Monkees 2001 Tour

2001 U.S. TOUR

Dolenz, Jones, and Tork
(March - August 2001)

Dolenz and Jones
(September, October, December 2001)

"These guys can play. But, now that they don't have to prove it, The Monkees are free to do what they do best, to entertain. They are blessed; they can do that, still, by just being themselves."

-St. Petersburg Times review of The Monkees' performance in Clearwater, Florida on March 1, 2001

CBS Early Show

THE SET LIST

The set list for the March - May 2001 North American concerts:

Last Train to Clarksville
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)
Randy Scouse Git
Your Auntie Grizelda
Mary, Mary
It's Nice To Be With You
Goin' Down
Girl
Lucille (Little Richard cover/Peter solo)
Purple Haze bit (Micky)
Since I Fell for You (Micky solo)
Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? (Davy solo)
Shades of Gray (Davy and Peter lead vocal)
Bach’s Two-Part Invention in F Major (Peter's keyboard solo)
Valleri
I'm a Believer
'Unplugged' set:
-What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?
-Take a Giant Step (Peter)
-Papa Gene's Blues (Micky)
-You and I [Justus version] (Davy)
That Was Then, This Is Now
The Girl I Knew Somewhere
She Hangs Out
Can You Dig It (Peter lead vocal)
Circle Sky
Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson cover)
Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)
Listen to the Band
Daydream Believer
Encore:
For Pete's Sake
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
Pleasant Valley Sunday

Also played on various nights were "I Wanna Be Free," "I'll Love You Forever," and "Hard to Believe," along with Davy's Oliver medley: "Consider Yourself," "I'd Do Anything," and "Who Will Buy?"

Davy in Atlantic City

The set list for the June-August 2001 North American concerts:

Last Train to Clarksville
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)
For Pete's Sake
The Girl I Knew Somewhere
Valleri
Randy Scouse Git
Mary, Mary
Your Auntie Grizelda
I Wanna Be Free / I'll Love You Forever
Goin' Down
Can You Dig It (Peter lead vocal)
Girl
Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson cover)
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
Bach’s Two-Part Invention in F Major (Peter's keyboard solo)
No Time
Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again
She Hangs Out
Purple Haze bit (Micky)
Since I Fell for You (Micky solo)
Lucille (Little Richard cover/Peter solo)
Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? (or) the Oliver medley (or)
It's Nice To Be With You (Davy solo)
That Was Then, This Is Now
Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)
Listen to the Band
Daydream Believer
Encore:
I'm a Believer
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
Pleasant Valley Sunday

Also played on various nights early in the summer
was "Circle Sky."

