Thoreau/Twain in Concord, MA

And now for something completely different.  I wrote a play, NOT about the Monkees.....

I'm happy to report that the performance of Thoreau/Twain: Brothers in the River for the Thoreau Society was a tremendous success.

Brent Rinalli, Tammy Rose and Joel Hersh

The main performers were Brent Rinalli, who has been in and around Concord giving lectures and historical interpreting as Thoreau for the past few years and Joel Hersh, a local actor known for his varied musical ability-played Twain.

The main conceit of the show is that an Academic is trying to summon the spirits of the authors, to have them discuss a major, and underexplored parallel of their lives.  Both of them had a deep relationship with a brother on the river of their childhood, and both of them lost that brother to a sudden event. This happened before either of them began to write-but both found inspiration in their brothers and documented the influences strongly in their writings.

The authors -who had never met in real life- get deep into conversation, about their lives, commonalities they share-and especially their brothers. Most of the text of the play is taken directly from journals, letters and the formal published writings of the authors-and their contemporaries. They argue with each other using their own words and get a chance to recount a major emotional moment in their lives. (No pop-psychology or therapy here-the drama comes directly from their own words and existing texts).

Thanks to the Thoreau Society and to all the amazing and attentive attendees!  Especially those who took pictures and gave me feedback on new areas to explore between the two!

And extra special thanks to my fellow Tourguides who make all the research and the entire experience of Concord SO MUCH FUN!!!

The Beginning of the Beginning: Shooting of the Shows begins in 1966

When did the Monkees actually begin?

Was it when Rafelson was dreaming of turning his adventures with his 3 young friends on a sailboat into a story? (Can we sing? Sure-we can do anything!)

Was it when the ad was placed? "4 Ben Frank's types. Must come down for interview"

Was it when the pilot was being shot? Or its first test flopping with audiences? And then recut and green-lighted? (Include the audition scenes, and then we can tell who is who)

Once upon a time, on May 31, 1966 to be exact, the cast and crew gathered at a farm to begin shooting "Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth". The gate was locked & the farmer was nowhere to be found. Knock it down-they said, a new fence is a couple hundred dollars but shooting costs $100,000 a day!!

And so they got to filming, and they shot more shots than any other shoot ever shot. Thus began the legend. The wheels began to turn, the camera cranked and the machinery of 2 years swung into motion.

I still don't know what the VERY first shot of the day was, or what day they shot the "Early Morning Wakeup" scene-but there is genuine sunrise in the distance as the farmer gets the confused boys up to do the chores.  The best lighting is natural lighting, the kind of dawn that money can't buy. Whatever rumors of artificial assembly were floating in the ether-were they a copy of the Boys from Liverpool, or the Boys of the Beach? They had to make it on their own. From here on in-it was up to them to make it happen.

For Bob Rafelson's memory on the Monkee's Live Almanac, go here: https://www.monkeeslivealmanac.com/blog/rafelson-on-filming-the-first-monkees-episode

Davids Bowie and Jones: How Do Fans Forge a Connection? CONTEXT

David Bowie died a few years (days?) ago, and although I personally never felt any deep personal connection to him or his music, it touched a nerve for so many of my friends that gets me thinking.

The morning after it was announced, my entire Facebook feed was literally filled with people in shock (like a close friend/mentor/rock god) had died. There were the waves of shock, yes, but then the waves of "here's how I connected with him", or "here's how his music turned me on to my current artistic taste/persona".

I saw people making connections between his style of shape-shifting to Lady Gaga's, or even to the current pop-cultural awareness of transgender people (who had been doing it long before, but now it seems o be something pop-culture seems to embrace, rather than thinking worthy of insult). NOT Madonna, who seems to be an exact parallel in terms of wanting to reinvent herself continuously, but who is now out of the spotlight and coolness, (more of a parallel to Hillary now).  Also her ascent to power seemed to be a "lust for fame".

I don't understand what it is that has NOT touched my own heart about him.  I like his SONGS, well enough, but I am not EMOTIONALLY INVESTED in his "character" or his "characters".

Which is the sign of the exact moment of my musical education being past his maturity (I first heard of him on V66, and he seemed like just another Rocker in his 40's-Bruce, Madonna, John Lennon (?), Huey Lewis, and he was starring in Labyrinth, which I never saw .  What is the connection between Elvis' and the Beatles' rise to success coinciding with the age/musical maturity of someone?  You root for them bc you get to convince your friends (be a "thought leader")

Micky and Mike and Magdelena Concerts

Micky always jokes about HEAD, and asks the audience if they know what it's about, and if they can explain it to him. It always gets a laugh.  But at the most recent set of shows done by him and Mike, there was a lovely deep dive into HEAD-which in and of itself feels like a good happy/high-low point in the whole journey. Beauty-diving in, being in over yr head, near-death, rebirth, mermaids rescuing you-feeling suspended in a very specific moment. That's the amazing experience that happens when I'm watching and listening-I get transported to my past self-but I'm very in the now.

I was lucky to catch some of the last few concerts.  Boston (Medford) and NYC (The Beacon). These were the rescheduled events from last year, postponed due to Mike's cardiac incident-and a perfect confluence of other emotional days. Peter's passing on Feb 21, the anniversary of Davy (Feb 29, 2012 for the record), and on the upside-Micky's Bday on March 8.

After all these years of attending shows, including Shoe Suede Blues, the previous reunions and incarnations, this felt like a great reunion of sorts for all of the fans-at least all of the familiar faces I saw in the audience.

And the show's set list was a love letter to the fans-alternating the big hits with more obscure yet well loved songs. I can't believe Micky seemed to miss a few lines from some Clarksville, but I was amazed at how Door Into Summer is a song about ME as a grownup business person.

I ran into Eric Lefkowitz after the show, who said he felt old. If anything, I feel rejuvenated-I feel like I had just dived into something timeless-a way to preserve & relive the memories and still be rescued by the mermaids.

