 In what surely will be a bittersweet moment for many fans, The Monkees Tour Facebook page has just posted the news that Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz will conduct a "Monkees Farewell Tour" beginning in September 2021, capping a storied career while also marking five and a half decades of Monkeemania. Opening night of Michael and Micky's final curtain call will occur in Spokane on September 10, two days shy of the 55th anniversary of the debut of The Monkees television show on NBC. The tour is currently slated to visit 37 cities and will conclude in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre on November 14, site of several triumphant Monkees concerts since the 1980s. Nesmith and Dolenz last toured in 2019 and were scheduled to return to the road in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in multiple postponements. The list of "Farewell" dates include some of the shows originally planned for that tour. The official press release and a confirmed list of concert dates appear below. Tickets and VIP packages for select stops on "The Monkees Farewell Tour" are currently available, while most others go on sale on Friday, May 7. This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned to The Monkees Live Almanac for further updates! Press Release for "Monkees Farewell Tour" Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees will embark on their farewell tour in September 2021. Commemorating 55 years of Monkeemania, the tour will embrace major markets in North America through the fall, launching on September 10 in Spokane and ending back where it all began in Los Angeles at The Greek Theatre on November 14. Their critically acclaimed concerts feature the voice of Dolenz (who sang The Monkees' biggest hits: "I'm A Believer," "Last Train To Clarksville," "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Steppin' Stone") and the group’s primary songwriter, Nesmith (who wrote such classics as "Mary, Mary," "Papa Gene's Blues," "You Just May Be The One" and "Listen To The Band," to name but a few). Tickets and VIP packages for some dates of "The Monkees Farewell Tour" are on sale now, with more going on sale later this week. Most shows will NOT have VIP Soundchecks, and the presale code is FRODIS. (Update: VIP Soundchecks will be occurring only at the postponed 2020 dates.) "The Monkees Farewell Tour" will feature songs that span the band's entire career – from their 1966 self-titled debut album to 2016's Good Times! Their most recent release, The Monkees – The Mike & Micky Show Live, was issued in April 2020 and became their 17th Billboard charting album release. In addition to their hits, their farewell shows will spotlight songs featured on their Emmy-winning TV series ("The Girl I Knew Somewhere," "You Told Me," "Randy Scouse Git," "Goin' Down" and "For Pete's Sake") as well as music from their feature film Head ("Circle Sky" and "As We Go Along"). Plus some rarely performed deep cuts (such as "Auntie's Municipal Court") and tracks from their most-recent studio album, 2016’s Good Times! ("Me & Magdalena" and "Birth Of An Accidental Hipster"). This farewell tour will mark the end of a unique project that began in 1965 when four young men were cast in a television show about a struggling rock band that was inspired by The Beatles' A Hard Day’s Night. Few could have predicted the impact The Monkees would have on music and pop culture at large, one that still reverberates more than 50 years later. "Monkees Farewell Tour" Concert Dates NEW! 9/10: Spokane, WA @ First Interstate Center for the Arts 9/11: Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater 9/14: Sacramento, CA @ Crest Theatre 9/15: San Jose, CA @ San Jose Civic 9/17: Riverside, CA @ Fox Performing Arts Center 9/18: El Cajon, CA @ The Magnolia 9/19: Phoenix, Arizona @ Celebrity Theatre 9/24: Dallas, TX @ The Majestic Theatre 9/25: San Antonio, TX @ Tobin Center For The Performing Arts 9/28: The Woodlands, TX @ Dosey Doe 9/29: The Woodlands, TX @ Dosey Doe 10/2: Chattanooga, TN @ Tivoli Theatre 10/6: Birmingham, AL @ Iron City 10/7: Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre 10/8: Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall 10/10: Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live 10/12: Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Parker Playhouse 10/13: Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall 10/15: Biloxi, MS @ IP Casino Resort and Spa 10/16: Jacksonville, FL @ Florida Theatre 10/19: Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Center 10/20: Tarrytown, NY @ Tarrytown Music Hall 10/22: Bethlehem, PA @ The Wind Creek Event Center 10/23: Atlantic City, NJ @ Ocean Casino Resort - Ovation Hall 10/24: New York, New York @ Town Hall 10/26: Burlington, VT @ Flynn Center for the Performing Arts 10/28: Huntington, NY @ The Paramount 10/29: Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena 10/30: Medford, MA @ Chevalier Theatre 11/1: Greensburg, PA @ The Palace Theatre 11/2: Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre NEW! 11/3: Northfield, OH @ MGM Northfield Park - Center Stage NEW! 11/5: Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Theatre 11/6: Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater NEW! 11/7: Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre 11/9: St. Charles, MO @ Family Arena 11/10: Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater 11/14: Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre Tour Press Coverage Monkees.com: The Monkees Announce Farewell Tour Dates Rolling Stone: The Monkees Announce Farewell Tour San Diego Tribune: The Monkees’ 2020 tour, postponed a year by COVID pandemic, has now become the group’s 2021 farewell tour Ultimate Classic Rock: Monkees Announce Fall 2021 Farewell Tour Best Classic Bands: The Monkees’ Dolenz and Nesmith Set Farewell Tour Brooklyn Vegan: The Monkees announce Farewell Tour Rock Cellar: Michael Nesmith & Micky Dolenz Announce The Monkees Farewell Tour Dates Rhino Insider: The Monkees Announce Farewell Tour Dates People: The Monkees Announce 2-Month Long Farewell Tour with Stops Across North America Fox: The Monkees announce farewell tour dates with surviving members Stereoboard: The Monkees Announce Farewell US Tour For Fall Yahoo: The Monkees Announce 2-Month Long Farewell Tour with Stops Across North America 
