Six String Sanctuary: Monkee business

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Monkee business

3/4 Time: Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz.

We won't be scoring tickets to the Monkees' 45th anniversary tour. We just won't. But we do think it's time to right a wrong.

There was a reason the Sex Pistols covered "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," that Paul Westerberg made "Daydream Believer" a staple at his live shows, and that Chekov on Star Trek bore an amazing resemblance to Davy Jones.

The Monkees were not as lousy as some critics made them out to be. Let's face it, with a name like that you have a lot to overcome. They may have been a made-for-TV pop group, but you can't argue with their success. They did learn to play their own instruments and write their own music (but they'll forever be indebted to Boyce & Hart and others who contributed some great material to the cause. Their biggest hit, "I'm a Believer," was written by Neil Diamond.)

Why this sudden interest in the Monkees? It's Mickey Dolenz's birthday, and the boys have announced a new tour (minus Michael Nesmith, who has always had other irons in the fire). Time to raise a glass to Dolenz and the other members of today's Birthday Band:

Ralph Ellis (1942): Singer, Swinging Blue Jeans
Hippy Hippy Shake

Mickey Dolenz (1945): Drummer, Monkees
I’m a Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, Daydream Believer

Randy Meisner (1946) Bass, The Eagles
Take it Easy, Best of My Love, Take it to the Limit

Mike Allsup (1947): Guitar, Three Dog Night
Easy to be Hard, Eli’s Coming, Joy to the World

Little Peggy March (1948): Singer
I Will Follow Him

Clive Burr (1957): Drums, Iron Maiden
Running Free, Transylvania, Sanctuary

Gary Numan (1958): New Wave musician
Are Friends Electric, Cars

1 comment:

charlesMarch 8, 2011 at 6:58 AM
right on both counts:

yes they had some nice records

no i don't think they would be worth seeing live without nesmith
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Six String Sanctuary

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Monkee business

1 comment:

Now them's blues

Our dude in Abu Dhabi

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