Monkee Business The Musical swings into Manchester Opera House - Chester Chronicle

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Welsh star Ben Evans plays the late Davy Jones in new Monkees’ musical
By Karen Price
WalesOnline.co.uk
March 31, 2012

A new musical based on the story of hit band The Monkees is premiering this weekend with Welshman Ben Evans playing the late Davy Jones. He takes a break from rehearsals to tell Karen Price all about it

As he steps onto the stage this weekend for the world premiere of a new musical about ’60s American band The Monkees, Ben Evans admits he will feel a little emotional.

For the Swansea actor is stepping into the shoes of band member Davy Jones who passed away just a month ago.

And the production, Monkee Business, is opening in Manchester, Jones’ home city, so the run is dedicated to him.

“It is going to be emotionally charged,” admits Evans, who stepped onto the stage as Jones for the first time last night.

“The last song of the show is Daydream Believer and I’m standing in a spotlight so that’s very poignant.

“It’s difficult for fans to say ‘goodbye’ when someone famous passes away so by coming to see the show it’s one way they can do that.

“We also hope we can keep Davy’s legacy and his music alive.”

Monkee Business is a madcap Austin Powers-style adventure based on the band which was formed for a TV series and went on to give The Beatles a run for their money.

It’s the story of four young men who fall prey to an evil record producer and are tricked into impersonating one of the biggest bands in the world – The Monkees. As they struggle to conceal their own personalities, a frantic world tour leads to entanglements with a harem of sexy Russian spies and other misdemeanours.

Evans admits that he was really excited when the project was announced.

“I did a lot of research before the auditions and was lucky enough to get the part,” says the Welshman who celebrates his 28th birthday in two weeks. “As an actor, it’s difficult to get a role in a brand new show, especially when it comes to theatre, but you get so much more freedom when you’re creating something.

“With something like Jersey Boys there’s a formula, but this is new.

“But there’s a lot more added pressure when you’re playing a ‘real’ person as you have to be realistic – you can’t go off on too much of a tangent.”

Evans admits that he wasn’t overly familiar with the work of The Monkees before he landed the job.

Made instant worldwide stars by the famous TV series, The Monkees – which also featured Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith – became one of most successful bands of their generation, at one time even outselling The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and releasing more than 100 songs on nine albums and influencing many future artists.

“I’m not from their era but they’re so ingrained in popular culture that everyone knows who they are,” says Evans, who’s also appeared on stage in Jersey Boys, Lord Of The Rings and Les Misérables.

“I remember watching some of their programmes when I was quite young and you realise you know the tune of even the less obvious songs.

“After doing so much research during the last six months, I’m an even bigger fan now. I’ve watched every episode of The Monkees to get the character right.

“I don’t think they got the acclaim or political plaudits they deserved.”

Evans says that while researching Davy Jones, he discovered there were a number of parallels between them.

“We were both child actors who came from backgrounds which had nothing to do with theatre – it just came naturally to us,” says the actor, whose TV credits include the BBC Wales comedy High Hopes and The Indian Doctor.

“We both played the Artful Dodger in the West End and he had links to Swansea – he got married there and had family there – and it’s where I’m from.”

Evans was already preparing for the opening of Monkee Business when he heard that Jones had died suddenly last month following a heart attack.

“It was a real shock, especially as he was the youngest.”

Evans says that while The Monkees are not directly involved with the musical, they are supporting the project.

“We’ve had their blessing and Mickey has sent ‘good luck’ messages. We hope they will come to see it and we think they will enjoy it.”

The musical will be staged at Manchester Opera House until April 14 before touring to Glasgow and Sunderland. It is then hoped there will be a West End run.

Evans is joined by Oliver Savile (Peter Tork), Stephen Kirwan (Micky Dolenz) and Tom Parsons (Mike Nesmith) in the leading roles.

Also among the cast is fellow Welshman Lee Honey-Jones, who is a long-standing friend of Evans’.

“We grew up together in Swansea and were going for auditions together when we were nine or 10. We then both had a scholarship to the Sylvia Young Theatre School. It’s great to be working together again.”

And while putting together a new show must be pretty exhausting, it sounds as if the cast have been thoroughly enjoying it too.

“We’re having a whale of a time doing it. If the audience enjoy it half as much as we do they will be in for a great time.”

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Monkee Business – Opera House, Manchester
The Public Reviews » COMPETITION

Monkee Business, the new musical mystery featuring exotic locations, far out cars, groovy spies AND The Monkees’ biggest hits, is swinging into the Manchester Opera House for its world premiere. We have teamed up with The Producers to offer 2 lucky readers a family ticket (4 tickets of which 1 must be a child under 16) to see the show on 3rd April at 7:30pm.

A madcap Austin Powers-style adventure, Monkee Business the Musical – announced last November – is the zany, new major musical for 2012. It’s the story of four innocent boys who fall prey to an evil record producer and are tricked into impersonating one of the biggest bands in the world. As they struggle to conceal their own personalities, a frantic world tour leads to entanglements with a harem of sexy Russian spies, an army of Tower Beefeaters and a railway carriage full of nuns. Totally far out!

Featuring a huge cast and a seriously loud and LIVE rock and roll band, with brand new designs by Morgan Large (Flashdance, Never Forget, Footloose), this exciting new musical features a fantastic score, madcap mix of zany adventure, dreamy romance and hilarious hi-jink that will have you going bananas!

From the producers of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Spamalot, Monkee Business the Musical will pay homage to both the crazy chaos of the Emmy Award winning TV series and the brilliant music of The Monkees featuring hit after hit including I’m A Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, Hey, Hey We’re The Monkees and the smash hit Daydream Believer alongside many more iconic songs from the era like My Boy Lollipop and You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.

Made instant world-wide stars by the famous 1960s TV series, The Monkees, made up of Manchester-born Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith, became one of most successful bands of their generation – at one time even outselling The Beatles and The Rolling Stones – releasing 121 songs on nine albums and influencing many future artists.

A fantastically talented quartet of young actors take the lead roles in Monkee Business the Musical.

Ben Evans (Chuck – posing as Davy Jones), has a wealth of West End credits already including Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Olvier! Mamma Mia! and The Lord of the Rings.

Oliver Savile (William – posing as Peter Tork), after graduating made his professional debut in the UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and has recently been touring the world in the international tour of Mamma Mia!

Stephen Kirwan (Andy, posing as Micky Dolenz) made his West End debut in Cameron Macintosh’s Mary Poppins. He has also toured the UK in Fiddler on the Roof and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Most recently Stephen has appeared as Claude in the European tour of Hair.

Tom Parsons (Mark – posing as Mike Nesmith) has appeared in the West End in Mamma Mia! and most recently as Nicky/Trekkie in Avenue Q.

