I absolutely love The Monkees! I met Peter Tork a few years ago and even though I was in my 40s, I was suddenly 6 years old again. He was so amazing and it's something I will always treasure. I wish they were recognized for being as talented as they were. Their music was fantastic.
Something you'll always remember...... And shortly after, he passed away. Tork documented his cancer experience on Facebook and encouraged his fans to support research efforts of the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation. His cancer returned in 2018, and he died at his home in Mansfield, Connecticut on February 21, 2019, a decade after his diagnosis.
Saw Nez in Chicago at his second-to-last show in November of last year. He didn't look well. There have been allegations of elder abuse against his former caretaker. If you're interested, there's a few videos on RUclips that dive into these allegations.
I knew all of the "crazy facts", but I've been a Monkeemaniac since I was very young and watched the show religiously in syndication (in the '70s). I still have the 4 original albums released back then, as well as CDs of those, plus all of their other albums, and several of their Greatest Hits and Missing Links. I was ecstatic when they toured in the '80s when I was a teenager and actually able to see them in concert (I managed to go to 5 of their concerts!) I also went to a concert in 2013 (after Davy had passed which, altho I was an adult, made me sob like a young girl). I was also fortunate enough to see Peter perform with his band, Shoe Swede Blues and got to meet him and get his autograph (was so nervous and excited to meet him that, again, that "young girl" in me came back and I stumbled over my words. He was very sweet about it.) Losing Peter, and Mike were just as gut-wrenching as the loss of Davy. I can't imagine what it will be like when there are no more Monkees, and I pray that Micky hangs in for a long time, even tho he will no longer be touring. (Micky was, and is, still my fave ever since I was very young). I still listen to their music and actually have several of their CDs in my truck. It has a way of lighting up a dark day and I'm so grateful that they've been a part of my life for nearly 50 yrs. I can't imagine being without.
Interesting story from probably their #1 fan. I liked their music. Is their show still playing somewhere? Davy was my favorite. He used to be my least until I saw him interviewed once and he seemed so nice and so dignified and so modest that I changed my mind.
Mike and Peter played instraments before the show, Ive heard. They are the best have loved and listened to them since I was a kid, Im 62 now!! Also were down to one remaining Monkee now, Mickey!!! RIP Davey, Peter and Mike!!!!!!!!
By far this is my favorite band of all time. I love watching their show although I wish the love scenes weren't so goofy; but it was a sitcom after all.
I met Mike Nesmith in 1985 when his father was in the hospital in Galveston, Texas. I worked as a RN in the hospital there. Was tempted to ask for his autograph but didn't think it'd be appropriate as a healthcare professional, and with his father being sick.
Peter Tork(a/k/a Thorkelsson) was already a practicing musician before the show Michael Nesmith was already a songwriter and musician before the show Davy Jones played The Artful Dodger in the London production of Oliver! Mickey Dolenz, as a child actor, had been the star of a tv show called Circus Boy. He, also, was already a musician before The Monkees All of the group were annoyed(at LEAST) that they weren't allowed to play their own instruments in the first season
@@writerpatrick Davy actually tested very well on drums,but was passed over because the producers were worried that being behind the drum kit would comically exaggerate Jones's lack of height. To use an old pun: Davy came up short
@@writerpatrick Dolenz had no clue how to play drums. Peter had to teach him how to fake playing on TV,the network hired a teacher for him to actually play drums on stage and in the studio. Chip Douglas cited Dolenz's drumming as the musical weak link in the group,he had to splice together multiple takes of his drumming in order to get a competent recorded performance from Dolenz.
I was going to marry Micky "when I grew up." Guess that'll never happen as I'll never grow up. Bahaha. Was a fun show to watch and The Monkees will always hold a special place in my heart.
Was an absolute Monkees FANATIC as a kid! Had a mad crush on every one of them at one point or another, and even went as Davy Jones for Halloween one year. The fact that they only lasted 2 seasons (not to mention all the behind the scenes crap that went on) shows the kind of power the networks and production studios had (and still have) over artists. Mike Nesmith was a true musical artist, and the other 3 were just as talented. If they had been allowed to blossom even more, who knows what might have been?
There's a clip here on YT of David about 2 weeks before his passing at an autograph convention, maybe during a break. He picks up his guitar and remarkably jams on it. Probably the last 30 second video of the Manchester Cowboy. Then look for Peter playing Bach on an old cinema organ. Truly remarkable musician who played 8 instruments extremely well, and maybe can get by on 4 others. He was the only one with a university degree too.
I had read that Peter said he had dropped out of Carlton(?) College twice. I never saw that he finished his degree, but he must have if he taught high school for a few years. He taught English, French, history and math (and coached) and was named Teacher of the Year a few times. Someone made a comment stating he was a good teacher, and, yes, he would talk about the Monkees on occasion. I think he was the intellectual of the group. Always liked him best. Still do.
