A Dead Monkey and another bit of my childhood goes.

[GroobySteven]

Ok so I was a child of the 70's but the re-runs of The Monkees was one of my favourite shows. Although they were a group created for TV, their songs were great pop and Daydream Believer and Pleasant Valley Sunday were great.

RIP Davy Jones at 66

http://www.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/articles/50002-the-monkees-davy-jones-dead-at-66/1330538541_davy-jones-article.jpg

The Monkees - "Pleasant Valley Sunday" - ORIGINAL VIDEO - HQ - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUzs5dlLrm0)

Monkees - Daydream Believer - Music Video From TV - Clear - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU615FaODCg)

The Monkees TV Show (Open and End Credits) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2hzusE4veM)

[JenniferParisHusband]

My second concert ever was a Monkees reunion concert in the mid-80's. Ever since then, I was a huge fan. They may have been made for TV, but I think their influence was greater than most people realize. Music videos are a direct result of them, as are manufactured groups like NSync (unfortunately), but they introduced the world to Hendrix, Neil Diamond, Carol King and a whole host of others, plus all their hits... I think it's a huge loss to music.

[ed_jaxon]

Pleasant Valley Sunday was actually a pretty scathing rebuke of the comfort of the suburban lifestyle.

[GroobySteven]

Wow ages since I heard this. This is Mickey Dolenz by the way, singing.

The Monkees - Randy Scouse Git - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpXcSN_6K-4&feature=player_embedded)

[maxpower]

Don't forget these:

The Monkees - I'm a Believer [official music video] - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts)


The Monkees - Steppin' Stone - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y08ingivLdQ)


The Monkees - Last Train to Clarksville - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUZeZ1e441A)


I met Davy Jones once, briefly. I was at a performance of The Real Live Brady Bunch, which was a stage show wherein entire Brady Bunch episodes were acted out live on stage. The one I went to was a performance of the "Getting Davy Jones" episode, and Davy was a special guest that night, reprising his role from the show. He was in the lobby afterwards, signing autographs and taking pictures and stuff. Really nice guy. Pretty short, only like 5' 4" or so.

[maxpower]

Here's Davy Jones as The Artful Dodger from the cast of Oliver! appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964. That was also the same night that The Beatles first appeared on the show.


R.I.P. Davy Jones - the original Artful Dodger - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OVGY7Rjbhc)

[fred41]

RIP Davy

Davy Jones on the Brady Bunch- Girl - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRNFus7Pbp4)

Davy Jones jams - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpzFdQ7Od6E&feature=related)

[onmyknees]

Sure it sucks when bits of your childhood move on to the here after. Probably missed the height of Monkees mania by a few years. What I always kinda liked about them is they had a moment in time, seemed to enjoy it and then moved on. Some of these old groups from the 60's and 70's are still touring when they get a weekend release from the geriatric ward. It's painful. I never really saw much of these guys after thier seemingly brief several years, so it's kinda easy to remember them as they were.....if that makes any sense.

[Willie Escalade]

I didn't know he played the drums...I ought Mickey always did...

[TempestTS]

RIP Davy :(

[BeardedOne]

Watched almost all of the shows when I was a kid and love their music. I'm also a fan of Mike Nesmith and his later works (Did you know that his mother invented Liquid Paper?).

As with many bands, there were rocky times and hard feelings, but Nesmith summed it up thusly today:

"David’s spirit and soul live well in my heart, among all the lovely people, who remember with me the good times, and the healing times, that were created for so many, including us.

I have fond memories. I wish him safe travels."

[robertlouis]

I've got several of Mike Nesmith's post-Monkees albums, both with the First National Band and his solo stuff. Pretty fine country rock.

Shame about Davy Jones - 66 is no age nowadays.

[Dino Velvet]

Ok so I was a child of the 70's but the re-runs of The Monkees was one of my favourite shows. Although they were a group created for TV, their songs were great pop and Daydream Believer and Pleasant Valley Sunday were great.

RIP Davy Jones at 66

http://www.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/articles/50002-the-monkees-davy-jones-dead-at-66/1330538541_davy-jones-article.jpg

The Monkees - "Pleasant Valley Sunday" - ORIGINAL VIDEO - HQ - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUzs5dlLrm0)

Monkees - Daydream Believer - Music Video From TV - Clear - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU615FaODCg)

The Monkees TV Show (Open and End Credits) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2hzusE4veM)

I was a child of the 70s too and I miss Davy Jones over here as well. I watched The Monkees religiously as a young boy.

RIP Davy Jones:Bowdown:

[flabbybody]

I grew up during Monkee Mania. the girls at school were insane over them.
Davy was their favorite. all us young boys wished we were British

[NYC TS Lover]

I was too young to remember the Monkees when they played but I do remember seeing a special about the hysteria that they caused. Many people considered them to be a cheap takeoff of the Beatles, but these guys had some good songs and seemed like good guys. Rest in peace.