Joining Ben, Oliver, Stephen and Tom in Monkee Business the Musical, playing the role of the boys’ unscrupulous manager Joey Finkelstein will be the extremely familiar face of Linal Haft. Linal – most recently seen as Harry Gold in Eastenders – has a wealth of theatre, film and television credits to his name. Theatre includes Slaughter City (RSC), Happy Birthday Brecht (National Theatre), The Old Neighbourhood (The Royal Court) and most recently the award winning Burlesque at Jermyn Street Theatre. TV includes Minder, Shine on Harvey Moon, Great Expectations, Vanity Fair, Rome and the aforementioned Eastenders with films including Moulin Rouge.

Monkee Business the Musical is written by Peter Benedict (Naked Flame, Fire Down Under, Deadlock), directed by David Taylor (A Chorus Line, Cats, The Prisoner of Second Avenue), choreographed by David Morgan (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and produced by the madcap Michael Rose Ltd in conjunction with the seriously-off-the-wall Ambassador Theatre Group.

Monkee Business is premiering at the Opera House as part of Manchester Gets It First, Ambassador Theatre Group’s commitment to making Manchester the UK’s official city for launching theatre’s biggest and best new musicals, a scheme which has won the backing of the city council. Ghost the Musical was the first MGiF show, and last month saw the second, the record-breaking All New People – written by and starring Zach Braff.

The Manchester run of Monkee Business The Musical will be dedicated to Davy Jones, a wonderfully talented musician whose songs brought happiness to millions of people around the world.

Friday 30 March – Saturday 14 April 2012
Box Office 0844 871 3018 : www.atgtickets.com/manchester

We have 2 sets of Family Tickets (4 tickets 1 must be a child under 16) to give away to the show on 3rd April at 7:30pm

To enter, simply answer the following question:

QUESTION: Which Monkee was from the UK?

a) Peter Tork b) Davy Jones c) Mickey Dolenz

Email your answer to comps@thepublicreviews.com making sure ‘MONKEE’ is the email subject heading. The competition closes on 29th March 2012 at 12pm, when 2 winners will be chosen. Please include your name, address & telephone number with your entry.

Terms & Conditions: By entering this competition you are agreeing to the following: *** you will be added to The Public Reviews mailing list (unless indicated by yourself in your email entry.) *** Your details will be passed on to the supplier of the competition prize. *** Entries after the closing date/wrong subject heading/spelt wrong may not be entered into the competition. *** Only 1 entry allowed per person/email address allowed, multiple entries will be removed and not entered. ***Prizes are non transferable and no cash alternative will be offered.*** The Public Reviews/Competition promoter have the right to change the prize or remove the competition at any stage.***

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Oliver to star in world premiere
Buxton Advertiser
March 21, 2012

Buxton man Oliver Savile will take a step closer to his dream of becoming a West End star when the curtain rises on the world premiere of a musical based on the Sixties pop phenomenon The Monkees.

Twenty-two-year-old Oliver, a former Buxton Community School pupil, plays a character based on Peter Tork in Monkee Business, which opens at the Manchester Opera House on March 30.

And if it’s a hit, the show could transfer to London’s West End.

That would be the realisation of a dream which started at Buxton Opera House more than a dozen years ago: “The first show I ever saw was Blood Brothers at Buxton Opera House when I was about ten,” Oliver told the Advertiser.

“From that time on, that was it. From then on, I knew what I wanted to do.”

He joined the REC Theatre, performing his first musical at 13. After leaving Buxton Community School, Oliver gained a distinction in a two-year BTec Musical Theatre course at City College Manchester which allowed him to apply for the prestigious Mountview Theatre of Arts in London, where he was one of 20 applicants out of 6,000 to be awarded a place for a three-year degree course in Musical Theatre. Since graduating in 2010, Oliver has never been out of work.

Monkee Business features all the amazing songs which turned the American group into a worldwide craze which at times outstripped even The Beatles. Apart from Peter Tork, none of them were really musicians, but famous names such as Neil Diamond wrote their classic hits which included Daydream Believer and Last Train to Clarksville.

The show is not a showbiz biography, but a story – based on the kind of madcap adventure Monkees fan will remember from their hit TV show – featuring an unscrupulous promoter who finds four youngsters to stand in for the Monkees on a world tour.

“In the show we’re pursued by spies and singing nuns, but it’s all great fun,” said Oliver.

His dad Marcus, who lives in Buxton, is even more excited by it all than Oliver: “He’s a great fan of The Monkees. The whole family will no doubt be there on the first night!”

So far Oliver, who has travelled the world singing in stage shows, has only played romantic leads – The Prince in Sleeping Beauty and Sky in Mamma Mia.

“It’s weird playing a real person,” said Oliver of Peter Tork, who was always “the lovable dummy” in the TV show. But as well as his research into Tork’s life, real life has given him an insight into how pop stars have to live when the cast of his production of Mamma Mia was mobbed in the Philippines and Belgium.

The death last month of The Monkees’ lead singer Davy Jones at the age of 66 has intensified interest in the group, and opening the show in his home city of Manchester is also a tribute to his memory.

And Oliver’s thoughts will be close to home as the curtain goes up with his father – who backed his ambition to the hilt – in the audience.

“I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for him,” said Oliver. “He’s never been a pushy dad, but he’s always been there.”

lMonkee Business: Manchester Opera House – March 30 – April 14. Box Office 0844 871 3018.

Monkee Business - the musical using the songs of 60s band The Monkees will premiere in Manchester next year

Following on from the phenomenal success of the world premiere of Ghost the Musical, the Opera House, Manchester is proud to reveal the next major new musical to be launched at the theatre will be Monkee Business the Musical, a landmark new production for the whole family featuring the hit songs of the iconic band The Monkees.

Monkee Business is premiering at the Opera House as part of Manchester Gets It First, Ambassador Theatre Group’s commitment to making Manchester the UK’s official city for launching theatre’s biggest and best new musicals, a scheme which has won the backing of the city council.

Ghost the Musical was the first Manchester Gets it First show, with almost 100,000 tickets being sold during its seven-week run earlier this year. Now Manchester audiences will again get the chance to enjoy a brand new musical here before anywhere else in the world.

With a cast of 20, a live band of eight, fabulous costumes and sets, a madcap ‘Austin Powers-style’ plot featuring all new characters and a score packed with iconic hits of the swinging sixties, Monkee Business, from the producers of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Spamalot, will premiere in Manchester March 2012.

Made instant world-wide stars by the famous 1960s TV series, The Monkees, made up of Manchester’s Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith, became one of most successful bands of their generation – at one time even outselling The Beatles and The Rolling Stones - releasing 121 songs on nine albums and influencing many future artists.

Monkee Business will pay homage to both the crazy chaos of the Emmy Award winning TV series and the brilliant music of The Monkees featuring hit after hit including I’m A Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, My Boy Lollipop, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, Hey, Hey We’re The Monkees and the smash hit Daydream Believer alongside many more iconic songs from the era.