Peter's GLOW

It's been about a week since Peter passed. I'm still in shock.


Most of the PT fans I know have been with him for the latter part of his career. That’s right-he HAD a later part of his career. Since the beginning of the 21st Century, he’s (he HAD-past tense), been playing in an amazing Blues band called Shoes Suede Blues.


He'd get on stage as an old man and play his music. And there would always be a moment where the music just takes off and becomes transcendent. I've NEVER seen a happier person, anywhere.

==

Watching ‘One Man Shy”-the 1st season episode where he falls in love with a rich socialite and is too shy to tell her. He steals her picture and learns how to “treat a lady” -with the lady’s help-during a (fantasy?) romp to “I’m a Believer”. The Boys help him out at the party when all he can think to discuss is the plot of Hamlet. REALLY! Honestly, a Danish prince, “and then his mother drinks the poison-and SHE dies”. The joke is not that he DOESNT know what Hamlet is, he is just too nervous to recap it well.


He was the only one who had taken any college courses; he had dropped out but later was given an honorary degree. He came from a family of teachers and moved back into his parents’ house in Storrs, CT-near UConn, where his father had been a Professor of Economics.


In the episode, after The Boys play their best roles as a stockbroker, tailor and captain of his yacht, he admits that its all a lie-but the girl gives him the Mr. Rogers Line: I like you just the way you are/for being yourself.


“Me?”


His response is that of a young actor, surprised and sweet and eager to love someone who loves him. He's a good actor, but that moment is good because he's not polished at pretending.


And then there were years of a fall from fame, the Monkees sacrificed at the altar of Raybert, in the name of Hollywood success-which they had granted (5 easy pieces/Easy Rider) but which has faded into film history.


His response is that of a young actor, surprised and sweet and eager to love someone who loves him.

He's a good actor, but that moment is good because he's not polished at pretending.


Then the 80’s-when they return AS OLD MEN-they were 40! (Saying that now, when lots of us fans have already hit our own mid-life crises, it’s too ironic) they are popular-AGAIN. And then they fade out again, periodic reunions, are they as good? Are they copies of the Beatles and why/why not?

I never understood the comparison. The Beatles never had a TV show-so they couldn’t have been as popular. (That was a joke, kid-except not). But also as a young kid who wanted the illusion of getting to know a favorite singer-the TV show offered time spent with the band. And granted, I KNEW their lines were scripted, but there were the moments in between, the improv, the fan interviews in the magazines, the reaction shots-SOME of that had to be real, right?


The Monkees TV show allowed us into their personas-which were close enough for crushes. Close enough, closer than any other music/tv personality. We felt like we KNEW them-and when they die, they take a piece of us with them.

===

He was modest in later years about his fame. He was just happy to be performing. And if anyone had felt awkward about seeing a “has been” or that copycat band or whatever-all doubts disappeared quickly as soon as the music began.


And then-EVERY SHOW-they would get to the BEST part. It was usually the second to last, when all the band members had fully warmed up, gotten into the groove, etc. There would be a round of solos, and during Tork’s solo-I swear-the heavens opened up. The music became the most beautiful thing in the world-everything and everyone was focused on every note-more present in that moment than they had been during most of their lives. And I could SWEAR, there was a glow coming from him. Not just a smile, not just the music, but a sense of complete command and focus. A person who made have been more famous, more rich, more whatever in other parts of his life-but THIS was what he was existing for. Creating music on that level and sharing it. Creating that kind of moment for others-completely selfless.

MERRILY! a Musical by George Furth (Ronnie/Henry) and Sondheim

There are a plethora of amazing supporting actors who have appeared on the Monkees TV Show, and several amazing writers.

If you don't know about George Furth, he was both.  Not only was he IN 2 episodes-the first "One Man Shy?Peter and the Debutante" was written by Treva Silverman-who went on to win an Emmy for writing for the Mary Tyler Moore Show. His performance in the episode is QUITE a showcase, and he is an evil delight to watch in every scene that he gleefully steals.
His next appearance, in the 2nd season, was "A Coffin Too Frequent"-which was otherwise notable for showcasing Ruth Buzzi (don't try too hard for a plot).  Sadly, there is no decent scene of them together-one of the MANY real missed opportunities of the series.

Besides this introduction to Monkee fans, he kept working as an actor (96 credits on IMDB!!!), including in Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (he was no slouch!)

And despite having passed away in 2008, he is STILL WORKING! Or at least his words are! ;)

Currently, in NYC, you can see them being performed in the show Merrily We Roll Along!
https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/2018-2019-season/merrily-we-roll-along/

It's a story that is told backwards-an idea from the George S Kaufman/Moss Hart original.  We start with all the characters "old" and cynical. (Old being 43!) then we get scenes of how they got to be so unhappy, and finally, we end at their beginning-when they get excited about their futures.  Funny, seems to be the way a lot of people discovered the Monkees too. (Seeing them as middle aged men on MTV, talking about their glory days in the show-and the middle years being a question of unexplored scenes)

And this is sometimes known as Sondheim's big flop (when it was on Bway, it lasted 6 performances).  Don't feel too bad-their other collaboration was Company.

NPR takes the Monkee Movie HEAD on

I like to think of it as a good sign that even NPR is taking the Monkees seriously.

They posted a story a few days ago, reviewing HEAD, as if it were a REAL movie, and not just a drug fueled FU to the teenyboppers. It's not even seen as a confection created for the cult and fringe movie goers to appreciate at drug-enhanced midnight showings.

The article is written from the POV of a former "teenage fangirl", the reporter Petra Meyer takes another look at it as a grownup, to realize how it starts and ends with a suicide (of the image? of the characters? of what, exactly?) and exactly "how bitter, how cynical, how teeth-grittingly furious" it is.

