The Monkees
American pop rock band created for a 1960s television series.
The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s, conceived by television producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider for an NBC situation comedy series. The group, consisting of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork, became one of the most commercially successful bands of the late 1960s, with a string of chart-topping albums and singles.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Los Angeles, California
- Genre
- Pop rock
- rock
- psychedelia
- Years active
- 1966–1970; 1986–1989; 1996–1997; 2001–2002; 2010–2021
- Label
- Colgems
- RCA Victor
- Bell
- Arista
- Rhino
- Past members
- Micky Dolenz
- Michael Nesmith
- Peter Tork
- Davy Jones
Facts from the source article.
History
The Monkees were formed in the mid-1960s in Los Angeles. Davy Jones recalled that the name came from thinking of animal names, settling on 'The Monkees' spelled incorrectly, like The Beatles and The Byrds. Bob Rafelson first developed the idea in 1962 and tried selling it to Revue Productions, but was unsuccessful. In May 1964, while at Screen Gems, Rafelson teamed with Bert Schneider, whose father headed Colpix Records and Screen Gems Television. They formed Raybert Productions and, inspired by The Beatles' films A Hard Day's Night and Help!, revived the idea, selling the show to Screen Gems Television in April 1965. Originally, Rafelson and Schneider planned to cast the Lovin' Spoonful, but after that fell through, they focused on Davy Jones, who had signed a contract with Screen Gems in September 1964. Jones's involvement was announced on July 14, 1965; he had previously been nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Oliver!. In September 1965, advertisements in Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter sought the remaining cast members. From 437 applicants, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Micky Dolenz were chosen. Dolenz, who had earlier acted under the name Mickey Braddock as the star of Circus Boy, learned of the project from his agent.
Impact and legacy
The Monkees were selected to appeal to the youth market as American television's response to the Beatles. Andrew Sandoval wrote in The Hollywood Reporter about the group's impact. Davy Jones told the Chicago Tribune that many musicians said they would not have become musicians without the Monkees. The band found unlikely fans among punk rock musicians of the mid-1970s, who had grown up on TV reruns and sympathized with the anti-industry trend of their career. Sex Pistols and Minor Threat recorded versions of '(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone', and Toy Love played it live. Japanese new wave group the Plastics recorded a version of 'Last Train to Clarksville' for their 1979 album Welcome Back. Glenn A. Baker described the Monkees as 'rock's first great embarrassment' in 1986, noting that session players were used by many major acts but that the Monkees were criticized because a group of Hollywood businessmen had assembled them. Paul Levinson of Mediaite stated that the Monkees were the first example of something created in a medium that jumped off the screen to have big impact in the real world. Time's James Poniewozik praised the television show upon Jones's death.
Awards and achievements
The Monkees were the first American tour headliners to feature the Jimi Hendrix Experience as an opening act in July 1967. Davy Jones’s popularity led Gene Roddenberry to create the Star Trek character Chekov, whose hairstyle and look copied Jones. The group entered the America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame in 2014. The Music Business Association gave them an Outstanding Achievement Award for their 50th anniversary on May 16, 2016. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2007.
Controversies
The Monkees have been publicly backed for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction by outlets like Time and NPR. Davy Jones told People in 1992 he was certain the band would never get in. Peter Tork later claimed to the New York Post that Jann Wenner had blackballed them, arguing Wenner’s grudge stemmed from the group not always writing or playing on their early records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Monkees from?
The Monkees originated in Los Angeles, California.
Which record labels has The Monkees released music on?
The Monkees has released music on Colgems, RCA Victor, Bell, Arista and Rhino.
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