Monkee Business follows four normal young lads who with the help of a few sexy Russian spies, nonsensical nuns and the odd tambourine, unwittingly get caught up in a memorably madcap adventure!

With a hilarious mix of groovy adventure, dreamy romance and zany comedy, Monkee Business is the ultimate feel-good family musical which will have audiences of all ages twisting and monkeeing in the aisles.

Howard Panter, ATG’s Joint Chief Executive & Creative Director, said: "Following the incredible success of the world premiere of Ghost the Musical at the Opera House earlier in the year, we’re delighted to be premiering yet another landmark new musical, Monkee Business, as part of our Manchester Gets It First campaign. This major new stage musical will be packed with iconic hit songs from the Sixties, Austin Powers-style zany humour, romance and adventure, which Manchester audiences will get to enjoy before anywhere else in the world. Manchester is the ideal place for the original creative process necessary for developing large-scale new musicals like Monkee Business, as it is a city with a great foundation in music with knowledgeable and sophisticated audiences who love and understand fantastic musical theatre.

Michael Rose said: "I am so excited that Michael Rose Ltd together with ATG are premiering a brand new musical at the Manchester Opera House as part of Manchester Gets It First. Monkee Business the Musical is a real feel-good night out for all the family and I am so pleased we are getting to share it with Manchester first, having seen what great audiences the city has when we brought Chitty Chitty Bang Bang there in 2006 and 2010. It is a real privilege that EMI have given the production musical access to some of the greatest songs of the 20th Century. I can’t wait to hear the Manchester response."

Welcoming the news about Monkee Business, Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council, said: "These are exciting times for Manchester, and this is yet another world first which has come to Manchester before going to London's West End or Broadway. Manchester has become an artistic powerhouse, bringing thousands of people into the city who will also spend their money in our hotels, bars and restaurants.

"This is added to the success of last summer's Manchester International Festival (MIF), a world-class event which was hosted in the city and drawing massive audiences. As well as their huge economic benefit, events such as MIF and major musicals like Monkee Business, also boost the production capacity of Manchester, using our expert creative skills and creating further jobs in the industry."

The Agency Group Announces 45th Anniversary Tour For The Monkees
Mi2N.com
March 23, 2011

The Agency Group, one of the world's leading entertainment booking agencies, is announcing it handled all of the booking for The Monkees 45th Anniversary Tour. The renowned pop rock trio of Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, and Peter Tork will reunite and celebrate its 45th anniversary with shows in the UK and North America, marking the group's first live performances in more than a decade.

The Monkees tour kicks off in the UK on Thursday, May 12th at the Echo Arena in Liverpool and wraps in Nottingham at the Royal Centre on May 25th. The Monkees will then embark on the North American leg of their tour hitting more than 30 cities in the US and Canada. The North American leg starts June 3rd in Atlanta, GA and comes to a close in Los Angeles on July 16th. Highlights include a June 16th performance at the Beacon Theater in New York City and multi-night stops in both Toronto and Minneapolis.

Neil Warnock, CEO of The Agency Group, booked the UK shows and agents Bruce Solar and Andy Somers in The Agency Group's Los Angeles office booked the North America shows.

"It's been over ten years since The Monkees performed live together and the timing was absolutely perfect for a reunion tour to celebrate their 45th anniversary," said Solar. "Our booking strategy was to start the tour in Europe to generate buzz and then bring The Monkees to the US for a six week tour playing shows at a combination of venues including performing arts centers, casinos and hard ticket venues."

Solar added, "The Agency Group is exploring a potential second leg of the US tour starting in late September along with shows in other parts of the world through the remainder of 2011 and heading into 2012."

The Monkees were assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968. The musical acting quartet was composed of Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith. The group sold 50 million records worldwide with major international hits including "I'm a Believer", "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone", "Daydream Believer", "Last Train to Clarksville", and "Pleasant Valley Sunday."

Hey Hey, It’s...The Monkees reformation
Telegraph.co.uk
February 21, 2011

The Monkees are to reform for a series of gigs to celebrate their 45th Anniversary.

The original TV boyband are back together for their first UK tour in 12 years. British-born Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork return to perform in front of their British fans.

The Monkees, responsible for some of the biggest hits of the 60s, will be touring the length of the country including a memorable show at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London.

The original TV boy band are the example to all those who have since found musical fame via television. The Monkees wrote the script for modern day pop music.

Selling 50 million records with hits such as Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, I’m a Believer and (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone, The Monkees provided the soundtrack to teenage lives on both sides of the Atlantic from the ‘60s onwards. With the TV series being repeated throughout the 1980s, a whole new legion of fans were exposed to their crazy antics.

Controversially created for TV, they eventually broke their shackles and became a respected band in their own right, embedded in the revolutionary 1960s pop fraternity. The Beatles were one of The Monkees’ biggest supporters with John Lennon naming them “the Marx Brothers of Rock”. In fact in 1967, The Monkees outsold both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined.

Following the TV show, the band went on to tour the world, release hit albums and singles, make a cult psychedelic, surreal film (1968’s Head) and inspire generations of bands to follow their winning formula.

Without The Monkees, there would be no Backstreet Boys, no Take That, no Boyzone, no Busted and no JLS. Even the Sex Pistols made (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone part of their repertoire.

To clear up unfinished Monkee Business, don’t miss your chance to see the seminal TV show band ‘sing and play’ as The Monkees celebrate over four decades at the top, on tour in the UK this May.

The Monkees UK Tour dates:

May 12th Liverpool Echo Arena

May 24th Manchester Apollo

May 15th Newcastle City Hall

May 16th Glasgow Clyde Auditorium

May 19th London Royal Albert Hall

May 20th Sheffield City Hall

May 21st Birmingham NIA Academy

May 23rd Plymouth Pavillions

May 24th Cardiff CIAgoodma

May 25th Nottingham Royal Centre

Don Kirshner interview: Monkees maestro lends perspective on retrospective
By Jerry Krupnick - NJ.com Star-Ledger TV Critic
Jannuary 19, 2011

Editorial note: The following is an interview with Don Kirshner by late Star-Ledger TV critic Jerry Krupnick from January 1997.

For Don Kirshner, tonight's retrospective television look at The Monkees (The Disney Channel at 8:30 p.m.) is not quite how it happened.

Kirshner, the Livingston resident who has always enjoyed the reputation as the Man With the Golden Ear, should know. As the president of the Screen Gems music division in those Monkees business days, Don was directly responsible for the music that made the group a huge financial success during the two short years they came and went in the halcyon `60s.

What he didn't do, Don carefully pointed out the other day, was put The Monkees together in the first place.

"They were the idea of the studio," Don said, "who wanted to capitalize on the Beatles' `Hard Day's Night' with a weekly TV show built around the same kind of high-spirited hi-jinks."What they did was hold a cattle call and selected the four guys out of a thousand or so, based on their appearance, rather than any musical ability. The group was thrown together from scratch and then the studio gave them to me with full creative control to supply the music."