The thing that struck me was that the movie, and the TV show for that matter, have seldom been properly analyzed.  And that most of the commentary was provided by people who had little to no perspective on the phenomena as a whole. Pauline Kael, the film critic of the New Yorker, famously said about the movie at the time: "The doubling up of greed and pretentious-to-depth is enough to make even a pinhead walk out"  It had a budget of $750,000 and made back $16k of that.  Sounds almost impossible now, right?

Even Micky Dolenz gets much mileage out of the challenge of interpretation.  At screenings, he turns to the audience and asks if THEY know what the movie is about. And if so, could somebody please explain it to him?  It gets a laugh everytime.

But this reporter takes it beyond just a joke.  My favorite quote:

Without particularly meaning to be, and without resorting to cliches about acid or flower power, HEAD is an almost perfect snapshot of the state of the counter-culture in 1968. Angry, questioning, willing to tear down the old niceties to make way for something more complicated, sitting uneasily in the doorway to a darker world.

You can read/hear the full article here: https://www.npr.org/2018/12/29/676852011/the-monkees-tried-to-cut-their-strings-with-head

Also note, as good a songster that Carole King is, she generally writes the music.  If anyone loves the lyrics of the Porpoise Song, you can thank Gerry Goffin.

Controversial New Xmas Album

I'm a HUGE fan of Riu Chiu.  And the Xmas Episode from the series isn't bad either.

But the idea that the Monkees would release a holiday, no-a CHRISTMAS album seems more than a little gratuitous.

And yes, I understand that the band was based on commercialism.  Everyone and their brother does a Xmas album at one point, and really-wouldn't we rather hear THEM than yet another playing of "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby (or anyone else for that matter)?? But why NOW? And if they are going to do a follow up-or SERIES (??) of follow up albums to their record breaking release "Good Times" (2016), why would this one be a holiday album. Answer: because it will be purchased whether it is good or not-and lots of the hard hitting reviewers will give it a pass bc it is in the Xmas genre.

On Facebook, there have also been discussions of the track list, especially focusing on one in particular. "Jesus Christ".  Is it offensive? Does it bring in too much of one particular religion? Why is there no corresponding song for Jewish fans? The responses don't allow room for interpretation.  "Buy it or don't".  ("Love it or leave it"). It speaks to the insensitivity of the song choice, but also of the fans who feel favored.

I can't even offer much of a review here myself. I purchased it, but can't bear to open the wrapping. There are pictures of all 4 of the Boys, but I believe that the whole album is mostly (if not entirely) Micky and Mike. But I hate holiday music completely.  Maybe by July, it'll feel less crass.

HEAD in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

If you are a modern hipster, what better way to learn your proper pop history than to hang out in Williamsburg, at the Nitehawk cinema. On a Friday night at midnight.

https://nitehawkcinema.com/williamsburg/movies/head-2/

THEIR DESCRIPTION:

"Starring: The Monkees, Victor Mature, Annette Funicello

The Monkees — Mickey Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, Davey Jones, and Peter Tork — didn’t really enjoy being labelled the pre-Fab Four. They expressed their displeasure in this non-sequitur masterpiece. This film literally has no plot; it is instead a patchwork of loopy sight gags, instant parodies, and musical numbers."

And just in case you thought this would be open to those who are not yet aware of the fabulousness of Monkeedom-Eric Lefcowitz will be there to help answer everyone's questions.  He's written Monkee Business, and much earlier-Monkees Tale (1985)!!

And then you can get some overpriced Disco Fries.

Nez and First National Band Concert in Somerville!!!

Nez and his 8 piece band performed in Somerville.  ALL the old faces were there, not just the local regulars (the Twins and the traveling fans too), but also 2 of his sons, and Circe Link.

And the Nudie hat.  For a costume, he wore white, like Mark Twain, the "Idontgiveadamn" suit.

Set list courtesy of Sheva Golkow (from the NYC show)

More pics from others on the internet with better camera skills than me:

Nez Coming to Somerville and NYC, Monkees Rescheduled

For those Monkee fans who are eager to see how Nez is doing, there are dates announced.

9/19, he'll be in Somerville, MA, the next night in NYC.  AND he'l be playing with the First National Band.  https://somervilletheatre.com/live-event/michael-nesmith/

For those of you on Facebook, Christian is already posting pics and reporting on how much fun rehearsals are.

And for the rest of us who had bought tickets for June, prior to his heart incident, the new date has been announced. Saturday, March 9th! Be there!

Quadruple Bypass Surgery!

Okay, i understand the powers that be NOT wanted to release too much info into the air. It would frighten too many in the fandom.

But thankfully, they were able to be honest with us, now that Nez is several weeks out and back to 80%.  He had quadruple bypass surgery!!!

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/monkees-michael-nesmith-recovering-from-quadruple-bypass-heart-surgery-703665/

Giving us all heart attacks in the meanwhile!

Last Few Shows Postponed!

Mike cancelled the past 4 dates of the tour, news is that all will be postponed until new dates can be determined.  He was sick, the nature of the illness was undisclosed, although reports say it wasn't serious and mostly due to exhaustion. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was made.  More info on Mike here: https://www.monkeeslivealmanac.com/blog/category/michael%20nesmith


I heard about it from a friend on Facebook. I passed the news along to another friend who wasn't on Facebook-whom I hadn't reached out to in a while.  The Monkees bring friends together.

May we all get together soon and in good health!

Study In Preparation for the Upcoming Show

One of the best ways of doing research for an upcoming performance of ANYTHING is to get into the mood.