Fact No. 11: David Bowie's real surname was Jones and he had been playing under the name Davy Jones until 1966 when he became aware that there was a Davy Jones in The Monkees and so he began performing under the name David Bowie to avoid confusion.
i was little then, but i loved the Monkees! watched their tv show every saturday morning. had all their records! many years later i worked on a revival tour video they did. at the end of the two day shoot they played a lot of their songs for us. it was great! everyone was there except nesmith. it was 1987.
Those were the days, my friends. To be a kid and watching CLEAN comedy show like this on Saturday mornings! Wish that would return- our kids badly need it!
The success of the Monkees revolutionized the music industry. Producers realized that rather than hiring successful talent and paying large percentages in contracts, they could "manufacture" successful artists and keep most of the profits. This really showed up more in the 80s as videos because big and how a person looked was more important than they're talent.
Michael Nesmith Facts: #1 - BEFORE the Monkees, he wrote the song, "A Different Drum", which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt. #2 - When he was in his early teens, Mike's mom invented Liquid Paper and became VERY rich!
Nesmith wanted to put out A Different Drum as a Monkees song. The powers that be refused claiming that it wasn't a Monkees song. Nesmith protested citing the fact that he was a Monkee.
@@r.p.mcmurphy6623 Also acquiring control over his late mom's estate helped a lot. Mike himself has actually said he was in pretty dire straits financially prior to the death of his mom,so getting her money helped him out a lot. Plus the fact that it was through that money he got from his late mom's estate that he was even able to start his production company.
me too its hard to believe that micky is only surviving member just like the mamas and the pappas only michlle philps is left very sad it just goes to show that nothing lasts forever
@@tryithere Yep. And the US was still going to draft him. He had permanent US residence, which required he make himself eligible for US military service. He barely got out of it. Google it.
Thanks for the video. Remarkably, you got most of your facts right. There was one error though. There were not three Monkeemobiles, only two. Neither had a functioning supercharger as it was too unwieldy for the cast to drive and it was replaced with a dummy blower. The 2nd car also had a dummy blower. The 2nd car did appear on the show in the episode “Monkees Race Again”, but primarily the number one car was used. You are correct that the door logo sizes differed on both cars.
Hey,I was friends with Paul & never knew he did a Monkees audition though have seen The Donna Reed show.Another if my fav guys did so too,Michael Burns.Keep well Paul.Miss you.
They were. Initially the Cowsills were asked to be themselves for the show but wanted to recast the mother. The kids insisted mom stay, and they were dropped and the actors we all know were cast in those roles.
Davy Jones was in _Oliver!_ a musical *adaptation* of the book _Oliver Twist,_ when he was on The Ed Sullivan Show the same night as the Beatles' US TV debut. Charles Dickens never wrote the song "Consider Yourself."
Had they shut up and not fought with the network and hadn't worked so hard to get their producer fired, they could have gone much further. "Stars" who got in the way of their own success.
Actually, the show itself was not inspired by "A Hard Day's Night". Bob Rafelson had already conceived the idea a couple of years earlier, but he couldn't get it sold. The Beatles movie inspired him to try again, and it inspired the studios to purchase it.
Absutely right. The success of the Beatles movie " Hard Days Night" along with their number 1 single " I wanna hold your hand" proved that the American youth were ready for Bob Rafelsons concept of a Monkees TV show. No doubt the resulting incredible record sales surprised even him!
Another little known fact, "Last Train to Clarksville" was an antiwar, protest song but they kept that under wraps for fear NBC wouldn't allow it to be played on TV. Also, I read somewhere that the bit about The Monkees outselling the Beatles and Stones combined in 1967 was something Mike Nesmith made up just to see if it would get printed without being fact-checked. He told some journalist from Australia he was going to say they sold 30 million records that year during his next interview to prove a point about the media running with whatever they are told. Is that true? I really don't know. I have never done the math and I have heard it preached as gospel in documentary's about the group. That sort of thing would be right up Mike's alley and fits his dry sense of humor and love of irony. If it is true, well played Mike. RIP boys. Micky will be along when God is ready for a Monkee reunion.
Interesting video!, I found out that Michael Nesmith sang lead in their hit song, listen to the band !, also, the monkeemobile was built by the legendary Chuck Barris of custom/ hot rod fame !!
The producers of the show basically used everything about The Beatles that wasn't nailed down. If they could've,they would've renamed the 4 guys John,Paul,George,and Ringo.