At the time, Kirshner had a stable of young, just-getting-started musicians working for him, including Neil Diamond, Carole King, David Gates and Neil Sedaka. Two of his writers, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, were picked to do the theme song, "Hey, Hey, We're the Monkees" and then he selected another of their songs, "Last Train to Clarksville," as the feature piece of the first show.

"I had the feeling that this could be a number one song," Don says in tonight's special. And he was right. Even before the TV show hit the air, the single was a chartbuster and provided the impetus for The Monkees to go on to nearly instant fame.

"The problem, however, was that only Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz had any professional musical talent," Kirshner pointed out, "so we had to back them up with studio musicians." And, eventually, that became the bone of contention for the foursome.

In 1967, "The Monkees" TV show won an Emmy, but was heavily criticized by the press and other performers because, although their kooky antics were funny enough, the guys didn't write or perform their own music.

"That wasn't exactly so," Don told us. "We used Davy and Mickey in many of the lead vocals and the others eventually got better and we used them as well. But we still needed the backups to get the proper sound and we had a TV show to get out every week. We couldn't wait for them to grow up."

Two albums were quickly put out by his company, "The Monkees" and "More of the Monkees," and "both went to number one, outselling the Beatles albums of the same period. We were on a roll."

When Neil Diamond wrote "I'm a Believer" for Kirshner, Don said he knew Dolenz, who had a certain charm with the bobby soxers, would have a super hit with it. Again, he was right and the song quickly went to the top.

By that time, however, the group members were unhappy with their musical roles, particularly Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork. "Mike wanted to be a country singer," according to Kirshner, "and Peter thought he could write better songs than those we provided for them."

The studio also was displeased with the negative publicity, even though, according to Kirshner, his division "was earning four times as much profit as all the other Columbia Pictures entities combined."

And he was ordered "not to use ringers anymore."

Don said the situation came to a head when he thought he had another big hit for The Monkees with a song called "A Little You, A Little Me." However, they came to him and said, "We've just lost our voices, we can't sing."

Kirshner told them, "Forget about it, I'll use my backup singers, instead." Which he did and got himself still another major hit.

He also was bounced by Columbia. "It was the only time I ever was fired," Don said. And, he added, it resulted in one of the largest contract settlements in Hollywood history at the time.

Meanwhile, The Monkees went on their own for a second year and, as Jones said, "when Donnie left, we plummeted." By the end of that season, the show was canceled because of lack of interest.

The Disney Channel retrospective tells some of that story, with commentary from The Monkees themselves as well as the producers who put the group together from whole cloth and Kirshner. It also is loaded with clips from those `60s shows, which demonstrate the in-your-face style of the humor and the Beatles-like reaction of the teenybopper fans when the guys initially took the show on the road.

Among the songs performed during the hour are "Last Train to Clarksville," "Daydream Believer," "I'm a Believer" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday." And they still stand up.

Meanwhile, Jones, Nesmith, Dolenz and Tork are back together again, on tour and seeking to regain the impetus and popular appeal that at one point made them America's hottest musical group.

"We weren't ready," Tork ruefully concedes tonight in looking back at those hectic two years.

Kirshner - who's been there, done that many times before - fears that it now may be too late.

The Monkees' 'Head' trip
By Susan King - Staff Writer
Los Angeles Times
November 12, 2008

The made-for-TV musical group's surrealistic 1968 film, penned by Jack Nicholson, got no love at the box office, but American Cinematheque has resurrected it.

Forty years ago, the Monkees' only feature film, "Head," hit theaters -- and people have been scratching their heads ever since.

Though far from a masterpiece like the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" from 1964, the film, starring Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith, is a surreal time capsule -- a psychedelic, stream-of-consciousness blast from the past. It's as if Jean Cocteau had consumed lots of LSD and decided to make a rock movie. Only its true history is a lot trippier, considering that Jack Nicholson wrote the script and a motley crew of the era's icons appears in the film.

Tonight, the American Cinematheque's '60s-centric "Mods and Rockers" series will present a 40th anniversary screening of "Head," featuring Tork and Jones, plus other cast and crew members, in person.

When "Head" was released theatrically in November 1968, the Monkees could not have been less hip, admits Martin Lewis, the "Mods and Rockers" producer who's hosting the event.

"With the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, and the riots in Chicago, Paris and London, everything was very serious," Lewis says of the time. "Suddenly, though it had only been two years since the Monkees were created, it seemed like 20 years."

The Emmy Award-winning NBC sitcom "The Monkees," which followed the zany adventures of a struggling rock 'n' roll band in Los Angeles, had been canceled earlier that year.

Though the Monkees had scored numerous hits, including "Last Train to Clarksville," "Daydream Believer" and "I'm a Believer," their teeny-bopper fans were no longer buying their records. The counterculture was thriving. People were turning on and tuning in. Hendrix, Joplin and the Who were zooming up the charts.

So "Head" was a major bomb. The film had critics perplexed. Teeny-boppers didn't understand it, and those who considered themselves remotely hip wouldn't have been caught dead going to a movie with the "Prefab Four," as the Monkees were mockingly called.

A BAD RAP

Tork doesn't necessarily think the film failed because the Monkees were passe.

"The TV show had this huge ad campaign, and everybody went for all the hype," says Tork. "The 'Head' campaign was designed to be Postmodernist, and the commercials were off-putting. The hip thought it was going to be another bubble-gum movie, and they didn't want to see it. And the bubble-gum kids thought it was going to be a freak-out movie, and they didn't want to see it. I think if the movie had been thoroughly promoted in an appropriate way, it would have done much better."

Surprisingly enough, "Head" has quite the pedigree. It was directed by Bob Rafelson and produced by Bert Schneider, who also did the TV series. And it was written and produced by none other than Nicholson, who also makes a brief appearance in the movie. (Two years later, the three would collaborate on the classic drama "Five Easy Pieces.")

Also popping up in "Head" are Frank Zappa, surgically enhanced stripper Carol Doda, Dennis Hopper, Annette Funicello, Victor Mature, boxer Sonny Liston and even Teri Garr, who is billed as "Terry Garr."

The film itself, which spoofs movie genres, is definitely out there. At one point, the Monkees find themselves akin to pieces of dandruff in Mature's wavy black hair.

Dolenz jokes that he still doesn't understand the film, "and I was in it...I don't think anybody knows what it is about."

He recalls Rafelson approaching him during the second season of the TV series about doing a movie. "I vaguely remember a conversation about what we would want to do and not want to do," says Dolenz. "I remember the general consensus was that we don't want to make a 90-minute episode of 'The Monkees.'

"In retrospect, that would have been much more commercially successful. On the other hand, we wouldn't have this wonderful, very bizarre film floating around now, which I am very proud of. I think I did some great work as an actor in the movie."