If you are headed to see Shakespeare, try to watch a video at home, or maybe even (heaven forbid!) READ the play.  ("Twelfth Night")

If it's opera, listen to it ahead of time, I guarantee the live version will be different and there is little to no way you will"ruin" it for yourself. ("La Boheme")

The first time an audience member sees a show, it's about watching for plot.  The second time, you begin to notice character details, the third, you start catches jokes you missed the first couple times.  Only when you have seen something a million times (or 10, at least) can you really begin to dig into something. ("Monkees in a Ghost Town")

Same with performing.  You can rehearse a scene 10 times before you get it technically right. And THEN you begin to ACT and actually feel it.  When it comes to performing songs, you sing them until you forget them, and then you sing them to bring them back to yourself as discoveries. ("I'm a Believer")

As an audience member, the best thing you can do it to keep your mind and ears clean of old favorites for a long time (a year? 6 months?) Maybe not all of them, but as much as you can.  And then SIT and listen to them all again, to remind yourself of how great they can be. ("St. Matthew", "Me and Magdelena"

The great songs will be worth it.  Aren't we lucky that the entire discography/oeuvre is so rich?

The Mike and Micky Show

Welcome to the Kickoff of the 2-kees performance tour of hlaf of the Monkees, which starts officially in June.

Songs that they both like, and Peter is focused on his latest Blues album
https://petertork.bandcamp.com/album/relax-your-mind-honoring-the-music-of-lead-belly
But he has learned to "Never say never".

The article is standard boilerplate press relase:
http://www.monkees.com/article/the-monkees-present-the-mike-micky-show

Note the article screws up the most important date, when exactly it was that Davy died. The article states it was 2/12/12.  Every true Monkee fan knows that Davy died on Leap Day, February 29, 2012, so his fans would only have to remember his death once every 4 years.

50th Anniversary of the Last Episode

On March 25th, the world heard the final echoes of music from the Monkees TV Show.  The episode called "Mijacogeo" Aka "The Frodis Caper", which is somehow both a reference to Frodo from Lord of the Rings, and also cannibis.

Ironically, the episode starts with the Beatles' "Good Morning, Good Morning" and ends with Tim Buckley's "Song to The Siren".  Running the gamut from first inspirations to where they were at that moment in 1968, a siren song to all the teenagers in America.

You can get a sense of the feelings of the time, should they do something like "Laugh In"? If there was another season, how would the show evolve?  And if they did a movie, what would that be like?  Those and other historical comments can be found at http://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-monkees-final-episode/. 

The music is still echoing, so they must've done something right.

Relax Your Mind-Peter's New Album

Peter has FINALLY released his amazing new album, Relax Your Mind-Music of Lead Belly.

If you've never been exposed to, or have never really paid attention to the Blues, do yourself a favor and check out PT and Shoe Suede Blues as they interpret these songs.  These songs are a tribute to creating beauty from pain; people who have no hope in their lives literally plucking songs out of thin air.  Making magic for themselves, and creating connection beyond distance, culture, time, across the human spectrum.  Handing someone else their pain, transfigured into the form of music.

Or if you can, seek them out in person (if/when they tour again).  It is transformative.

https://petertork.bandcamp.com/

Wendy Forsythe/Heather North Passed Away

The Wendy Forsythe character, known in real life as Heather North, from "The Prince and the Paupers" episode has passed away.  She had voiced Daphne from Scooby Doo until 2003.

Her character ALMOST marries Davy Jones, but she gets stuck with the shy Prince instead.  Something LIKE Mark Twain's novel, but not really.

RIP Rose Marie, Wait for Your Laugh

Rose Marie, the 9 decade show biz survivor has passed away (and surpassed us all).

Check out a tribute here:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/rose-marie-dies-obituary

And check out info for her LATEST movie, Wait for Your Laugh (kid).
http://www.rosemariemovie.com/

She has connections to the Monkees, playing both "The Big Woman" and "Monkee Mother".

Also, her singing Vitaphone short ran with The Jazz Singer.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6cfcqy

Who knows about the OTHER connection between the Monkees and the Jazz Singer??

Micky Lighting the Tree

I wasn't in New York for this, but I LOVE how he (and the Monkees) have become mainstream again!

http://www.winterseve.nyc/treelighting2017/

What is more New York/American/Corny than having a "legendary rock star" at the tree-lighting?

Nothing, man, nuthin.

NaNoWriMo: Six Degrees, a Literary Journey

A mad dash through the 20th century, the fulcrum of which is a certain series.  Mid 1960's, a collection of everything that had come before, captured on film, 50 years in.

And then, a kid born 10 years after it all started and ended, How it introduced her to everything and everyone, the best kind of introductions, especially when the parents are absent or absent from this culture. 

Everything is a spiderweb, everything is a connection, a neural pathway, dendritic branches of people and stories, lost and irrelevant until activated by their relationships.

Everyone is Six Degrees away.

Monkees as a Good User Experience

The show was designed to be easy on the eyes.  Chock full of visuals and sounds and music and every editing trick yet invented, the pacing is designed to keep the attention of the "young generation".

The show was teaching us to be good consumers, not only of what they were trying to sell us (music and goodies), but also to be good audience members.  What jokes are good to laugh at?  When?  And if you don't get the joke, then you need to figure out what you are missing.

That was the biggest influence on me, it implanted a growing lust of curiosity, for history, for everything around these 4 characters and their beachhouse.  What world were they living in and how much of it was real?  Whether it was real or not didn't matter, it was a tv show and y its very nature, unreal.

It taught me to be aware of the line that tips fiction away from reality, and vice versa.  And to understand when reality is worse than fiction. (Like now)

#17 Case of the Missing Manchurian Candidate

Last night, TCM showed The Manchurian Candidate.

Sometimes, the events of the world need to swirl into focus for a piece of art/writing/movie to resonate with you. Or to become resonant again.  (I'm a big fan of Henry David Thoreau and his Civil Disobedience is cycling back again into public discourse).

The plot of the 1962 movie has to do with soldiers in Korea who get captured and get brainwashed.  One ends up being a killer who performs on command without conscience.  Frank Sinatra is the hero, Angela Lansbury is the evil "queen".  At one point Frank also mentions "All the King's Horses", but alas-does not break into the song.