Davy Jones was under contract to *Colpix Records* which, along with sister label, *Colgems,* were owned by Screen Gems Inc. In 1969, Screen Gems would replace the Colgems and Colpix labels by buying out the *Bell/Amy/Mala* label group, Redesigning the Bell label while ditching the Amy, Mala, Dyna-Voice and Elf labels hitherto owned and distributed by the Bell/Amy/Mala Group. In 1975, Screen Gems would rebrand the label as *Arista* but in the late 1980s both Arista and RCA-Victor would be gobbled up by the big German recording and magazine publishing company, *Bertelsmann Verlag AG,* a company that got its fingers burned badly when their magazine, *Stern* which is *Star* in English published the fake Hitler Diaries. Bell and RCA-Victor fell under the recording division, BMG, Bertelsmann Musikgruppe GmbH.
I don't believe the story about Michael Nesmith trying out for Happy Days. It's common knowledge that Micky did but not once in 50 years has anyone ever said Mike did. After the Monkees Mike focused 100% of his energy into his recording and songwriting career. He had no interest in acting unless it was for one of his own projects.
The Monkees may have been the first AMERICAN sitcom to lose the laugh track, but in plenty of other countries we had been making them without canned laughter for years. Jeez!
Don't know why they didn't change their name and go it alone after the studios wouldn't give in. Who knows, they might have snotted them good. On the other hand, I understand that Tork and Nesmith weren't exactly friends.
The studio DID give in...and the young Monkees ended up making bad decisions..got their TV series cancelled and foolishly believed they could write songs as well as Carole King & Neil Diamond. Their hufe decline in album and singles sales was the result.
That's "Stepping Stone" and the line is "and you won't find me in your book of 'Who's Who." You're welcome. Or maybe you are being goofy about the song. :)
Not totally true about #10,in fact Peter Tork played guitar on the tracks Mike Nesmith produced for those albums as Mike was allowed to use anyone he wanted for his sessions.
2:55 - The show negotiate with Pontiac to get cars for the show, i.e., early product placement. Pontiac was excited to provide them for the publicity into the youth market, however, the show's producers were not completely honest or upfront. There was a new GTO for each Monkee's personal use and three for the show, but the three for the show were to be customized into the Monkeemobile, which did not really promote the new GTO all that much for Pontiac.
I've seen 4 times how a company had a key player who played a major role in the company's success. He was taken for granted and either fired or driven off the job. And because of that, the company itself fell completely apart. The Monkee's show was very successful for two years. Don Kirchner was hired in the beginning to supervise the musical aspect of the show because he knew what he was doing. Four actors were hired for a show that was based on a very popular rock band at the time. (Needless to say which one) Kirchner hired song writers, as well as people who knew the business to produce the songs. Due to the popularity of the show, as well as Kirchner's expertise, the record albums sold off the charts. Only two of the actors had a real musical background, but had not had any success before the show. Kirchner said what would work and what would not. However Kirchner was seen as despotic. After two years it was set it up where Kirchner was fired. Although the show was highly succesful, after the firing the show was canceled for the third season. Kirchner however went on to produce a succesful children's cartoon show, about a rock band. The show had a number of number one hits.
The four members of the Monkees were all struggling before they became a sensation on a tv show however after the show ended, there careers took a serious change.
On a British interview Mickey Dolans revealed he felt like a fraud when he met the Beatles and other recording stars, while in the UK. Lennon called him Monkey Man 'in a friendly way'. From the interview it sounded as though he had been star stuck.
I was a 11 year old boy when it was on and loved it. but it was a horribly immature show so it would appeal to a small boy. My dad absolutely hated the one who played Mikey. He looked just like a enemy he had in the Navy. I think my dad felt like punching the TV screen out every time he seen him.
Tried to. His production efforts lead to the music sounding too much like his other band, Gary Lewis and The Playboys. He was dropped and Boyce and Hart eventually were brought in.
@@MegaMagicdog From what I've heard,there were mutual issues with both parties. Snuff wanted Davy as the front man,the group wanted Micky. Make a long story short,Kirshner paid Snuff a metric ton of money to buy out his contract
@@MegaMagicdog Btw,Boyce and Hart were fired from the project at one point because Kirshner feared they were using the group as a means to promote themselves.
I went to 3 concerts in the 80's with my mom. She likes them alot. Even met Mickey at the Autorama with Scott Valentine once. He's the boyfriend of Alex P Keatons sister!! Long hair. Rode a motorcycle. Yeah! Really! Mickey's a total, um, jerkwad!! ✌💖from Gen X
Honestly i like when sitcoms dont have a laugh track. It feels like the director and a writer sitting in a room saying "oh my god look how funny i am" you dont tell me when a joke is funny. Tom and jerry had no laugh track neither did loony toons and those where the mvp. But subpar comedies depend on laugh tracks because most of their jokes are shit.
And Hendrix got booed off the stage. Darn teeny-boppers! Not sure how many shows that happened, but I saw that in a TV documentary about Jimi some years ago.
I recently came across an old radio interview of Peter's where they were discussing that. The DJ said, "Yeah, and if he had gotten the part, it could have been the smart one, the cute one, the funny one...", and Peter piped up with "... and the killer." I thought that was hilarious. Peter was always clever and funny, though he portrayed a dimwit on the show.