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Dolenz sings Nesmith, a brand new album by Micky Dolenz comprised of songs written by Michael Nesmith throughout his career, will be released by 7a Records worldwide on May 21. Listen to a recent interview with Micky conducted by Steven Rainey of BBC Radio Ulster where he talks about the album, working with Christian Nesmith, and more:  The Monkees are photographed below during a break in filming "It's a Nice Place to Visit," which ultimately became the first episode of the second season of their Emmy award-winning television show.  This week, fans will get a preview of Micky Dolenz's forthcoming solo album when "Different Drum"/"Propinquity" debuts as the lead single from Dolenz sings Nesmith, a collection featuring Micky singing the songs of Michael Nesmith. While you wait for this Friday's single release, take a listen to the latest episode of Zilch where Glenn Gretlund of 7a Records is joined by the album's producer, Christian Nesmith, and the two chronicle the project with host Ken Mills, along with exclusive track samples to boot!   Adam Schlesinger, who produced The Monkees' 2016 album Good Times! and Christmas Party (2018), passed away on April 1, 2020 at age 52 from complications of COVID-19. Adam was a songwriter, musician, and record producer who was a member of the bands Fountains of Wayne and Ivy, along with the supergroup Tinted Windows, whose song "This Is The Day" was featured in There's Something About Mary. His notable achievements also included TV and film songwriting, which stretched from That Thing You Do to Music and Lyrics to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Fountains of Wayne was perhaps best known for the early 2000s hit single "Stacy's Mom," which was nominated for a Grammy. Adam will be celebrated by a virtual concert show that will stream live at 8 p.m. ET on May 5, 2021 with all ticket proceeds benefitting MusiCares and The Bowery Electric, the Manhattan venue that recently reopened and where portions of the concert were filmed. Micky Dolenz is one of many special guest performers, which also include Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Sean Ono Lennon, Courtney Love, Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze), Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Drew Carey, Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5), and Adam's Fountains of Wayne bandmate Jody Porter, who spearheaded this tribute concert. You can purchase your ticket to the virtual show now and read more about this special event below: Rolling Stone: Courtney Love, Sean Ono Lennon, Micky Dolenz to Play Adam Schlesinger Tribute Brooklyn Vegan: Adam Schlesinger virtual tribute ft. Courtney Love, Peter Buck, Sean Lennon & more AP: Tribute planned for Adam Schlesinger, who died of COVID-19   Last month The Monkees Pad video podcast debuted and was a resounding success, welcoming its first-ever guest, Monkees historian and author Andrew Sandoval. Now host Joe Russo has returned in Episode 2, featuring none other than Chip Douglas! Long revered by Monkees fans, Douglas acted as producer of two of the group's most acclaimed albums, Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., along with some of their best single sides, including "Daydream Believer," "Goin' Down," "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "Words," and "The Girl I Knew Somewhere." Joe's brand new interview is all the more special since Chip has granted relatively few interviews in recent years. Highlights include an inside look at the recording sessions for Headquarters, original video, plus an exclusive airing of an unreleased vintage Davy Jones recording, "Bright Sunny Day." Listeners can look forward to a "Part 2" of the interview where Chip discusses his work on the Pisces album and much more. For now, enjoy Joe's conversation with Chip Douglas below, and don't forget to follow The Monkees Pad podcast on Facebook. You can also read more about Chip in the archives of The Monkees Live Almanac.  By the time The Monkees' fifth million-seller album The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees was issued by Colgems in April 1968, stereo had become the preferred listening experience and albums issued in mono were quickly being phased out of production. As a result, the mono mix of the Birds album was extremely limited in quantity and today is a highly, highly sought-after collectible due to its exclusive mixes and all around unique listening experience. The mono mix of The Monkees' eclectic 1968 LP was finally issued on compact disc in 2010 as part of Rhino's 3-CD deluxe edition. To delve further into the uniqueness of the mono mix of The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees, check out this recent episode of Mixology: The Mono/Stereo Mix Differences Podcast hosted by Frederick James French-Pounce:   In the summer of 1987, Rhino Records delighted Monkees fans when it delivered Missing Links, the first album to officially assemble unreleased Monkees songs long stored away in the vaults at RCA. Except for "Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears" and "If You Have the Time," both of which had been aired on the Saturday morning repeats in the early 1970s, and "Nine Times Blue," performed live by Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, and Davy Jones on The Johnny Cash