There are three new photos in the 1968 Far East Tour photo gallery, including a scan of the '68 Australia tour program.
Don't forget to check out the 1997 US Tour update if you haven't already... I have updated the blog post from a couple of days ago that featured the 1970 concert ad. Andrew Sandoval verified that this May 1970 show in Philadelphia took place, saying it's the one confirmed appearance by Micky and Davy as The Monkees that year. Thanks, Andrew! Wouldn't you like to know what songs were performed by Micky and Davy at that concert, and if any Changes material made it to the setlist?! Speaking of 1970, check out this photo of Davy and Micky. The location is unknown to me. I just added this clipping for a 1967 concert in Philadelphia to the 1967 US/British Tour photo gallery. Thanks, Lisa, for another great submission! Here's Micky onstage back on July 15 at the Pacific Coast Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, California. Looks like the turnout for the Happy Together show there was great.
Here's another rare item, something I didn't know existed - a program from the first full live concert given by The Monkees. The show took place in Honolulu, Hawaii in December 1966. I've never seen this program in any memorabilia collections, nor is it listed in such books like The Monkees Collectibles Price Guide.
This picture has been added to the 1966-1967 tour section. Here is a rare find sent in to the Live Almanac by Lisa - an ad from 1970 for the only confirmed live appearance by The Monkees that year, playing in Philadelphia at a festival-like event sponsored by WFIL Radio in May 1970. I passed this along to Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval, and he told me that this show did indeed take place with Micky and Davy. Little is known about any other concerts that might have been performed by The Monkees in 1970. Brendan Cahill, who with Monkees associate David Pearl managed the group throughout 1969, told Andrew Sandoval in 1991 that a short American club tour was conducted by Dolenz and Jones in 1970 to promote the Changes album. Andrew writes in the liner notes of the 1991 Listen to the Band box set that such a club tour took place. However, in an internet interview in 2006, Sandoval could not confirm this information as Cahill was deceased. In his book, Andrew does write about a performance that occurred on November 21, 1970 at the Valley REC Center in Van Nuys, California with Micky, Davy, and Peter. The show was billed as "Freaky, Foxy, Funky Revival." Outside of these two events, there are no other details about shows that Micky and Davy might have performed in 1970. Thanks to Lisa for this great find, and to Andrew Sandoval for confirming everything. Below is the rare promo video for the only single from Changes, "Oh My My." I just noticed on Amazon that the Instant Replay limited edition 180 gram red vinyl is now shipping. (Friday Music's website is still not updated.) It features a gatefold cover, which looks awful. Why didn't they use photos from the '69 era? Instead we get pictures and lyrics from the back cover of an '80s Japanese release of the album, complete with Japanese writing.
I'm also reading reviews that the back cover of the gatefold is dark and grainy, though the front cover appears sharp. Check it out below. Thumbs down. I actually just cancelled my order. (Thanks to JDistheone at the Steve Hoffman forums for the images below.) My suggestion: if you want to check out a special release for Instant Replay, stick with Rhino's deluxe edition. Well worth it! On a brighter note, check out this post from Nez and be sure to take a look at the big update for the 1997 US Tour page: To my everlasting delight, gratitude – and relief -- the show I am doing October 29th at Queen Elizabeth Hall has sold out! I am so happy and excited to be performing there, and am thinking of doing a second show in London due to the demand. I’ll keep posting here about where and when the second show will be – if it happens. I am elated and optimistic about my trip there in October and happily anticipate seeing Glasgow and Manchester and London again, maybe even a little social visit to Edinburgh and Dublin to check in with friends. I do so love the UK. Be sure to check out the recent updates to the 1997 US Tour page. It has been completely revamped with an expanded tour summary, new photos, reviews, etc. It's a good read for those interested in how the '96-'97 reunion changed when Mike opted out of the American portion of the Justus tour. I also just found a few pictures from 1997 in my collection that I have now posted under the tour summary. Check it out here.