2001 summer tour program

THE TOUR SCHEDULE

March 1: Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Florida
March 2: House of Blues, Orlando, Florida
March 3: Pompano Beach Amphitheatre, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
March 4: Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, Florida
March 6: Centre Stage Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia
March 8: State Theatre, Easton, Pennsylvania
March 9: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
March 10: Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Connecticut
March 11: Westbury Music Fair, Westbury, New York
March 14: 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.
March 15: Kahuna Concert Hall, Wilmington, Delaware
March 16: Xanadu Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey
March 17: Xanadu Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey
March 18: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut
March 21: Turning Stone Casino, Verona, New York
March 22: Palace Theatre, Columbus, Ohio
March 24: Sam’s Town Casino, Tunica, Missouri
March 25: Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville, Indiana
March 29: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
March 30: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
March 31: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 1: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 2: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 3: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 4: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 5: Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
April 6: Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona
May 26: Burke Lakefront, Cleveland, Ohio
May 27: Applebees Park, Lexington, Kentucky
June 8: Fox Theatre, St. Louis, Missouri
June 9: Midland Theatre, Kansas City, Missouri
June 10: Lied Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln, Nebraska
June 12: House Of Blues, Chicago, Illinois
June 13: Embassy Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana
June 15: Red River Valley Fair, Fargo, North Dakota
June 17: Steamboat Days, Burlington, Iowa
June 18: Nebraskaland Days, North Platte, Nebraska
June 20: Coronado Theatre, Rockford, Illinois
June 22: Country Jam, Grand Junction, Colorado
June 23: Greeley Independence Stampede, Greeley, Colorado
June 24: Pikes Peak Theatre, Colorado Springs, Colorado
June 28: Kewadin Casino, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (2 shows)
June 29: Freedom Hill Amphitheatre, Sterling Heights, Michigan
June 30: Allegheny Fair, South Park, Pennsylvania
July 1: Bryce Jordan Center, State College, Pennsylvania
July 3: Bay Center, Dewey Beach, Delaware
July 5: House Of Blues, Murtle Beach, South Carolina
July 6: Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, Tennessee
July 7: Harbour Centre, Portsmouth, Virginia
July 10: Portland Expo Center, Portland, Maine
July 12: PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, New Jersey
July 13: Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, Massachusetts
July 14: Hatch Shell, The Esplanade, Boston, Massachusetts
July 15: Westbury Music Fair, Westbury, New York
July 16: Westbury Music Fair, Westbury, New York
July 19: Calvin Theatre, Northampton, Massachusetts
July 20: Meadowbrook Farm Musical Arts, Gilford, New Hampshire
July 21 (day show): Buffalo Bisons Stadium, Buffalo, New York
July 21 (night show): Trump Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey
July 22: Wolf Trap Filene Centre, Vienna, Virginia
July 24: Regency Park Amphitheatre, Raleigh, North Carolina
July 26: King Center, Melbourne, Florida
July 27: Barbara Mann Performing Arts Hall, Fort Myers, Florida
July 28: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota, Florida
August 16: Bank of America Center, Boise, Idaho
August 18: The Fillmore, San Francisco, California
August 19: Amphitheatre at California State University, Bakersfield, California
August 22: House of Blues, Los Angeles, California
August 23 House of Blues, Los Angeles, California
August 26: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada
August 30: San Diego Civic Auditorium, San Diego, California
August 31: Sun Theatre, Anaheim, California
September 7: Redmond Recreation Complex, Bensenville, Illinois *
September 8: Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie, Texas *
October 13: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania *
December 1: Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas *

* without Peter Tork

(Photo by Barry Brecheisen)

During the year 2000, The Monkees were the subject of the VH1 series Behind the Music. The band was also the centerpiece of the E! Entertainment Network show, The E! True Hollywood Story, and VH1 produced and aired a movie of the week telling the story of The Monkees. Because of the extra focus on the band, Monkees album sales increased and their most recent greatest hits package was certified gold in sales. David Fishof, the promoter from the 1986 and 1987 tours, approached Micky, Davy, and Peter about undertaking a small tour of the United States to showcase the enthusiasm. Perhaps because of bad feelings leftover from the aftermath of the 1997 United Kingdom shows, Michael Nesmith was not asked to join in this latest round of Monkees activities. A new 4-CD box set chronicling The Monkees' recorded output from 1966-1996, Music Box, was released in conjunction with the tour.

The three Monkees hit the road for the first time in nearly four years in March 2001 with a young up-and-coming act, Natural, as the guest band. Most of the backing band from the 1996 and 1997 tours returned to support the trio onstage. The band consisted of Jerry Renino (bass), Dave Alexander (keyboards), Sandy Genarro (drums), Wayne Avers (guitar), Aviva Maloney (sax/flute), Sam Albright (sax), Eric Biondo (trumpet), and Greg Briggler (trombone). Renino also toured with The Monkees in 1989 and 1996-1997 as did Genarro in 1987 and 1997, and Avers and Maloney in 1996-1997. Instrumentally, Micky played rhythm guitar and on occasion, the drums (for "Mary, Mary" and "Your Auntie Grizelda"), Peter switched back and forth between electric and lead guitar, keyboards, and banjo, and Davy handled percussion work and occasionally played an acoustic-electric guitar. An "unplugged" set was performed during the first half of the tour (March - May) with just the three Monkees on the stage, featuring Peter and Micky playing acoustic guitars.