A throwaway piece of the plot involves the bad guys checking on the power of the hypnotism.  They essentially kidnap him and offer a cover story to the papers, having him the victim of a hit and run.  The "hospital" they keep him in is a cover.  It's a building for rich alcoholics, but 3 floors of it are reserved for their Communist conspiracies.  A FAKE hospital.

This aside is what they base the whole episode on.  Hospitals can be fake, doctors can be fake. Hypnotism is real.  Evil Communist forces may or may not be real, but they can ultimately be foiled.

The more powerful part of the movie itself has to do with the manipulations of the presidential nomination.  Right before JFK was literally caught in the crosshairs.  And decades before the idea that Russia had anything to do with the 2016 election.  Whatever side you are on, watch the movie and see what other items this particular movie may have suggested to the public imagination.

Infinite Tuesdays on a Thursday

I'd like to recommend a trend here.

Of Mks Fans who do graduate work, or get their PhDs, and then continue a fascination with the Mks, but on a higher level.  (If you are "way too educated" to still be a fan, no worries, there are plenty of us here!! I have 2 Masters Degrees)

I'd recommend this review of Infinite Tuesday by Fandom Lenses, by a PhD.:
https://fandomlenses.com/2017/04/21/i-have-not-sung-this-song-reviewing-infinite-tuesday-by-michael-nesmith/

I'm not sure when I will get through the book, and this is an interesting reaction from a fan.

(Books find you at the moment you need them.  This book has not found me yet.)

Ann Moses, MEOW!!

I'm VERY excited to receive Ann Moses' new book, called (perfectly) MEOW!!  I just ordered my AUTOGRAPHED copy and cannot wait for it to arrive!

She's spent a career interviewing the hippest bands of the 1960's for Tiger Beat, the envy of almost every former teenage girl.

I wonder if the excitement was always there for her, or if she got used to it? What details did she notice, what stories does she have to tell that haven't already been published?

Was there a different story, other than the one of glamour?  I would love to see a pastiche of details, where she met up with everyone.  Conversations beyond their favorite color.

Does she know about the book "I Think I Love You" by Allison Pearson?  It's fiction, but still.

How did she get where she got?

What are the questions she WISHED she could've asked?

Did she become friends with any of her subjects?  Why or why not? (Was it a professionalism thing, or too much of a good thing?)

How does she explain the screaming teenage girls?  Why is that an ongoing phenomenon?

I have so many questions!! :)

Manchester

This brave (cowardly?) new world gets more complex.

Monday night, 22 people were killed at a concert. Including an 8 yr old girl. By a 22 year old man (kid?)

At an Ariana Grande concert, but if the terror wanted to strike preteen girls, it could have just as easily been The Beatles in 1964, (or the Monkees).

Or the next concert you go to. 

The 8 year old girl haunts me. She haunts the 8 year old me, and the grown woman I am that she will never become. 

Davy was from Manchester, an immigrant jockey/entertainer who came to America and was assimilated into a "Cowboy". A smiling nod at the truth.

All the girls screaming, their throats sore from screaming in happiness at music. 

The trauma & re-traumatizing of the original audience, and the viewers at home.

And lest you think this is about the terrorism of the moment, 1968 was a year of death & assassinations. It just gets edited out.  

But now you understand why they included that shot of a Vietnamese soldier getting killed in HEAD. It was as "popular" then on TV as the Zapruder film.

The media is the message. Everything is more immediate now, including the context of history.

Never forget.  Never forget that this is not new.

"Where is Love?" Baby Davy

If you have a craving to hear Davy as a VERY young singer, here are a nice couple of songs from "Oliver!".

Where is Love & Consider Yourself

He sounds like he is 12!!

And by the way, both have become Broadway standards, recorded & rerecorded by MANY young hopefuls!!

Micky & Coco At 54 Below, 3/24/17

Consensus was that Coco is the better performer. 

But that there also might be bias bc we've all seen so much of Micky. Maybe too much. 

Or never enough?

Order of Shows

After getting distracted with life, I was triggered to watch an episode.

(One leads to many, like potato chips or laughter)

I was shoveling. And while shoveling, I think of snow. And how much I dislike shoveling. And how I am forced to focus on my yard. And how my yard looks free of snow, especially in the spring & summer. 

And Summer= Monkees.

I was debating watching the whole series in alphabetical order, like the Monkee Magic book. But it seemed WRONG. For me at least. As a format of a book, it helps it for reference.

I also thought of watching in REVERSE order. But that also seemed wrong. Altjough, perhaps a challenge.  It might be fun to see them all growing gradually more innocent. 

But I am biased to the network cycle. A gradual circle, where their hair begins smooth and shiny, like Beatles ripoffs. And then everything becomes more complex, especially the scene structures.

Lately, I've just been skipping around. Seeking out the shows that I have a craving for, or that I think I haven't seen in a while. Last week, I wanted to watch Ruth Buzzi bc I've been watching Laugh In. Then Success Story because I can't remember the last time I watched it (a good thing-I like forgetting & being reacquainted) Then Machine, bc I work with too many computers. And it's fun to see computers as babies. Or at least as their primitive caveman versions.

I know that I've seen the entire series at least twice every summer of my life, from age 5 to age 17. And once I got it in DVD, I must've watched those versions at least 5 times. And there was a time when I was watching online. That's another round.

Never enough.  Like Shakespeare, I keep seeing new things. If anything, it's hard for me to get through an entire episode without stopping to look up an obscure reference. It's a huge Thing for me, really. 

What year is this?

The year of the Monkey/Monkee is over, and now we are in the year of the Rooster, according to the Asian  Lunar New Year.

But we now seem to be embroiled in a new nation. "Making it great again" with nazi slogans and unconstitutional bans on Muslims.