Rafelson introduced the group to Nicholson, who had written scripts before but nothing on an "A"-movie level.

"We hit it off with Jack famously, because he was and still is such a charismatic, intelligent and funny guy," Dolenz recalls.

For the next few months, Nicholson hung out on the show's set and visited the four at their homes, "just soaking up everything that was Monkee," Dolenz says. Then one weekend, he, Nicholson, Schneider and Rafelson spent a week at a golf resort brainstorming their concepts for the film into a tape recorder. "Jack took those tapes away with him and wrote the screenplay."

TIMELESS?

Though the film is 40 years old, "Head" doesn't seem dated, by Dolenz's estimation.

"There were a lot of movies about hippies [made then] getting turned on and all that stuff," he says. "Today, if you look at them, you sort of cringe in embarrassment when somebody drives by in a VW bus painted with flowers and goes, 'Groovy.' "

The counterculture era wasn't really like that, Dolenz says. "It was all very cerebral. It wasn't all about the trappings, the flowers and the bell-bottoms. It was more of what was going on inside of everybody's mind. They managed to capture the moment."

And that leads Lewis to conclude that, if the Monkees had been unknowns when "Head" premiered, the film might have fared better.

"If it had been introduced as a low-key, underground movie, it might have hit with the hip audience, who were looking for films against the commercial grain," he says. "It might have actually struck a chord with them."

PTsgirl comment: My advise is to leave well enough alone. Why can't people be creative and come up with their own "raunchy" idea and not tie it in with The Monkees? Come to think of it, there is enough raunchy out there now. How pathetic. If you want to keep The Monkees alive, play the original series. I won't give thanks to Simon Fuller for his non-creative idea.

Hey, hey The Monkees are back thanks to Simon Fuller
The Sun - Showbiz - TV
By Colin Robertson
October 16, 2008

POP svengali Simon Fuller is bringing back telly classic The Monkees - and giving it a raunchy modern twist.

And hey, hey - producers are already on the hunt for four hunky surfer dude types to play an updated version of the original boyband.

The lucky lads will become the new Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, who set teenage girls’ hearts racing in the sixties.

The foursome starred as the boy-next-door band for five years from 1965 with hits such as Daydream Believer.

Their show started out as a scripted drama but eventually turned into a reality-variety production after the lads tired of the corny scripts.

Eventually The Monkees became so popular they began to call the shots - and play their own instruments.

MISCHIEF

Fuller, the man behind The Spice Girls and S Club 7, wants the new Monkees to play their own instruments and effectively become a real band. But unlike the squeaky clean original gang the new group will be much more rock ’n roll.

A show source said: “This will be The Monkees for the Gossip Girl generation and a lot more raunchy.

“We are looking for some charismatic lads who are up for a bit of mischief. The show will be much grittier than the original with more sex, drugs and rock ’n roll.”

Producers have already held open auditions in California as they seek “great, offbeat character types with energy, charisma and humour”.

It is the second time that Fuller - who owns the rights to The Monkees - has attempted to put together a revival show.

Five years ago he started work on The New Monkees but the idea was scrapped after no broadcaster showed any interest.

The new show, which may not use the Monkees name, will launch in the US before coming to Britain. Insiders said it was too early to say which channel would take it up.

The Monkees, formed in LA, had a huge hit with their first album in 1966. There have been reunion tours.

But the group did not mark their 40th anniversary in 2006 and a comeback with all members on stage seems unlikely.

Monkee Musical Cancelled
Published By: Nathan Brooker
Show-and-stay.com
July 8, 2008

Daydream Believer, the new musical based on the music of the zany pop troupe The Monkees, was set to open its UK tour at Plymouth next month. Producers were forced to announce yesterday that the show won't make it out on tour after all.

Written by Peter Benedict, the show had been scheduled to play the Theatre Royal in Plymouth until 6th September before running in Belfast, Windsor, Stoke-On-Trent, Woking, Glasgow, Richmond and Cambridge.

Featuring such perennial classics as Hey Hey, We're the Monkees, I'm a believer and Last Train to Clarksville, Daydream Believer looked like it could be poised to follow in the footsteps of previous 'jukebox musical' triumphs Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys. However, producers yesterday were forced to announce that the show's been axed. In a statement published in the Stage they said: “It is with regret that due to unforeseen circumstances, the production of Daydream Believer has been cancelled for the foreseeable future."

Fans of the cheeky pop group will just have to wait to see whether the musical will be picked up again by other producers. Until then the most exhilarating 60s experience can be found at the Prince Edward Theatre in Soho where Jersey Boys continues to delight audiences and critics alike.

The Stage / News / Monkees musical cancels UK tour
By Alistair Smith
July 7, 2008

Daydream Believer, a new musical based on the music of the Monkees which had been due to open in Plymouth next month, has been cancelled.

The show had been scheduled to run at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from August 26 until September 6.

It has been written by Peter Benedict and would have been directed by David Taylor. After the run in Plymouth the musical had been planning to tour to Belfast, Windsor, Stoke-On-Trent, Woking, Glasgow, Richmond, Cambridge, Brighton, Bromley, Darlington and Eastbourne.

The show was produced by Nick Brook Ltd with John Dalston, Lane Productions Ltd, Long Road Productions Ltd and Churchill Theatre, Bromley and Theatre Royal Plymouth productions.

However, producers issued the following statement: “It is with regret that due to unforeseen circumstances, the production of Daydream Believer has been cancelled for the foreseeable future. Customers who have purchased tickets will be contacted in due course.”

Monkees Musical, 'Daydream Believer' Has Been Cancelled
(BroadwayWorld.com)
By BWW News Desk
July 3, 2008

The new UK musical Daydream Believer, based off of the story of 60's pop group The Monkees has now been cancelled. Today the show's producers stated, “It is with regret that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the production of Daydream Believer has been cancelled for the foreseeable future.” Rumor has been circulating that it is because of poor initial ticket sales.

The world premiere of the new musical Daydream Believer was set to take place at the Theatre Royal Plymouth where was to play a limited run starting on August 26th and run through September 6th.

According to press notes the story tells the journey of four musicians who "unwittingly become stand-ins for the most famous group in the world. It is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who remember the TV series”. It includes hits such as “I’m a Believer”, “Steppin’ Stone”, “Hey, Hey We're The Monkees”, “Last Train to Clarksville”, and of course, "Daydream Believer".

The original Monkees were Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz and came into their success when they were thrown together as a fictional pop group on a television series. After their first album was released, however, they became the real deal and it propelled them into a long music career including collaborations with Neil Diamond and Carole King.

The musical is written by Peter Benedict and directed by David Taylor. Casting will be announced at a further date. After the run in Plymouth the musical will tour at Belfast, Windsor, Stoke-On-Trent, Woking, Glasgow, Richmond, Cambridge, Brighton, Bromley, Darlington and Eastbourne.