As I said in yesterday's post, if you have any 1997 US tour photos, or even some promo shots from the ABC television special and would be willing to share for the website, please contact me. Speaking of photos, here's a few others I've got hanging around. Enjoy. (I'm not really sure on the photo credits for these, though I'm guessing pictures 1, 5, 6, 7 & 8 are Henry Diltz shots.) Everyone,
A huge update for today: the 1997 American tour page has been completely revamped. It's a must read! The tour summary has been expanded and discusses all of the details about Michael Nesmith not participating in the tour, reactions from Micky, Davy and Peter, and more. I also provided additional examples regarding the setlists, since they were ever-changing during that year's tour. There's a few new pictures all around and another part of a review posted from a show that was held in Indiana. Some of the quotes gathered about the '97 US tour were taken from music magazines from that time period, but a huge chunk of them came from Monkee Business Fanzine. After reviewing a few old issues for this update, it only makes me miss MBF that much more. (Thanks, Maggie.) A request: does anyone have any great photos from the '97 US tour for the website? If so, please contact me! Everyone,
Please check out the 1996 tour page. The tour summary has been largely expanded to include a more detailed look at how the 30th Anniversary unfolded, including Michael Nesmith's participation. There are also a few new pictures in the photo gallery. I also updated the first paragraph on the 1986 Reunion Tour page to clarify Mike's inability to join the 20th Anniversary reunion. Check out the 1989 North American/Japanese tour as well for some new pictures in the photo gallery there. Still no word on the latest round of Monkees releases from Friday Music, including the Justus deluxe and the vinyl editions of Instant Replay and Justus. Their website pictures these items prominently on their homepage, but provides no other information. Check out this interview conducted earlier this month with Michael Nesmith on BBC Radio here. (Fast forward to 1:14:00.)
![]() In 1988, after two frenzied years on the road and in the studio, The Monkees maintained a relatively low profile. Micky, Davy, and Peter eventually toured Australia late that year, but beyond the trek down under, the only other group public appearance in '88 was at a Monkees convention in Chicago, Illinois in August. The trio were guests at the gathering, and Peter played a solo show at the Vic Theatre on August 20 to coincide with it. Micky and Davy joined Peter during the encore for both "Daydream Believer" and "I'm a Believer." Peter played for about 90 minutes that evening, mixing Monkees songs, solo material, and covers (including Elvis and The Beatles) throughout the set. The show was billed as "Peter Tork and Friends." The late Jerry Renino, a member of the Peter Tork Project in the early '80s who also toured with The Monkees throughout the years, played bass. A bootleg recording of the Vic concert has long floated among collectors. During the show, Peter introduced a few friends who were in the audience that night, including Monte Landis, a frequent guest star on The Monkees television series best known for his appearance in the second season episode "The Devil and Peter Tork." Monkees associate and songwriter Bill Chadwick, producer Chip Douglas, photographer and musician Henry Diltz, and Micky's sister, Coco, sang a rendition of "Higher and Higher" with Peter as well. Here's the set list from the concert at the Vic: Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again Tender Is Don't Be Cruel Good Looker Hi Hi Babe Lady Madonna Foggy, Foggy Dew Seeger's Theme I Truly Understand MGBGT Bye, Bye Peggy Milkshake Blues in the Bottle Since You Went Away All Shook Up Witchy Mama Sea Change Cuckoo Wasn't in the Cards Vagabond John Cripple Creek I'll Spend My Life With You Higher and Higher (with Bill Chadwick, Chip Douglas, Henry Diltz, and Coco Dolenz) Miracle Get What You Pay For Encore with Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz: Daydream Believer I'm a Believer In 2019, thanks to Sherri Hansen, video of Peter's concert at the Vic was published on YouTube: The first one of the band in 1996 is a Henry Diltz shot, and my guess is that the photo of Micky is a Diltz, too.