What year are we in? 1968? With all those protests & marches and the country fighting for Civil Rights.

Or are we in 1939? Awaiting a giant world war.

Roaring Twenties= A La Carte

There is a scene from the movie, "The Roaring Twenties" (1939, starring James Cagney and Humprey Bogart-1st degree!!) in which an Italian mob hit involves a shootout in a restaurant. Hiding under checkered tablecloths.

Purple Gang: operated out of Detroit 1910s-1932. Jewish bootleggers & hijackers.

BTW: October 29,1929, Black Tuesday. 16.5 Million shares change hands in a single day" As of 2014, the average was 5.7 billion shares.

Coco comes to NYC!!

Coco will be performing at 54 Below ... and so, by relativity, keep the Monkee spirit performing. 

Here she is from 2014, doing Different Drum at BB King's (where I first met Micky).  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tBfIcs1Yc-w

The final Monkee concerts are too final to contemplate.

Final Shows (?)

These days we are coming to the end of the 2016 tour.

A few weeks ago was a Shoe Suede Blues Fan Party in Maryland (I couldn't go)

So many goodbyes (again)

And then Davy's Church burned to the ground.....

Sad, but we all have the sense they will be with us always. Beyond this earth, beyond music, beyond our imaginings.

They have been born again so many times after they have slipped away from us.

Nez's Last Show

There was much debate about the end of Nez's performing as a Monkee. One main question was "Does this mean the end of The Guys?"

And then Peter had a family emergency. And Nez filled in.

September 16 was the 50th anniversary of the first show. Around the same time as Mike's last performance.

Full circle, indeed.

MDolenz Hour Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuQ-dT2KHjc&feature=youtu.be

Some notes from the great interview above!

You can hear Micky talk about remembering the audition.
4 different pilots about Music:
Surfing Band (Beach Boy)
Peter, Paul & Mary: "The Happeners" (went to Pilot, must exist somewhere!!)
Randy Sparks, Mighty Wind
"The Monkeys"
Biff, Bill, Joe, Frank+character roles
He knew the security guard, cameraman Irving Lippman, the schoolteacher!

Marx Bros, Jerry Lewis, Donald OConnor
Will Rogers
Harpo
Remember them Screening Marx Bros, Laurel & Hardy, very specifically they did NOT 3 STOOGES "We don't want it to go there. Never gonna hit each other, never gonna make fun of each other,"
One for all, All for one
Julie Newmar was the closest to jealousy
Marx Bros more than Beatles "Day at the Races"
Touch of Monty Python-preceding it, wearing drag
Old Hollywood & Marx Bros did it all the time

Which episode do you remember shooting?
All in order
It's all the same episode, it's 52 half hours of 25 half hours
I remember PEOPLE, Julie Newmar, Stan Freberg (History of US), Rose Marie, Hans Conreid
& Crew
BIBLE???
Comedy NOT TOPICAL & NOT satirical!!
vs Laugh In
(TOO on-topic, "have to have watched the news that week to get the references")
Written for 14 year olds
Worked on a couple of different levels
Devil & PT
(Also Frodis)
>>>WORDS YOU can't say on Network TV, George Carlin
MD: We were never successful, it was about the "struggle"
Everyone was "trying" to be the Beatles
TV show about a band who wanted to be the Beatles
(and went off the air when they became it, HEAD was the nightmare inversion of it)
Driving around happened during lunch, we need B-roll footage
Bob Rafelson-singlehandedly
He was a roadie for a Folk Group???
Lightning in a Bottle> You can't take it apart only because of one element (can't reduce it to a formula)
Bob Showed Mike "A Face in the Crowd" & said that was what would happen
"Masters of their own Destiny"-NBC was worried & wanted a Manager, tested badly & nobody could tell the boys apart
(reinforce the ID of each boy, you could cheer when you saw the printed word of their name)
"I don't know where they got the money for Easy Rider"

How did HEAD feel filming vs the tv show?
As different as you can get
Rather than make a 90 minute episode of the Monkees
which would have been QUITE commercially successful
Jack Nicholson,  we all fell madly in love with him, so charming & charismatic
OJAI
He went away & crafted the marvelous script

Andrew Sandoval & John Hughes come up
Rosanne Welch asks the first question, can I give you my book?
The actors got with the flow, cast bc of spontaneity & improvisational nature
Caused problems, created environment, "Nuclear Fission" radioactive material, MUST contain it
Juggled between letting us bounce off the walls
Improv exercises, they encouraged us, "Whaddya got?"
When there was another actor, we tried to pull back bc the other actors were doing their lines
What was your favorite episode?
I don't remember them as episodes?
Remember some scenes a little bit, so fast, so intense
Don't film the episodes in order
Start on Monday-Wed, Thurs-Fri-Mon, a few days off
A revolving door of other people & costume changes
Andrew:
Bob had toured in the 50's, met Schneider
Event where they showed HEAD, Bert said he was a big Monkees fan
Jacki Cooper was a big supporter
Goin Down in Blu Ray, 35mm film elements
SONY VAULTS

"We SAW THE BEATLES at Dodger Stadium" 44:22 (in NYC!) (Aug 28, 1966)
Learned how to hit my leg & snare at same time bc couldn't hear the snare drum (still plays that way)
Peter carried Pete Seeger's autograph in his wallet for decades bc such a big fan
Hey, I did a movie about you (That Thing You Do)
"It must be summer">> Such a Monkees song!  Do a cover of it (Adam Schesinger's song)
Rivers loves writing to instruction

Silly (Yet Real) Daydream Believer Videos

Literal Daydream Believer

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=hArtxz6PRsk

Shred of Dd Blvr

(As if someone was taping the actual music & noises they were making during the videos!!)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=T9hHKYfXIE0

Lynn Thigpen and Bobo Lewis Foundation Still Remembered

Bobo Lewis is the incredible Miss Chomsky in Find the Monkees (#19).  Her character was not played as written, but BETTER.  Lewis is one of those legendary actresses who is quietly and persistently talented. We are lucky to have her performances on the Monkees, Bewitched and even Shining Time Station.