@@salinagrrrl69 It's true, and what a shame as he had it all going for him. At least he'd gotten it together long before the cancer took him. I loved his quirkiness.
There’s an interview with Mike and Micky from an Australian interview a few years ago where they address that. Micky admitted to making it up. Search RUclips for it.
@@colindaniels945 ... Ooh! Ooh! I know! He made up the story about the Monkees outselling The Beatles And The Rolling Stones combined in 1967. He said it in the same interview that the other gentleman referred to. He wanted to see how far it would go!
I absolutely love The Monkees! I met Peter Tork a few years ago and even though I was in my 40s, I was suddenly 6 years old again. He was so amazing and it's something I will always treasure. I wish they were recognized for being as talented as they were. Their music was fantastic.
Something you'll always remember......
And shortly after, he passed away.
Tork documented his cancer experience on Facebook and encouraged his fans to support research efforts of the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation. His cancer returned in 2018, and he died at his home in Mansfield, Connecticut on February 21, 2019, a decade after his diagnosis.
I AGREE!
They're a whole variety show all wrapped up in 4 ppl
So sad
I grew up with The Monkees. I still listen their music.
It's hard to believe that only Micky is left! 😭
Yeah, I know. I was not expecting Nez to pass away.
It's very, very sad.
I was completely shocked.
Saw Nez in Chicago at his second-to-last show in November of last year. He didn't look well. There have been allegations of elder abuse against his former caretaker. If you're interested, there's a few videos on RUclips that dive into these allegations.
@@LakeFX I don't doubt that, it's happened to others more than once. The elderly, I mean.
I knew all of the "crazy facts", but I've been a Monkeemaniac since I was very young and watched the show religiously in syndication (in the '70s). I still have the 4 original albums released back then, as well as CDs of those, plus all of their other albums, and several of their Greatest Hits and Missing Links. I was ecstatic when they toured in the '80s when I was a teenager and actually able to see them in concert (I managed to go to 5 of their concerts!) I also went to a concert in 2013 (after Davy had passed which, altho I was an adult, made me sob like a young girl). I was also fortunate enough to see Peter perform with his band, Shoe Swede Blues and got to meet him and get his autograph (was so nervous and excited to meet him that, again, that "young girl" in me came back and I stumbled over my words. He was very sweet about it.) Losing Peter, and Mike were just as gut-wrenching as the loss of Davy. I can't imagine what it will be like when there are no more Monkees, and I pray that Micky hangs in for a long time, even tho he will no longer be touring. (Micky was, and is, still my fave ever since I was very young). I still listen to their music and actually have several of their CDs in my truck. It has a way of lighting up a dark day and I'm so grateful that they've been a part of my life for nearly 50 yrs. I can't imagine being without.
Interesting story from probably their #1 fan. I liked their music. Is their show still playing somewhere? Davy was my favorite. He used to be my least until I saw him interviewed once and he seemed so nice and so dignified and so modest that I changed my mind.
Mike and Peter played instraments before the show, Ive heard. They are the best have loved and listened to them since I was a kid, Im 62 now!! Also were down to one remaining Monkee now, Mickey!!! RIP Davey, Peter and Mike!!!!!!!!
My bedroom walls at age 10-12 were covered with pictures of these guys. Mickey was my favorite.
I have a lot of respect for these guy's, they made the rabbit come out of the hat and became a really good band.
As Micky said,it was Pinocchio becoming a real boy.
@@colindaniels945 I can dig that.
By far this is my favorite band of all time. I love watching their show although I wish the love scenes weren't so goofy; but it was a sitcom after all.
I met Mike Nesmith in 1985 when his father was in the hospital in Galveston, Texas. I worked as a RN in the hospital there. Was tempted to ask for his autograph but didn't think it'd be appropriate as a healthcare professional, and with his father being sick.
Peter Tork(a/k/a Thorkelsson) was already a practicing musician before the show
Michael Nesmith was already a songwriter and musician before the show
Davy Jones played The Artful Dodger in the London production of Oliver!
Mickey Dolenz, as a child actor, had been the star of a tv show called Circus Boy. He, also, was already a musician before The Monkees
All of the group were annoyed(at LEAST) that they weren't allowed to play their own instruments in the first season
Mickey Dolenz was a guitarist and hated having to play the drums but he was the only one with a sense of rhythm.
@@writerpatrick Davy actually tested very well on drums,but was passed over because the producers were worried that being behind the drum kit would comically exaggerate Jones's lack of height.
To use an old pun:
Davy came up short
@@writerpatrick Dolenz had no clue how to play drums.
Peter had to teach him how to fake playing on TV,the network hired a teacher for him to actually play drums on stage and in the studio.