Because the spring concerts were enthusiastic sell-outs, the tour was extended in the United States for the summer months. Natural retained the opening spot on the second leg, but left at the end of July to begin their own tour. The Monkees' fortunes were boosted once again when "I'm a Believer" (as covered by Smash Mouth) was used in the blockbuster film Shrek, which helped continue to shine the spotlight on the reunited Monkees.

(Photo by Barry Brecheisen)

The summer concerts featured different stage banter than the spring dates, as well as a re-arranged set list. The trio and the backing band performed on Live with Regis and Kelly and the CBS Early Show in late May to promote the start of the summer tour. At the July 15, 2001 performance at Westbury Music Fair in New York, Micky sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the start of the concert in rehearsal for his rendition the next day at Shea Stadium before a New York Mets baseball game. The Monkees' concert at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California on August 18, 2001 saw the band perform "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B," which featured a duet with Micky and his sister, Coco, accompanied by Peter on piano and featuring a special arrangement by Albright, Biondo, and Briggler of the brass section. The end of the tour was promoted with an appearance by The Monkees and their band on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 21, their second visit to Leno's show since 1996. A new live compact disc, 2001: Live in Las Vegas! (recorded at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada in March 2001), was made available only at the summer concerts.

Midway through the critically acclaimed summer tour, Peter Tork announced to his bandmates that he would honor his contractual commitments to The Monkees through the end of the summer schedule, but then would leave the tour in an effort to rejoin his solo project band, Shoe Suede Blues. Internal tensions mounted as concerts in the United Kingdom, scheduled for the fall of 2001, had already seen tickets go on sale with the promise of the full trio appearing. Subsequently, on September 2, 2001, Peter received a phone call from tour manager David Fishof informing him that Micky and Davy were insisting that he not show up at The Monkees' remaining U.S. dates in September, citing irreconcilable differences as the cause of his termination. Tork initially claimed that the backstage behavior of Dolenz and Jones was unacceptable to him, but a decade later, ultimately shouldered the blame for the fall out. "We were getting along pretty well until I had a meltdown," Peter told Rolling Stone in 2011. "I ticked the other guys off good and proper and it was a serious mistake on my part. I was not in charge of myself to the best of my ability – the way I hope I have become since. I really just behaved inappropriately, honestly. I apologized to them."

The Monkees' last performance as a trio was on August 31, 2001 at the Sun Theatre in Anaheim, California. The Anaheim concert just happened to be recorded and filmed. The subsequent release, Live Summer Tour (seen below), was made available on DVD and compact disc in stores and online.

Dolenz and Jones appeared as The Monkees on the last four dates of the 2001 North American tour in Illinois (9/7/01), Texas (9/8/01), Pennsylvania (10/13/01), and Arkansas (12/1/01). The set list was rearranged and Peter's songs removed, with the exception of "For Pete's Sake," which was played at the first Dolenz/Jones show with Micky singing the lead vocal as he had done on the album version. These final shows began with the introduction, "Welcome to The Monkees Show, featuring the stars of The Monkees, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones."

Dolenz and Jones were scheduled to appear as The Monkees in United Kingdom arenas in the fall of 2001. The UK tour was rescheduled for March 2002 after the tragic events in New York City, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. in the United States on September 11, 2001.

Additional resources about the 2001 U.S. tour in the archives of the Live Almanac

Peter, Davy, and Micky performing during the 'unplugged' set (Spring 2001)

"It was virtually impossible to leave the Monkees show in a bad mood. The group mixed many of their hits, such as 'Last Train to Clarksville' and 'I'm a Believer,' with some blues, classic rock, country, Broadway, and even Bach. These guys clearly were having fun and it was contagious."
-Newsday review of The Monkees' concert at Westbury Music Fair in Long Island, New York on July 16, 2001