the continuity of their sound was preserved. That year they embarked on a major tour, proving they could perform live; but what was most notable about the tour was the opening act, the then-little-known guitarist Jimi Hendrix. By 1968 the Monkees were already deviating from their manufactured image and straining for credibility, starring in the bizarre psychedelic movie Head, directed by Jack Nicholson. That same year the TV series came to a close, and The Monkees called it quits as a band within a year or two.
The Monkees TV Show continued in syndication, and their records continued to sell. In the mid-'80s the group reunited without Nesmith, who was running a successful music video production company; after releasing an album and touring the oldies circuit. Following a much-publicized reissue of their backcatalog on Rhino Records, all four Monkees reunited for an original 1996 album called Justus. The reunited group continues to tour, usually without Mike Nesmith, who concentrated on the band's behind-the-scenes operations. |