Chip Douglas cited Dolenz's drumming as the musical weak link in the group,he had to splice together multiple takes of his drumming in order to get a competent recorded performance from Dolenz.
Davey Jones was also a drummer.
korky the circus boy
I was going to marry Micky "when I grew up." Guess that'll never happen as I'll never grow up. Bahaha. Was a fun show to watch and The Monkees will always hold a special place in my heart.
I was going to marry Micky too but my wife wouldn't let me.
@@im1who84u Good one! 🤣
Was an absolute Monkees FANATIC as a kid! Had a mad crush on every one of them at one point or another, and even went as Davy Jones for Halloween one year. The fact that they only lasted 2 seasons (not to mention all the behind the scenes crap that went on) shows the kind of power the networks and production studios had (and still have) over artists. Mike Nesmith was a true musical artist, and the other 3 were just as talented. If they had been allowed to blossom even more, who knows what might have been?
There's a clip here on YT of David about 2 weeks before his passing at an autograph convention, maybe during a break. He picks up his guitar and remarkably jams on it. Probably the last 30 second video of the Manchester Cowboy.
Then look for Peter playing Bach on an old cinema organ. Truly remarkable musician who played 8 instruments extremely well, and maybe can get by on 4 others. He was the only one with a university degree too.
I had read that Peter said he had dropped out of Carlton(?) College twice. I never saw that he finished his degree, but he must have if he taught high school for a few years. He taught English, French, history and math (and coached) and was named Teacher of the Year a few times. Someone made a comment stating he was a good teacher, and, yes, he would talk about the Monkees on occasion. I think he was the intellectual of the group. Always liked him best. Still do.
The monkeys did some really great songs, I've got their greatest hits lp in my collection and play it now and then
Fact No. 11:
David Bowie's real surname was Jones and he had been playing under the name Davy Jones until 1966 when he became aware that there was a Davy Jones in The Monkees and so he began performing under the name David Bowie to avoid confusion.
The Monkees made some really great music. Papa Gene’s Blues is still a major favorite. And Daydream Believer and so many more.
Peter also played guitar on Sweet Young Thing, Mary Mary, and The Kind of Girl I Could Love. Mike played the steel solo on the latter
i was little then, but i loved the Monkees! watched their tv show every saturday morning. had all their records! many years later i worked on a revival tour video they did. at the end of the two day shoot they played a lot of their songs for us. it was great! everyone was there except nesmith. it was 1987.
Those were the days, my friends. To be a kid and watching CLEAN comedy show like this on Saturday mornings! Wish that would return- our kids badly need it!
Those were re-runs
It was originally a Monday evening prime time show.
The success of the Monkees revolutionized the music industry. Producers realized that rather than hiring successful talent and paying large percentages in contracts, they could "manufacture" successful artists and keep most of the profits. This really showed up more in the 80s as videos because big and how a person looked was more important than they're talent.
Is "revolutionized" the right word? From your description, with which I agree, it was more of a setback to the music industry.
Great show. Great musicians.
I was lucky enough to see Michael Nesmith in concert,a few years ago, and he was so kind ♥️.
😊 Same
Micky's the only one left. He's 77 now. Hang in there, Micky!
I first saw The Monkees as a kid in the 80s and loved it.
I think we all knew that the Monkees were a response to the Beatles. Nevertheless, we lapped it up. I lived in the UK then. I'm 70 now.
Just imagine MIcky Dolenz as Fonzie. Woulda been a completely different show.
They were terrific.
Just watched a bunch of reruns and documentaries on the Monkees. I've always loved them❤. Met Davy in 1992. He was adorable 😘
Stepping Stone....Classic 👉🇬🇧👈
People may make fun of them, but how many other shows had Frank Zappa playing the car?
The Mike and Frank "interview" when each portrayed the other is still a hoot!
Michael Nesmith Facts:
#1 - BEFORE the Monkees, he wrote the song, "A Different Drum", which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt.
#2 - When he was in his early teens, Mike's mom invented Liquid Paper and became VERY rich!
With regard to #2,It's a big part of why Nesmith wasn't involved many of the reunion tours.
He didn't need the money as he was independently rich.
Nesmith wanted to put out A Different Drum as a Monkees song.
The powers that be refused claiming that it wasn't a Monkees song.
Nesmith protested citing the fact that he was a Monkee.
@@colindaniels945 He was rich on his own regard. He was a pioneer in music vids.
@@r.p.mcmurphy6623 Also acquiring control over his late mom's estate helped a lot.
Mike himself has actually said he was in pretty dire straits financially prior to the death of his mom,so getting her money helped him out a lot.
Plus the fact that it was through that money he got from his late mom's estate that he was even able to start his production company.
He made appearances on TV looooong before the Monkees.
me too its hard to believe that micky is only surviving member just like the mamas and the pappas only michlle philps is left very sad it just goes to show that nothing lasts forever
Another fact: Davy Jones was almost drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam War, right when the show was on the air.
davy jones was British.