Daydream Over as Monkees Musical Is Cancelled
By Theo Bosanquet
What's on Stage News | Whatsonstage
July 3, 2008

Seven weeks before its scheduled opening – and just a week after Whatsonstage.com announced the production – Monkees musical Daydream Believer has been pulled. The new musical, based on the greatest hits of the 1960s pop group, was scheduled to premiere on 26 August 2008 at the Theatre Royal Plymouth ahead of an extensive UK tour.

A statement issued by the show’s producers today said: “It is with regret that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the production of Daydream Believer has been cancelled for the foreseeable future.” Actor James Bisp, who recently announced on his website that he had been cast in the show, has since posted a message saying that the show’s demise was due to “poor ticket sales”.

According to promotional material, Daydream Believer would tell the story of four boys who audition for a band, and “unwittingly become stand-ins for the most famous group in the world”. It promised “a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who remember the TV series”, while producers hoped the “enduring charm” of The Monkees’ back catalogue would appeal to a “whole new generation”.

The original Monkees - Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz - were formed in 1966 as a fictional pop group for a zany TV show. But the success of their first album soon saw them start touring as a real band, going on to become one of the most successful pop acts of the 1960s, with songwriters including Neil Diamond, Carole King and Harry Nilsson among their many collaborators. Their hits included “Daydream Believer”, “I’m a Believer”, “Steppin’ Stone”, “Hey, Hey We're The Monkees” and “Last Train to Clarksville”.

The musical is written by Peter Benedict and directed by British-based American David Taylor, whose previous credits include international tours of Cats, South Pacific and Speed-the-Plow. It was being produced by Nick Brooke in partnership with the Churchill Theatre Bromley and the Theatre Royal Plymouth. Further casting had yet to be announced.

Following its premiere in Plymouth, the show had been due to visit Belfast, Windsor, Stoke-On-Trent, Woking, Glasgow, Richmond, Cambridge, Brighton, Bromley, Darlington and Eastbourne, with further venues planned. Producers say that ticket holders will be “contacted in due course”. Any queries regarding refunds should be directed to the point of sale.

'Daydream Believer' songwriter John Stewart dies
By John Rogers
January 21, 2008

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- John Stewart recorded some of pop music's most acclaimed solo albums, helping create a style that came to be called Americana, but he was always best known for writing the Monkees' enduring hit "Daydream Believer."

Stewart, who came to prominence in the 1960s as a member of folk music's Kingston Trio, died Saturday at a San Diego hospital after suffering a brain aneurism. He was 68.

"He was a lovely man and a very gentle soul and I guess the only thing you can say today is that the world is less one great songwriter," the Monkees' Micky Dolenz told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Stewart left the Kingston Trio shortly before the Monkees released "Daydream Believer" in 1967, then went on to record nearly four dozen solo albums, including the critically acclaimed "California Bloodlines" and "Bombs Away Dream Babies." The latter included the hit single "Gold," in which he dueted with Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks.

Still, as with "Daydream Believer," he was likely best known for writing songs for others, including Joan Baez, Nanci Griffith, Roseanne Cash and Anne Murray.

"He was a cult hero, he never made it super huge," said his manager, Dean Swett. "He was one of those outlaw rebels, one of the people who refused to conform to what the record labels expected him to be."

A husky-voiced singer and accomplished guitarist who delivered his lyrics in a poignant, often longing voice, his music was hard to classify. It fell somewhere between rock, country and folk and eventually came to be called Americana.

He wrote "Runaway Train," a country hit for Roseanne Cash, and "Strange Rivers," which Joan Baez included on her 1992 "Play Me Backwards" album. Nanci Griffith dueted with him on "Sweet Dreams" and Murray, like the Monkees before her, had a hit with "Daydream Believer."

"There are certain songs that you just go in humming. It was one of those," Dolenz said of "Daydream Believer," which also was Stewart's best-known recording. Although he sang background to Davy Jones' lead on the Monkees' version, Dolenz performs the song himself at his solo shows.

"To this day it is one of the biggest songs that I do in concert," he said.

Stewart joined the Kingston Trio in 1961, replacing Dave Guard in the group that had helped usher in an American folk music revival in the late 1950s.

"John truly was the right fit. A first rate entertainer and gifted songwriter," the group said in a statement on its Web site.

He recorded more than a dozen albums with the trio before going on to a solo career in 1967. A year later he released "California Bloodlines," which included the minor hit "July You're a Woman." "Bombs Away Dream Babies" came out in 1979.

He eventually recorded more than 40 solo albums. Others included "The Lonesome Picker Rides Again, "Airdream Believer" and "Rough Sketches," the latter a collection of songs about the iconic American highway "Route 66."

Stewart was said to be at work on still another album at the time of his death.

Stewart's wife, Buffy, and children were at his side when he died, according to a statement on the Kingston Trio's Web site. There was no immediate word on funeral arrangements.

Monkee Business
TV Guide
December 17 – 23, 2007

Tonight’s Biography (BIO, 10/9c) recalls the hey-hey heyday of the Monkees, the prefab combo that struck paydirt on NBC from ’66 to ’68 by aping the Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night” antics. However, that doesn’t mean they weren’t good. The show’s exuberant hybrid of sprightly pop and visual tomfoolery not only sold a ton of records, but it also paved the way for MTV. OK, so the slapstick humor hasn’t aged well, but what about the music? Well, we weren’t Monkee-ing around when we came up with the Top 5 tunes that we think stand the test of time. – G J Donnelly

1. “Pleasant Valley Sunday” (1967) A No. 3 hit. Gerry Goffin and Carole King’s scathing take on suburbia is sparked by Mike Nesmith’s catchy guitar riffs and Peter Tork’s swinging electric piano. (Yes, they did play.) You can almost smell the “charcoal burning everywhere” in Micky Dolenz’ dynamic vocals. (CD: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.)

2. “I’m A Believer” (1967) “And then I saw her face…” A cheerfully cheesy organ kick starts Neil Diamond’s irresistible gospel-flavored smash, a genuine monster that topped Billboard for seven weeks. (CD: More of the Monkees)

3. “Steppin’ Stone” (1967) Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart wrote the punkish B-side to “I’m a Believer,” a four-chord thrasher later covered by…the Sex Pistols! (CD: More of the Monkees)

4. “Mary, Mary” (1967) Glen Campbell’s sizzling Yardbirds-style guitar lines propel this bluesy Nesmith surf-rocker – a cut so cool it inspired covers by the Butterfield Blues Band and Run-D.M.C. (CD: More of the Monkees)

5. “Daydream Believer” (1967) The band’s final No. 1. John Stewart’s rollicking ballad was Davy Jones’ finest moment. Although a hit for Anne Murray, the Monkees’ take is definitive, largely because no Brit every exploited their accent in a song with more charm that Jones does here. (CD: The Birds, the Bees and the Monkees)

He's a believer
Peter Tork defends the Monkees' viability for Rock Hall of Fame
By Joseph Dionisio - Newsday.com
April 17, 2007

'So you better get ready," shouts the theme to the Monkees' 1960s TV series, "we may be comin' to your town!" Unless, of course, your town is Cleveland.

