The Monkees

The Monkees were a four-man band who appeared in an American television series of the same name, which ran on NBC from 1966 to 1968. The Monkees were formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California and disbanded in 1970. At their peak they were one of the most popular musical acts of their time.

From TV to stage

Critics of The Monkees complained that they were a made-for-TV knockoff of The Beatles (although John Lennon was a fan of the show, comparing its humor to The Marx Brothers), and that The Monkees were a group chosen by television producers Schneider and Rafelson.

Related Topics:
John Lennon - The Marx Brothers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The massive success of the series and its spin-off records had created intense pressure to mount a touring version of the group by late 1966. Against the initial wishes of the producers, Dolenz, Jones, Nesmith and Tork went out on the road. The results were far better than anyone had a right to expect, and wherever they went they were greeted by scenes of fan hysteria not seen since The Beatles. This gave the four stars increased confidence in their battle for creative control over the music used in the series.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Monkees had complained that the producers would not allow them to play their own instruments on their records. This campaign eventually forced the series' musical coordinator Don Kirshner to let them have more participation in the recording process (against his strong objections), which included Nesmith producing his own songs and band members making some instrumental contributions. Led by Nesmith, the band eventually rebelled against Kirshner, who was later fired, and beginning with their third album, Headquarters, the four Monkees did play most of the parts on the rest of their record albums. However, it should be noted that from time to time the band would again employ the top session musicians of the day on later records to assist them in the recording process.

Related Topics:
Don Kirshner - Headquarters

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kirshner was reported to have been incensed by the group's rebellion and swore never to repeat his mistake. This experience led directly to his later ventures The Archies and Josie and The Pussycats, which were animated series — the "stars" existed only on an animation cel and obviously could not demand creative control over the records issued under their name.

Related Topics:
The Archies - Josie and The Pussycats

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When the group toured Britain in 1967 there was a major controversy over the revelation that the group did not play on their own records, and the news made the front pages of several UK and international music papers, with the group derisively dubbed "The Pre-Fab Four." Nevertheless, they were warmly welcomed by many top British stars including The Beatles, who knew the group included some skilled musicians and sympathised with their wish to have more control over their music.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many Monkees fans now feel that the controversy unfairly targeted The Monkees and conveniently ignored the fact that a number of the leading British and American groups (including critical favorites such as The Byrds and The Beach Boys) habitually used session players on their recordings, and that this practice had always (until then) passed without comment. However, The Beatles had led a wave of groups who played their own instruments and wrote their own songs, and The Monkees' output paled by comparison in the eyes of many.

Related Topics:
The Byrds - The Beach Boys

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Supporters and critics of the group agree that the producers and Kirshner had the good taste to use some of the best songwriters of the period, including Neil Diamond, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Gerry Goffin and Carole King, Harry Nilsson and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, as well as using top-ranking Los Angeles session musicians on the records.

Related Topics:
Neil Diamond - Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart - Gerry Goffin - Carole King - Harry Nilsson - Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Monkees had several international hits — which are still heard on pop and oldies stations — including "I'm a Believer," "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" — and even a number of social criticism songs, the best known of which is probably "Pleasant Valley Sunday."

Related Topics:
Oldies - I'm a Believer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Monkees also deserve credit for helping bring America's attention to the Jimi Hendrix Experience, who they took on as an opening act during their Summer 1967 concert tour, even though Hendrix quit after only a few shows. Reports circulated at the time that he had been removed from the tour after complaints from the conservative women's group Daughters of the American Revolution. This was later proved false and it has since been revealed that the story was concocted for publicity purposes by the late Australian journalist and music writer Lillian Roxon, who had been accompanying the tour with her friend, the Australian singer Lynne Randell, who was one of the supporting acts and who was romantically involved with Jones at the time.

Related Topics:
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Daughters of the American Revolution - Lillian Roxon - Lynne Randell

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~