@@tryithere Yep. And the US was still going to draft him. He had permanent US residence, which required he make himself eligible for US military service. He barely got out of it. Google it.
@@TheGumbyRules You are right. I never heard that before. 😁
@@TheGumbyRulestrue and he got out of it by losing weight. He had to get below 100lbs to fail the physical which he did.
@@alisonflaxman1566 At 5'4" or so and thin already, the weight loss was doable.
Thanks for the video. Remarkably, you got most of your facts right. There was one error though. There were not three Monkeemobiles, only two. Neither had a functioning supercharger as it was too unwieldy for the cast to drive and it was replaced with a dummy blower. The 2nd car also had a dummy blower. The 2nd car did appear on the show in the episode “Monkees Race Again”, but primarily the number one car was used. You are correct that the door logo sizes differed on both cars.
Brian McKnight of Love also auditioned for Monkees as well as Paul Peterson of Donna Reed
and Steven Stills
Hey,I was friends with Paul & never knew he did a Monkees audition though have seen The Donna Reed show.Another if my fav guys did so too,Michael Burns.Keep well Paul.Miss you.
I think you mean Bryan MacLean. Bryan was very talented but narrowly missed becoming a big name in his own right.
I'm a daydream believer for thinking I can take the last train to Clarksville so I can visit my auntie Griselda.
I grew up watching the Monkees’ tv show, thing’s I didn’t know!!!!
Good stuff I was born in July 15 1972 loved that stuff
The Potridge Family recorded songs too.
I always thought that they were a clone of The Cowsills.
They were. Initially the Cowsills were asked to be themselves for the show but wanted to recast the mother. The kids insisted mom stay, and they were dropped and the actors we all know were cast in those roles.
Most of the Partridge family didn't sing.
I've always had a big crush on Mickey!
Love the monkees
Fact #11: Jimi Hendrix opened for the Monkees a couple of times while they were on tour.
Davy Jones was in _Oliver!_ a musical *adaptation* of the book _Oliver Twist,_ when he was on The Ed Sullivan Show the same night as the Beatles' US TV debut. Charles Dickens never wrote the song "Consider Yourself."
I knew Davy played Dodger,but it was only recently I heard he played Fagin as well.Would love to have seen both even though Peter has half my heart.
Had they shut up and not fought with the network and hadn't worked so hard to get their producer fired, they could have gone much further. "Stars" who got in the way of their own success.
It was a silly show, but a damn good group.
Actually, the show itself was not inspired by "A Hard Day's Night". Bob Rafelson had already conceived the idea a couple of years earlier, but he couldn't get it sold. The Beatles movie inspired him to try again, and it inspired the studios to purchase it.
Absutely right. The success of the Beatles movie " Hard Days Night" along with their number 1 single " I wanna hold your hand" proved that the American youth were ready for Bob Rafelsons concept of a Monkees TV show. No doubt the resulting incredible record sales surprised even him!
Van Dyke Parks(lyricist of Brian Wilson's "SMILE" album) also auditioned unsuccessfully to be a Monkee.
Let’s not forget Davy in The Brady Bunch! I loved his song Girl.
Another little known fact, "Last Train to Clarksville" was an antiwar, protest song but they kept that under wraps for fear NBC wouldn't allow it to be played on TV. Also, I read somewhere that the bit about The Monkees outselling the Beatles and Stones combined in 1967 was something Mike Nesmith made up just to see if it would get printed without being fact-checked. He told some journalist from Australia he was going to say they sold 30 million records that year during his next interview to prove a point about the media running with whatever they are told. Is that true? I really don't know. I have never done the math and I have heard it preached as gospel in documentary's about the group. That sort of thing would be right up Mike's alley and fits his dry sense of humor and love of irony. If it is true, well played Mike. RIP boys. Micky will be along when God is ready for a Monkee reunion.
Itinerant Patriot It's true, and it's still out there.
Interesting video!, I found out that Michael Nesmith sang lead in their hit song, listen to the band !, also, the monkeemobile was built by the legendary Chuck Barris of custom/ hot rod fame !!
Neat, I really did learn some new things. Often, you get rehashed info on these things.
The Monkeys were the Nickelodeon version of the counterculture in the 60s.
5:15 “studio musicians” in this context is most likely a reference to “The Wrecking Crew”
If I recall there was an episode where Mike was using an alias of "Mr Woollenhat!"
Did you actual watch this video???
The producers of the show basically used everything about The Beatles that wasn't nailed down.
If they could've,they would've renamed the 4 guys John,Paul,George,and Ringo.
But they still wouldn't have been the Beatles.😄
@@janicekociol7702 No,but the show's producers wanted to use everything about The Beatles that they could
@Douglas Farshtey True,but The Monkees were one of the most obvious ones.