She worked on a Broadway version of Studs Terkel's Working, which is where she met up with Lynne Thigpen, an incredible Tony winning African American actress whose face is very familiar to anyone who has been paying attention.  (She passed away suddenly)

Lynne Thigpen had Bobo Lewis as her mentor, and they put the idea into the world as an ongoing mentorship program (which happens anyway, informally or not).  It was one of those great NYC Theater stories that now exists as a ghost on the internet.  It was announced in 2005, and hasn't quite survived.

I did some research and found a number for the Foundation.  And called.

I had a lovely conversation with Lynne's husband and was happy to be able to conjure up these lovely women for a few moments.

Meanwhile, later that night, Carole King handed a Tony Award to Lin Manuel Miranda for HAMILTON and he read the following poem for LOVE and against the horrible events of Orlando this morning, and death in general.

My wife's the reason anything gets done. 

She nudges me towards promise by degrees. 

She is a perfect symphony of one, our son is her most beautiful reprise. 

We chase the melodies that seem to find us  

until they're finished songs and start to play. 

When senseless acts of tragedy remind us 

that nothing here is promised, not one day. 

This show is proof that history remembers. 

We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger. 

We rise and fall and light from dying embers. 

Remembrances that hope and love live longer. 

And love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside. 

As sacred as a symphony, Eliza tells her story and fills the world with music love and pride.

From:

http://www.elle.com/culture/news/a37026/lin-manuel-miranda-sonnet-speech-tony-awards-2016/

 

Pictures from 50 Years Ago

Nice drum logo. Maybe you should try a different shape?

California? What could they be talking about?

The view from the back porch of the pad.  Nice tree. Maybe you should water it, guys!

Concert on Release Day!!

Shameless joy.

Cool poster! 

The venue, the Wilbur in Boston.

The full band during "She Makes Me Laugh"

Peter giving the mic to a little girl during "Daydream Believer"

And the set list went home with one of these lucky girls!!

Monkee Comic & Davy in Godspell

Latest Videos

You bring the summer was released a tad bit early.

And last week, She Makes Me Laugh!!

Amazing!

Derrik as Chino in the West "West Side Story"

And Chino is the one who ends up killing Tony (so the best villain role in the show!)

When one of our sisters passes on ....

The FB community of Monkee fan family has certain rules & ways to respect & honor each other. Someone posted pics from a friend who passed on, with a STRONG warning not to share. I was wondering about this tradition & why it is so important to give credit, esp when it comes to Monkee photos.

Something sacred seems to be photos especially. Those taken by someone brings them ownership to the photos. Photos are meant to be shared, and seen, and credit is of utmost importance.

Photos taken at concerts, or book signings or other events are "private". Even if they are performing in a giant arena & in full view of everyone. 

ie If pictures get "shared" on FB, without proper credit, it is a VERY big deal. (It's never happened to me, but I've witnessed it!!)

Friendships have deteriorated by people "sharing" photos without attribution or permission. (As in "If the photo is not yours, don't pretend it is") As if someone is trying to steal the credit, the image and the moment.

I've been wondering about this deeply, and I feel like each photo is just like a "private" moment caught by the photographer. Beyond that, when they get viewed afterwards (or in the old days "developed") they are personal memories. "Captured" by the photographer her/himself. A way to get some privacy in the midst of this giant phenomena. (Nothing weird or sexual implied here, honestly, it just seems like a way to carve out a distinct piece. And explains the strong sense of ownership)

Do other people feel this way?  Does this sound true, or completely off the wall?

30 Years Ago Today! MTV Monkee Marathon!

On February 23, 1986, MTV brought back the most beloved show in history (not that I'm biased).

They showed all 58 episodes in a row, which is a mind boggling journey, not just through 1966 to 1968.  All the bits and pieces bring together American History, Vaudeville, Hollywood and American music evolution. And that's just a superficial viewing.

The original (grainy) commercial for it may entice you to begin binge watching!  Is it just the old videotape, or did TV really look like that in 1986?

1966 Photo of Band

Just because.

First Show of 50th Annual Reunion Tour Announced

If Micky is on stage & invites Peter up, does it count as a first reunion tour concert for 2016? 

This happened last night, January 16,2016.

====

The other announcement:

January 30 in Louisiana. Peter & Micky.

No other events/performers announced.  (i.e. NO FULL TOUR ANNOUNCED AS OF YET)

http://www.monkeesconcerts.com/blog/monkees-50th-anniversary-tour-concert-advertised-for-later-this-month


Who is wondering if there will be more? (I know I am!!)
===
Picture courtesy of Facebook by way of:

>>FreedomMonkeeSpot

>>Jennifer Schrinel

>>Carl Tapia

David Bowie's Homage to Uncle Floyd (Vivino)

The following is written by our talented Guest Blogger "Mary Mary" Ciuffitelli and was first published for Malia Collective.  She brings together David Bowie (nee David Jones), Jimmy Durante and Uncle Floyd.

Rest in Peace David Bowie, who I just discovered recorded a song in tribute to NJ Italian-American icon Floyd Vivino. 

This bit of news came via Monkees.net. Some of you know that, for me, all roads lead to The Monkees. I especially love the points where The Monkees and Italia meet. There are so many. Like, Micky’s dad was an Italian-born Hollywood actor. Or that The Monkees once sang a comic “Mussolini We’re with You.”   "I got a million of ‘em," to quote Jimmy Durante — who handed them their Emmy in 1967.