Show in 1969, the remainder of the tracks were largely unheard (though some had floated around previously on bootlegs). Missing Links also featured what at the time was widely considered The Monkees' most famous lost song, "All of Your Toys," recorded during the Headquarters era and later shelved because of a publishing dispute. Initially available on LP and cassette, the collection was expanded in compact disc form in December 1988 with bonus tracks. Two more Missing Links volumes followed: Volume Two arrived in 1990 and Volume Three in 1996. Volume Two, issued on cassette and compact disc only, included more previously unreleased tracks as well as versions of songs originally heard only on The Monkees TV show that were ultimately re-recorded by The Monkees under their creative control (the first recorded takes of "You Just May Be The One," "Valleri," and "Words," to name a few). Volume Three, available on CD only, continued this same approach of unreleased material and alternate versions. Bill Inglot and Andrew Sandoval's deep dive of the vaults that resulted in these finely crafted collections remain fan favorites. All these years later, the original Missing Links trilogy is now slated to make a comeback for an exclusive, limited edition release on July 17 as part of a pandemic-adjusted Record Store Day 2021. Friday Music, which has previously tackled various Monkees reissues, announced today that all three Missing Links albums will be available on 180 gram audiophile vinyl in multiple color variations, limited to 2,000 copies for each volume. Of note, Volume 1 will contain the CD bonus tracks that were not part of the original vinyl and Volume 2 will feature the CD bonus tracks not found on the original cassette. This release also marks the premiere appearance of the second and third Missing Links installments on vinyl. Notably, the original cover of Volume 2 has been altered. Record Store Day was founded in 2007 and has become an annual tradition. With a stated purpose of celebrating the culture of the independently owned record store, bands and labels will press unique items that are distributed exclusively to shops participating in the event. Thanks to Rhino Records, The Monkees have had several Record Store Day releases, all of which are collected in the archives of The Monkees Live Almanac. Be sure to search a list of this year's participating stores where you can pick up your selections, but be aware that the color of the vinyl inside your Missing Links copy will be a surprise. Missing Links
Missing Links Volume Two
Missing Links Volume Three
 (Ad from the November 11, 1967 issue of Billboard / Courtesy of Monkee45s.net) Micky Dolenz will make his first large-scale public appearance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 when he appears at Steel City Con outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this June. For more details and to purchase tickets, click the link below:  'Bound Down in a Whirl' - Celebrating the classic Monkees track "The Girl I Knew Somewhere"4/3/2021  "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" has long been considered one of the most significant songs in The Monkees' canon. It was first attempted at RCA Hollywood on January 16, 1967, a significant day in Monkees history as it marked their first true "group" recording session and helped fuel an already bourgeoning internal power struggle between The Monkees and Don Kirshner. Written by Michael Nesmith, and featuring Peter Tork's whimsical harpsichord performance, the song went through different iterations in the recording studio, including lead vocals from both Nesmith and Micky Dolenz. On its own merits, it reached the Billboard Top 40 as the flipside of "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" and was featured prominently on The Monkees' television show. Check out this recent piece by Stephen Lewis where he examines what is probably the Live Almanac's favorite Monkees song, and enjoy a few different versions of "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" in the videos below!
(Master backing track)
Monkee Mania Radio is coming to Live365!
Earlier this week, a Kickstarter campaign was announced to help fund the first-ever Monkees internet radio station with an initial goal of raising $5,000. Pledges to the campaign are necessary to cover costly licensing fees and other startup-related expenses, all in an effort to create a channel dedicated to the music of The Monkees, their solo careers, related programming, and much more. Launched in 1999, Live365 is an internet radio broadcasting and listening network where users are able to create their own online radio stations. You can listen to Live365 channels on your phone or computer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mobile apps for the station are available on the App Store and Google Play Store. Monkee Mania Radio hopes to begin webcasting on the first day of summer, June 21, or even earlier. And there's still time to donate to the Kickstarter campaign! Congratulations to Alan Williams, Jodi Ritzen, Scott Catton, Charles Rosenay, and Marty Ross as they embark on this exciting new endeavor for the Monkees community! OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FOR MONKEE MANIA RADIO
 7a Records has revealed that a digital single, "Different Drum" / "Propinquity", will be issued on April 23 as a preview of Micky's forthcoming album, Dolenz sings Nesmith, a collection of songs featuring Micky paying tribute to the songbook of Michael Nesmith. The single can now be pre-ordered from Amazon and iTunes in the US (and in the UK, too), with an official release date set for April 23. Check out the YouTube video below for extended snippets of the songs and more! UPDATE 4/23/2021: Listen to Micky's new single below, and don't forget to download or stream it via iTunes, Amazon, or Spotify.