Peter Tork - whose band Shoe Suede Blues visits East Setauket and Patchogue this week - says the Monkees merit consideration for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but one man opposes their induction.

"The only person ... holding a grudge is Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone," says the former Monkee. The magazine editor "has never written a gracious word. He personally has the veto power to keep us out."

How does the band - whose Emmy-winning show aped the Beatles' film "A Hard Day's Night" - rank against other inductees? Neither the Animals, the Rascals, the Lovin' Spoonful, the Dells, Del Shannon, Frankie Lymon nor Black Sabbath have more Top 20 singles than the Monkees' 10. Ratings aside, classics such as "Pleasant Valley Sunday" have aged better than the likes of Shannon, whose "Hat's Off to Larry" seems laughable as Hall justification.

Bands as disparate as the Sex Pistols ("Steppin' Stone"), Run-D.M.C. ("Mary, Mary") and The Church ("Porpoise Song") have covered Monkees' songs. Even Radiohead's "Go To Sleep" eerily channels Micky Dolenz's vocals.

"I'm convinced that Micky is one of the great singers of our time," Tork says. "He's always been something of a genius."

One notable fan is Michael Stipe, who reportedly vowed to bar R.E.M. from the Hall until the Monkees got in. Stipe declined comment, but in 1994 he did tell Rolling Stone that "The Monkees ... meant a lot more to me" than the Beatles. R.E.M. was finally inducted last month.

Wenner - who didn't reply to an interview request - allegedly denounces Tork, Dolenz, Davy Jones and Mike Nesmith for not playing their own instruments on the band's first albums.

In this "American Idol" era, when acts are "manufactured" like toasters, fewer critics crucify the Monkees for being a TV show that spawned a band. So have they faced an unfair standard? Were they, in fact, a "real" group?

"I've not heard the slightest murmur about the Monkees being fake," Tork, 65, says from his Connecticut home. "Everybody's forgotten it, except Wenner. He's been vicious."

One Rolling Stone reporter, Tork says, wrote a glowing story crystallizing their merits. But before publication, Tork adds, "The writer said, 'Jann took my article, gutted it and rewrote it to [bury] you.'"

Backed by producer Don Kirshner's songwriting stable - Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart - the band unleashed four straight No. 1 albums and three chart-toppers. They eventually penned their own catchy pop, albeit with less chart success.

"George Harrison used to say he wished his best songs were as good as the worst of Lennon-McCartney," Tork says. "So, we used to hope our best songs were as good as the worst of the Brill Building."

Tork's fame, however, is more about musicianship than songwriting. So said Jimi Hendrix, who called him the most talented Monkee. The guitarist opened several Monkees' gigs, including a '67 show at Forest Hills' West Side Tennis Club. Was his compliment accurate?

"I'm not sure it's quite true," says Tork, who plays guitar, banjo, piano and bass. "I'm far and away the best-trained musician, but I'm in awe of all three [Monkees]. Jimi meant that I was the most [receptive] to his kind of music."

Tork's new album - Shoe Suede Blues' "Cambria Hotel" (sold at cdbaby.com) - stars guitarist Richard Mikuls, bassist Arnold Jacks and drummer Jeff Olson. The band's name doesn't reflect Elvis, so much as a less fractious era in radio.

Besides a bluesy "Last Train to Clarksville," its hidden gem is an Indian violin-laced "For Pete's Sake," aka the show's closing theme. The album has medicinal value, Tork suggests.

"People listen to dance music like taking aspirin: to shut down the pain," he says. "But the blues puts you back together. Like penicillin, it's therapeutic. If I can bring a microscopic bit of that feeling ... my career's in good shape.

The Monkees today:

DAVY JONES, 61 ... the lone British Monkee

His fame led David Bowie (originally David Jones) to change his name ... Tony nominee for "Oliver!" in '60s ... he and Dolenz had little musical training before the series' NBC debut on Sept. 12, 1966.

MIKE NESMITH, 64 ... aka Wool Hat

He wrote Linda Ronstadt's "Different Drum" ... video pioneer who paved the way for creation of MTV ... his mom, Bette Nesmith, invented Liquid Paper in the '50s Skipped most Monkee reunions, and keeps little contact.

MICKY DOLENZ, 62

Earned TV success as child star (1956's "Circus Boy"), director ("Boy Meets World")... auditioned as Fonzie on "Happy Days" and Riddler in '95's "Batman," but voiced Two-Face in a Bat 'toon ... son of actor George Dolenz … former DJ at WCBS/101.1 FM.

Rock hall inductees: R.E.M., Van Halen, yes; Iggy, Monkees, no
By Mark Caro - Chicago Tribune
PopMatters | News and Commentary | PopWire
January 8, 2007

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its new set of inductees, and they are:

R.E.M.
Van Halen
Patti Smith
The Ronettes
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

On the ballot and not making the cut:

The Stooges (sorry, Iggy)
Chic
The Dave Clark Five
Joe Tex

The induction ceremony will be held March 12 in New York, and the big questions are whether ex-R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry will play with his former band (don’t see why not—he played with them at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame induction last year) and who will represent Van Halen.

There’s the perpetual lead singer rivalry between David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar (Roth seems to have the edge these days), and last year Van Halen replaced founding bassist Michael Anthony with Eddie Van Halen’s 15-year-old son, Wolfgang.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame being as silly as it is, we can only hope for some misbehavior to liven up the proceedings. Given that R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe once threatened to keep his band out of the Hall until the Monkees were inducted, perhaps he’ll arrive with Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith and force an acclamation vote right there in the Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom.

At the very least, they could all join in for a medley of “Last Train to Clarksville” and “Stand.”

Perennial Rock Hall of Fame losers lose again
By Larry Katz - Boston Herald Music Critic
November 1, 2006

No Monkees again???

The nine nominees for possible induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have been announced - and fans of neglected acts including the Monkees, ABBA, KISS, Chicago, the Ventures, the Moody Blues and our hometown J. Geils Band are infuriated again this year.

This year’s crop of wannabe inductees: R.E.M., Van Halen, Chic, the Dave Clark Five, Joe Tex, Patti Smith, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, the Ronettes and the Stooges.

The nominees’ worthiness will be determined by a vote of 500 music industry bigwigs, who will send five of the nine into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony on March 12, 2007 in the Apple (even though the tourist trap museum is located in Cleveland, a place music industry bigwigs make sure to avoid year after year).