So here’s this winding road: David Bowie, born David Jones, changes his name in the 1960s so as not to be confused with gigantic pop star David Jones of The Monkees. In the 1970s, Bowie becomes a huge fan of the Uncle Floyd TV show, watching episodes with fellow fans Iggy Pop and John Lennon at the Dakota. In 1981, he attends Uncle Floyd's live appearance at the Bottom Line and later records the song "Slip Away” paying  tribute. 

I wasn’t familiar with the song, but its quintessential Bowie. Been listening to the playlist on Youtube. Haunting.

RIP David Bowie 

Oogie knew there's never ever time
Some of us will always stay behind
Down in space it's always 1982
The joke we always knew
Oo-oo
What'sa matter with you
C'mon, let's go
Slip away
Oo-o

Songfacts: the song’s story and lyrics   http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6803

  

David Bowie: The Other David Jones  by Fred Velez on Monkees.Net  January 11,2016 

“Bowie was very friendly and charming and was thrilled to be at the club as an Uncle Floyd fan enjoying the show with the rest of us. Bowie later recorded the song Slip Away as a tribute to Uncle Floyd.” 

http://www.monkees.net/david-bowie-the-other-davy-jones/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Monkeesnet+%28Monkees.Net+-+Full+Data+Feed%29

"Slip Away” video: This version includes photo of Uncle Floyd with Sicilian-American Cyndi Lauper. Though there are other beautiful versions of Bowie in live performances, mentioning the show.      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVgPQKYLFzY

Live performance with projected clips of the show, lyrics, and a shout out to Floyd:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cimAyPdRtpg

International Monkees Day!!

Welcome, yet again, to the best Monkee day of the year!

Even Rhino is celebrating!

Both Davy and Mike were born on this day, and the BEST way to celebrate is by listening to Monkee records/8 Tracks/cassettes/iTunes/mp3s-whatever you've got.

You can take a trip into the past as you are preparing for the New Year.  Clean out the old thoughts, closets, Xmas party favors, whatever.  Spend some time with your past as you prepare for your future!

Baby Pictures!!

Peter, of course!

Davy!!

Micky!!

Papa Nez!!

"Big Man" quote

Vic Mature was in a movie called Kiss of Death. 

His character is a jailbird, trying to go straight. He meets Richard Widmark when they are handcuffed together on the train to Sing Sing.

At the end of the movie, they reunite. His friend keeps making fun of him.

"The Big Man"

Like Rosemarie, The Big Woman!

Don't forget that it was Vic Mature who gets the vacuum to the HEAD and the Monkees get sucked up like so much dandruff.

It's a great old Hollywood movie that shows who VM was when he was just a little older than the Monkees.

Movies which Inspired Episodes #2 and #46

Here's a two-fer.

I was watching TCM, always a great source of offbeat Hollywood.

Monkee See, Monkee Die, #2, written by Treva Silverman
One movie, based off of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians, "And Then There Were None"(1945), is the (semi)classic tale of 10 people being invited to a desert island, by an unknown host.  They are all to be killed, according to a nursery rhyme, and to give full credit to the villain, all are thought to have gotten away with murder in the first place.  Note the mansion on an island setting, mysterious overnighting in a haunted mansion, a record of the departed indicating his will.  And lots of other spookiness besides.
More Monkee-specific trivia can be found at the Tripod site, which did a lot to contribute to the Trivia Screens on the box set DVD release.

Monkees on the Wheel, #46, written by Coslough Johnson
The other, in which Warren Beatty plays a playboy named Barney Lincoln (??), "Kaleidoscope" (1966).  It's not a remarkable film, except for the elements of the zeitgeist it uses. The cute & riveting Susannah York adds to the influence of pretty girls in sparkly outfits and boas, (as well as mod outfits). Clever dialogue (not enough for me), mod clothes, and the suspense of gambling are the lynchpins.  Also some random plot about cheating at cards and getting caught, tables turning, etc.  Also note the corny (almost Batman-like) scene segues, and "60's-Oriental" sound cues. There is a gunshot which richochets off a large globe, making it spin.  It's not a direct influence, and may also be playing off the idea of the fantasy playboy/gambler life which explores all the fun someone can have if you just have the right method (see Peter's sliderule explanation).
The Tripod entry can be found here.
"Will the REAL---- please stand up?" is a phrase taken from "What's My Line?", the format of which would be staged in a Monkees episode and was used in this movie.  Everything was available to be stolen! ;)

Obituary for Edward Hoh, Drummer

Fast Eddie Hoh was a larger than life character and was known for doing the best, most intricate riffs on songs like "PVS", "Star Collector" and "Goin Down".  He was keeping time with and for a lot of great groups.

Melanie Mitchell includes a memory from Peter (taken from a comment on FB): I always think of Peter's comment on The Devil and Peter Tork, when there's a particularly intricate fill (I think that's the term) near the end of Salesman. "You know Micky did not play that drum lick," he said. "Almost certainly Fast Eddie Hoh." Which it was.

(Below taken from his online obit and reprinted here in case it gets taken down.)

Life Legacy

Edward “Fast Eddie” Hoh, age 71, passed away Saturday, November 07, 2015 in Westmont, IL. An American rock drummer who was active in the 1960s. He played the drums on several well-known rock songs and albums, including those by Donovan and the Monkees. He also performed at the seminal 1967 Monterey Pop Festival as a member of the Mamas and the Papas touring band. In 1968, he participated in the recording of Super Session, the highly successful 1968 Mike Bloomfield/Al Kooper/Stephen Stills collaboration album. Hoh first became known around 1964 on the Los Angeles club circuit as a drummer for the Joel Scott Hill groups the Strangers and the Invaders. Hill recorded several singles and the Strangers were an opening act for the 1964 T.A.M.I. Show, headlined by the Rolling Stones and James Brown. His flurry of activity came to an end by the early 1970s and has since remained out of the public eye. Services and Interment will be private. Info Knollcrest Funeral Home, 630-932-1500

http://www.knollcrestfuneralhome.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1695972