The window to reserve your copy of Andrew Sandoval's brand new book, The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story, closed on March 22. If you didn't make a reservation, you can now place your name on a waitlist in the event that any spots become available. In the meantime, check out these videos where Andrew unboxes samples of all three editions of his upcoming book. Get ready for a workout!
(Top to bottom: the original 2005 "Day-By-Day" book, the new flexibound soft paper cover edition, the new 'deluxe edition,' and the new 'super deluxe edition')
Neko Chohlis first met Micky Dolenz when the two attended college together in Los Angeles in the early 1960s. From that friendship with Micky, Neko became involved in the Monkees project, traveling with the group throughout 1967, and later providing artwork for Monkees albums and picture sleeves (seen below). Today, Neko is known for his work as an abstract artist. Recently Neko was a guest on Plastic EP Live TV where he gave a fascinating interview that included his recollections of meeting Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Jimi Hendrix while on tour with The Monkees, his dealings with Colgems Records, how Davy Jones befriended Jan Berry (of Jan and Dean fame) after Berry's auto accident, his previously unknown contributions to The Monkees' 1968 single, "D.W. Washburn," and much more!  Join host Joe Russo as he launches a brand new video podcast, The Monkees Pad, with his first guest, Monkees historian, author, and producer Andrew Sandoval. Listen to the duo discuss a variety of "deep dive" Monkees topics and Andrew's forthcoming book about the group, The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story, accompanied by exclusive video footage! Stay tuned for more from The Monkees Pad by following the podcast on Facebook. In an intriguing conversation with Andy Greene from Rolling Stone published today on the magazine's website, Andrew Sandoval discusses his upcoming book, The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story, how is understanding of the group, particularly their struggles with Don Kirshner, changed after extensive new research, the likelihood that Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith's fall tour could act as a "farewell," and more:  7a Records has re-released Peter Tork's 1994 solo album, Stranger Things Have Happened, on compact disc and vinyl, along with bonus tracks! Below is the latest review of the set, courtesy of The Beat, that was posted on 7a's Facebook page.  (Click image to enlarge) Sandoval previews brand new book: "Information-wise, I feel it rewrites The Monkees' history"3/11/2021 Monkees fans: don't be left hangin' 'round! Andrew Sandoval is currently accepting reservations through March 15, 2021 (UPDATE: now through March 22) for the brand new edition of his classic book, The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story, exclusively via his website Beatland Books. At 732 pages and fully illustrated in color, this will be the definitive tome on The Monkees. Meanwhile, check out an interview with Andrew published today by The Second Disc, linked below. And take a peek at the artwork that will be the slipcover on the Deluxe Edition of Andrew's book, as well as the cover of the 32-page extra book of rare photos exclusive to the Super Deluxe Edition!  Cover art and track listing revealed for "Dolenz sings Nesmith" coming this May from 7a Records3/10/2021  (Artwork by Tim Johnson from Silver Parrot Creative Services) 7a Records is pleased to announce the release of Dolenz sings Nesmith – Micky Dolenz's first new solo studio album in nine years. The album is comprised of songs Michael Nesmith wrote throughout his career, all beautifully reimagined. Produced by Nesmith's son, Christian Nesmith, this is the album Monkees fans have waited years to hear. The Album Dolenz got the idea for the album a long time ago. As Micky says "I think I first mentioned it to Nez years ago, I don’t know where the idea came from, maybe from my friend Harry Nilsson and his Nilsson Sings Newman album. I thought to myself, 'Wow, Dolenz sings Nesmith.'" The new album, which was recorded between September 2020 and February 2021, features songs written throughout Nesmith’s long career, including many from the critically acclaimed Michael Nesmith & The First National Band albums, as well as a few Monkees deep cuts. And who better to produce the album than Nesmith's son, Christian Nesmith, who has done an incredible job in coming up with fresh and completely new arrangements for all of the songs. The global release date for Dolenz sings Nesmith is May 21, 2021. (Courtesy of 7a Records) The Track Listing
 (Courtesy of 7a Records) Pre-Order Now!
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