[Stavros]

The odd thing about the Monkees when contrasted with other 60s groups like the Beatles and the Stones, is that they were more talented as individuals than as a band, with the exception of Davy Jones who was useless in the recording studio and a barely competent actor. Unlike the Beach Boys whose early albums were recorded by the Wrecking Crew because the band members were musically incompetent, the production of MonkeeMuzak was actually their own work. Peter Tork was so alienated from this stuff he used to go awol at the weekends and turn up at the Troubadour in LA where he built up a loyal following. Dolenz became a tv/film producer.

MonkeeMuzak came and went like a fart in an elevator, it really was that bad, and bears no comparison with the real music that was made in the 1960s, with the obvious exception of late Elvis, which is just an irredeemable embarrassment to history.

[robertlouis]

The odd thing about the Monkees when contrasted with other 60s groups like the Beatles and the Stones, is that they were more talented as individuals than as a band, with the exception of Davy Jones who was useless in the recording studio and a barely competent actor. Unlike the Beach Boys whose early albums were recorded by the Wrecking Crew because the band members were musically incompetent, the production of MonkeeMuzak was actually their own work. Peter Tork was so alienated from this stuff he used to go awol at the weekends and turn up at the Troubadour in LA where he built up a loyal following. Dolenz became a tv/film producer.

MonkeeMuzak came and went like a fart in an elevator, it really was that bad, and bears no comparison with the real music that was made in the 1960s, with the obvious exception of late Elvis, which is just an irredeemable embarrassment to history.

Dolenz also collaborated with Nilsson on musicals. I stand by what I said before, though. Nesmith was the real musical talent in the band.

Otherwise I tend to agree with Stavros. The Monkees' music was pleasant but mostly disposable and would not have got them very far at all without their weekly tv appearances and the accompanying hype. They did set the template for the manufactured band, which has latterly produced far too many horrors. I don't hold that against the individuals though.

However, I do like the Beach Boys. Less for their musicianship, but the harmonies are glorious. As for Elvis, if only he'd retired before that charlatan Col Parker got his claws in and emasculated every ounce of his animal power.

[GroobySteven]

However, I do like the Beach Boys. Less for their musicianship, but the harmonies are glorious.

You can't compare the Beach Boys. Yes their early work may have been fluff but Brian Wilson created some of the best harmonies and produced tracks ever laid down. Pet Sounds set the musical world on fire at the time and without Good Vibrations, it's unlikely the Beatles would have reached their peak.
If you get a chance read the Brian Wilson autobiography. Some of his solo albums have been great also. The Beach Boys post-Wilson turned into a parody and still are.

[mildcigar_2001]

Sure it sucks when bits of your childhood move on to the here after. Probably missed the height of Monkees mania by a few years. What I always kinda liked about them is they had a moment in time, seemed to enjoy it and then moved on. Some of these old groups from the 60's and 70's are still touring when they get a weekend release from the geriatric ward. It's painful. I never really saw much of these guys after thier seemingly brief several years, so it's kinda easy to remember them as they were.....if that makes any sense.

I guess Mr. Jones passing reminds us that we are all marching ever forward, towards the grave ourselves.

I think it is more painful reminder in Mr. Jones case because (at least for those of us of a certain age) we remember the youthful Davy Jones. Also unlike someone famous like Whitney Houston (who just died of her own self inflicted causes) there is nothing to blame the death on like pills or booze instead of Father Time.

[aprilian]

RIP David Jones.

A million thanks for living an honorable life. One that didn't include the multitudes of self sabotages than we've had to swollow in order to pay tribute to so many celebrities

[BellaBellucci]

Wow ages since I heard this. This is Mickey Dolenz by the way, singing.

The Monkees - Randy Scouse Git - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpXcSN_6K-4&feature=player_embedded)

Is it just me or does he totally remind you of John C. Reilly, particularly his character in Boogie Nights? :lol:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R2yHiPgsajA/SicDv9kfIKI/AAAAAAAABfY/3XltoEShGMg/s400/boogie+nights+chest+rockwell.jpg

~BB~

[JohnnyVee]

Their parting, very dark closing to their one and only film; Head

The Monkees - Porpoise Song (Theme From HEAD) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdd5xI9l7Ns)

I think was written by Carole King

[buttslinger]

Trivia: Mickey was Circus Boy, and Steve Stills tried out for a part on the Monkees and didn't qualify (?)
I was corresponding with a rich swinger chick on some dating site, and you never know, you know, but she sent me a picture of Herself and Davy Jones at the Ractrack. I know he used to be a jockey, but I got the impression he was the sex toy for this rich old Swinger. They both had big smiles on their faces.