James Lee Stanley

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USATODAY.com - Tributes can be the sincerest form of flattery
By Edna Gundersen
November 1, 2005

All Wood and Stones

Singer/guitarist/composers John Batdorf and James Lee Stanley stripped down Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby?, Under My Thumb and nine other Rolling Stones tunes into acoustic skeletons, confounding logic by rendering a subdued version of Let's Spend the Night Together with former Monkee Peter Tork on guitar into a stirring affair. Batdorf and Stanley have turned the rock grooves inside out, adopted stylish arrangements and made no attempt to ape the originals, unveiling the elegance of the melodies and allowing radically new interpretations of songs long tattooed in boomer DNA. Paint it fresh.

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'All Wood And Stones,' Due Out 9/13 on Aezra Records, Presents All-Time Classic Rolling Stones Songs as You've Never Heard Them Before

Sung & Played by Ace Musicians John Batdorf and James Lee Stanley, the Album's Stripped-Down Acoustic Interpretations Dramatically Reinvent Eleven Jagger & Richards Masterpieces

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- With their forthcoming album "All Wood And Stones," veteran, virtuoso guitarists, vocalists and composers John Batdorf and James Lee Stanley have done something as classically simple as it is musically radical. They've taken eleven vintage Rolling Stones songs -- anthems that are practically part of our cultural birthright -- and reinvented them with coolly elegant new arrangements that form an inspired aural architecture for stripped-down and powerful acoustic versions of these timeless tracks.

Set for release September 13 -- just one week following the release of "A Bigger Bang," the Stones' own new album -- Aezra Records' "All Wood And Stones" adds one more sonic boom to the latest chapter in the legendary band's legacy. Batdorf and Stanley's aim was to give fans an alternative listening experience, and make the songs the album's stars. Indeed, the world famous compositions' lyrics and melodies are brought to the forefront in a completely new way via the stunning clarity of the duo's performances. "A lot of people have covered the Stones, but they do it trying to sound just like them. I envisioned it altogether differently," says Stanley of the project that he first conceived in 2003.

XM Satellite Radio was an enthusiastic early supporter of "All Wood And Stones," with the leading satellite service's program director George Taylor Morris giving initial advance pressings significant airplay. This fall, the album will be featured on one of XM's popular rock specialty shows, and Batdorf and Stanley will perform several selections live for XM listeners. Aezra's marketing campaign for the album also includes a short filmed piece -- four to five minutes long -- featuring performance and behind-the-scenes footage that will run as an interstitial programming feature on PBS Television stations nationwide during October.

"All Wood And Stones'" standout tracks include "Under My Thumb" and "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby?", both featuring Batdorf on lead vocal and Stanley on lead guitar. "Satisfaction" spotlights James singing lead and Little Feat's Paul Barrere on slide guitar. Other guest appearances include former Monkee Peter Tork on lead guitar for "Let's Spend The Night Together," and ace player Laurence Juber doing the same for "Paint It Black." The Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit lends backing vocals on "As Tears Go By" and "Last Time." One of the most dramatic arrangements is Batdorf's for "19th Nervous Breakdown," an interpretation that embodies the "alternate universe" quality of "All Wood And Stone's" repertoire.

James Lee Stanley and John Batdorf have both been part of the Southern California music scene since its early '70s heyday. Stanley's enduring career began with a publishing deal with famed producer Bones Howe. His self-titled solo debut was released on RCA in 1974, and in 1979 Stanley formed his own label, Beachwood Recordings, on which he's released over 50 titles including 20 solo projects and two in tandem with Peter Tork. Batdorf's first brush with fame was with a band that was almost signed by Atlantic. His acoustic rock duo Batdorf & Rodney was later signed to that label by Chairman Ahmet Ertegun, and John will always remember auditioning for Ertegun in one room at the Beverly Hills Hotel at the same time the industry legend was signing the Rolling Stones in another. Batdorf was also in the rock band Silver, and has an acclaimed career as a film and television composer.

The two now-seasoned artists originally met back in the day at a popular rock 'n' roll club during Batdorf & Rodney's first wave of success, but had since lost touch over two decades ago. When James Lee Stanley was looking for a creative partner to bring "All Wood And Stones" to life, and someone recommended John Batdorf -- who he learned was living practically in his neighborhood -- he felt it was a collaboration that was fatefully meant to be.

Together, they brainstormed on all things Stones for close to a year, and their instincts and talents fuse beautifully on the project. "A major challenge," says Stanley, "was that the Stones don't write linearly. Their songs are often a string of vignettes, connected by subject. John and I are linear composers, so we had to get into that consciousness." That sense of discovery is evident in arrangements that respect the original song structures at the same time that they open them up to new possibilities. Far beyond merely "unplugged," "All Wood And Stones" is unprecedented. And undeniably a pleasure.

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Monkees 40th Anniversary Celebration Begins with New Book Release

"Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story" updated second edition biography now available.

(PRWEB) March 4, 2005 -- 1965 was the year that the pilot episode of "The Monkees", a TV show about a musical band was filmed with four unknown actor musicians. To begin the celebration, Randi Massingill has updated her sell-out first edition of the biography of Monkee Michael "Wool-Hat" Nesmith with updated information and additional photos.

"Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story" follows the exciting life of the unofficial leader of The Monkees from his upbringing in Texas, fame and fortune as Americas favorite TV band, his critically acclaimed country rock solo career with the First National Band, and then his own record company Pacific Arts, which was destroyed at the hands of PBS by multi-million dollar lawsuits.

The famous facts are all covered in this new book, including the details on how his mother came to invent the Liquid Paper correction fluid, Nesmith's invention of the MTV cable TV network, and his win of the first Grammy award in the category of home video for "Elephant Parts".

This new edition is a complete re-write of the 1997 edition which features updates on the 30 year reunion of all 4 Monkees for concert dates and an ABC primetime TV special. "Total Control" updated edition also features 75 new photos, 2 new updated chapters with the latest on all four Monkees, and the only known photo of Michael with his father.

Collectors and fans of The Monkees as well as entertainment historians will love this book which contains numerous interview on the excesses of 60's TV production in the story of a performer who made a fortune and lost it - twice!

The book is now available from book stores and can be special ordered for immediate delivery with by title or ISBN number: 0965821846. You can also order the book direct on Amazon.com or direct from the publisher at Monkees.net - "Total Control: The Michael Nesmith Story".

Press: Contact us for an interview or review copy of the book! 602-532-7019
Title: Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story
ISBN: 0-9658218-4-6
300 pages 5.5 x 8.5 in perfect bound 176 photos
Publisher: FLEXquarters.com LLC Publishing
Contact: Brad Waddell 602-532-7019
FLEXquarters.com Publishing
6965 El Camino Real STE 105 #488
Carlsbad CA 92009-4101

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Thank you Monkees Alert List members for your continued support!

As a special bonus, fan-club members get free USA shipping on any order from our web site, as well as a free special bonus gift with every order!