DUH! The Rutles are the pre fab four and always have been!
I am shocked and stunned to hear that. Shocked. Very shocked. And stunned. Very very stunned.
really neet! I always liked them... fun and funny !1 :) :)
neat
Another fact:
The show's pilot got both,at the time,the lowest and highest audience test scores in NBC network history
Boyce and Hart were the studio musicians who were working the Monkees “ at first. They also wrote the songs that the Monkees performed.
The Wrecking crew were the musicians.
I believe that the Monkeemobile was designed by the same guy who did the Batmobile for the Batman TV show.
Negative my friend. The Monkeemobile was designed by Dean Jeffries whilst the Batmobile was designed by George Barris.
@@ramirez1999 Thank you for that
I knew all of these! 🤩
Davy Jones was under contract to *Colpix Records* which, along with sister label, *Colgems,* were owned by Screen Gems Inc. In 1969, Screen Gems would replace the Colgems and Colpix labels by buying out the *Bell/Amy/Mala* label group, Redesigning the Bell label while ditching the Amy, Mala, Dyna-Voice and Elf labels hitherto owned and distributed by the Bell/Amy/Mala Group. In 1975, Screen Gems would rebrand the label as *Arista* but in the late 1980s both Arista and RCA-Victor would be gobbled up by the big German recording and magazine publishing company, *Bertelsmann Verlag AG,* a company that got its fingers burned badly when their magazine, *Stern* which is *Star* in English published the fake Hitler Diaries. Bell and RCA-Victor fell under the recording division, BMG, Bertelsmann Musikgruppe GmbH.
In the 80s, Davy walked past us in Havant Hampshire uk.He lived a couple of miles from us at the time,when he left America and we didn't know.
I don't believe the story about Michael Nesmith trying out for Happy Days. It's common knowledge that Micky did but not once in 50 years has anyone ever said Mike did. After the Monkees Mike focused 100% of his energy into his recording and songwriting career. He had no interest in acting unless it was for one of his own projects.
That was yet another urban legend
I always preferred the laugh track on the Monkees episodes as it added to the show. Without it, the show wasn't same.
The Monkees may have been the first AMERICAN sitcom to lose the laugh track, but in plenty of other countries we had been making them without canned laughter for years. Jeez!
Very Good!... 86 🐄🦉🏴☠
was cool to watch them
Still remember when they were on Friday nights
Don't know why they didn't change their name and go it alone after the studios wouldn't give in. Who knows, they might have snotted them good. On the other hand, I understand that Tork and Nesmith weren't exactly friends.
The studio DID give in...and the young Monkees ended up making bad decisions..got their TV series cancelled and foolishly believed they could write songs as well as Carole King & Neil Diamond. Their hufe decline in album and singles sales was the result.
@@trebleclef46 Yep - Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart was one .... was gifted it ... don't think I ever made it through the whole thing .....
Yet when Pete completed his earthly journey Nes 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭up until he completed his earthly journey
My favorite song is you will not find me in your book of loos . This was my favorite song
That's "Stepping Stone" and the line is "and you won't find me in your book of 'Who's Who." You're welcome. Or maybe you are being goofy about the song. :)
Not totally true about #10,in fact Peter Tork played guitar on the tracks Mike Nesmith produced for those albums as Mike was allowed to use anyone he wanted for his sessions.
2:55 - The show negotiate with Pontiac to get cars for the show, i.e., early product placement. Pontiac was excited to provide them for the publicity into the youth market, however, the show's producers were not completely honest or upfront. There was a new GTO for each Monkee's personal use and three for the show, but the three for the show were to be customized into the Monkeemobile, which did not really promote the new GTO all that much for Pontiac.
I've seen 4 times how a company had a key player who played a major role in the company's success.
He was taken for granted and either fired or driven off the job.
And because of that, the company itself fell completely apart.
The Monkee's show was very successful for two years.
Don Kirchner was hired in the beginning to supervise the musical aspect of the show because he knew what he was doing.
Four actors were hired for a show that was based on a very popular rock band at the time. (Needless to say which one)
Kirchner hired song writers, as well as people who knew the business to produce the songs.
Due to the popularity of the show, as well as Kirchner's expertise, the record albums sold off the charts.
Only two of the actors had a real musical background,
but had not had any success before the show. Kirchner said what would work and what would not.
However Kirchner was seen as despotic.
After two years it was set it up where Kirchner was fired.
Although the show was highly succesful, after the firing the show was canceled for the third season.
Kirchner however went on to produce a succesful children's cartoon show, about a rock band.
The show had a number of number one hits.
The four members of the Monkees were all struggling before they became a sensation on a tv show however after the show ended, there careers took a serious change.
In ‘67 they sold more records than the Beatles/Stones combined !!!
On a British interview Mickey Dolans revealed he felt like a fraud when he met the Beatles and other recording stars, while in the UK. Lennon called him Monkey Man 'in a friendly way'. From the interview it sounded as though he had been star stuck.
Dean Jefferies designed the " Monkee mobile "
Was a good show ,to bad it got canned.
I knew all this lol.
I was a 11 year old boy when it was on and loved it. but it was a horribly immature show so it would appeal to a small boy. My dad absolutely hated the one who played Mikey. He looked just like a enemy he had in the Navy. I think my dad felt like punching the TV screen out every time he seen him.
No Mikey on the show.
If you want to get an idea of what The Monkees had in mind for a 3rd season of the show,watch 33 And 1/3rd Revolutions Per Monkee.
I can't help but think their idea was stolen and became "Laugh In". Just too coincidental.
I thought it was absolutely horrendous except for Peter's slice of Bach.
The Rutles are the prefab four.
👍
I surprised you didn’t say liquid paper!
One of the producers who worked with The Monkees was Snuff Garrett.
Tried to. His production efforts lead to the music sounding too much like his other band, Gary Lewis and The Playboys. He was dropped and Boyce and Hart eventually were brought in.
@@MegaMagicdog From what I've heard,there were mutual issues with both parties.
Snuff wanted Davy as the front man,the group wanted Micky.
Make a long story short,Kirshner paid Snuff a metric ton of money to buy out his contract
@@MegaMagicdog Btw,Boyce and Hart were fired from the project at one point because Kirshner feared they were using the group as a means to promote themselves.
Thomas "Snuff" Garrett had an album series "The 50 Guitars Of Tommy Garrett." I have a few of them in my Lp collection.
I went to 3 concerts in the 80's with my mom. She likes them alot. Even met Mickey at the Autorama with Scott Valentine once. He's the boyfriend of Alex P Keatons sister!! Long hair. Rode a motorcycle. Yeah! Really! Mickey's a total, um, jerkwad!! ✌💖from Gen X
Watched them as a kid...I BEGGED my mom for a hair cut like Davy Jones...she was having none of that though.🙃
Honestly i like when sitcoms dont have a laugh track. It feels like the director and a writer sitting in a room saying "oh my god look how funny i am" you dont tell me when a joke is funny. Tom and jerry had no laugh track neither did loony toons and those where the mvp. But subpar comedies depend on laugh tracks because most of their jokes are shit.
also Michael nesmiths mom invented liquid paper
What about the fact that Michael's mom invented White Out???
Harry's name was Nilsson NOT Nielson!!!
You missed their tour paired with Jimi Hendrix !
And Hendrix got booed off the stage. Darn teeny-boppers! Not sure how many shows that happened, but I saw that in a TV documentary about Jimi some years ago.
That's not irony, that's just a coincidence.
The urban legend of Charles Manson auditioning to be a Monkee went on for years.
It was never true. Manson was behind bars at the time of the auditions.
I recently came across an old radio interview of Peter's where they were discussing that. The DJ said, "Yeah, and if he had gotten the part, it could have been the smart one, the cute one, the funny one...", and Peter piped up with "... and the killer." I thought that was hilarious. Peter was always clever and funny, though he portrayed a dimwit on the show.
@@lindas.5191 He had all the rock star tradgetys of the group. Drugs ect...
@@salinagrrrl69 It's true, and what a shame as he had it all going for him. At least he'd gotten it together long before the cancer took him. I loved his quirkiness.
アメリカのシンガーソングライターの協会や作詞作曲家の組合に通知が来て、ビートルズの初期のテイスティングの楽曲が出来て、提供してもいいと思ったら、デモテープでもいいから聴かせていただきたいと書いてあった。ボイス&ハートのコンビとかモンキーズのヒット曲はその中から出たものも多い。
Monkee is not misspelled. Monkee is the slang term for an uncredited musician.
Its misspelled from Monkeys same as Beatles is from Beetles.
Monkees over the beatles any day!
There's an urban legend that Charles Manson was one of the people who auditioned for the show.
There’s an interview with Mike and Micky from an Australian interview a few years ago where they address that. Micky admitted to making it up. Search RUclips for it.
@@tanstaafl1963 Hence it's status as an urban legend
@@colindaniels945 it's worth watching the interview.. Nez also admits to making up another urban legend
@@tanstaafl1963 Which one is that?
@@colindaniels945 ... Ooh! Ooh! I know! He made up the story about the Monkees outselling The Beatles And The Rolling Stones combined in 1967. He said it in the same interview that the other gentleman referred to. He wanted to see how far it would go!
You didn't mention that Charles Manson was one of the auditioners for the show.
an untrue myth
That's because it's not true. Just a rumor Mickey started.
That's an urban legend
Manson was involved with the Beach Boys, though
@@Vidchemy Yes,through Dennis Wilson
No Boyce and Hart reference.
I hated that you kept resetting the music loop for every point, and you didn't even include the fact that they were high every episode.