Just a few updates today. There are one or two new pictures in the photo galleries of the following sections: 1968 Salt Lake City, 1989 European, 1989 Universal Amphitheatre and 1996 Billboard Live.
Uncut magazine recently posted the following on its website: Ahead of his first UK live shows in over 30 years, country rock pioneer, film producer, MTV 'creator' and former Monkee, Michael Nesmith, is set to answer your questions in Uncut as part of our regular Audience With… feature. So is there anything you’ve always wanted to ask the Nez..? As the author of "Different Drum", does he prefer the Linda Ronstadt or Evan Dando version? What does he remember of working with Bert Jansch, on LA Turnaround? Does he still have that woolly hat he wore in The Monkees? Send your questions to us by noon, Monday July 16 to uncutaudiencewith@ipcmedia.com. The best questions, and Michael's answers, will be published in a future edition of Uncut magazine. Please include your name and location with your question. --- Don't forget to check out the Live Almanac's YouTube channel! Second post today, but had to put this up on the blog. A blast from the past: Peter as a guest VJ on MTV in May 1986, right before the 20th Anniversary Tour got underway. (Micky also appears at the end.) Those were the days when MTV was awesome. Hearing all the videos being played, too...good stuff. This video comes from the RareMonkees YouTube channel. Check it out. ...Mike joined Micky, Davy and Peter at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles (July 9, 1989). The last YouTube video below is a new upload...an audience recording of "Steppin' Stone" and "Daydream Believer" from this concert. Everyone, Some new pictures in the following sections of the Live Almanac: 1. 1968 Far East Tour gallery 2. 1969 North American gallery 3. DJBH - there are two scans of a program for Micky and Davy's post-DJBH solo act that were sent in by a visitor to the site who saw it on eBay - thanks! 4. Together Again - a great Nurit Wilde photo of the band with some of their children at the '95 platinum awards ceremony 5. 1987 North American - among some other new photos in the gallery, one from the set of the "Heart and Soul" video with the trio posing with some of their children. I'm fairly certain the man standing behind Peter in that picture is a member of The Characters, but I'd like to know for sure. Finally, the picture below was obviously taken in 1968. But was it a promo for the '68 tour of Japan? Notice Peter doesn't have a beard yet so it wasn't taken during the tour. Can anyone assist on the origins/purpose of this photo? Feel free to leave a comment or contact me if you know any of the answers to the questions above. Today is the 4th of July, America's birthday, but The Monkees Live Almanac is celebrating a birthday as well...the website is 1 year old today. I thought I'd share a few things about the site after a year online. I have been somewhat surprised by how much traffic the Almanac has received and continues to receive on a daily basis. The site experienced the most visits for one day after two events. Peter Tork's Facebook team posted a link to the Almanac on Peter's Facebook page in October 2011, calling it a "Really well done website for Monkees fans." Sadly, the other event was Davy's passing on February 29. Visitors have come from all around the world, but the following five countries generate the most traffic: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Australia. (Japan is 6th!) ![]() When you remove the homepage and the blog, the ten most visited pages on the site are the following: 1. 1969 North American Tour 2. 1967 American/British Tour 3. 2011 45th Anniversary Tour 4. 1966-1967 North American Tour 5. 1986 20th Anniversary Tour 6. 1968 Far East Tour 7. Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart 8. 1997 UK Justus Tour 9. Head concert 10. 1987 North American Tour (The 1996 North American Tour was 11th, followed closely by the 2001 Tour page.) ![]() The least viewed subject page? That technically would go to the 1966 Promotional Tour. However, it's the newest page on the site (added only a month ago) and it was one of the pages most visited during the month of June (and continues to see a lot of visits). Otherwise, the honor would go to the 1987 Sound of The Monkees Australian Tour page. The most viewed subject area in the blog revolves around the Instant Replay deluxe edition topic. The Live Almanac's YouTube channel debuted in late December 2011 and has been visited 321,956 times. The channel currently has over 400 subscribers. The ten most viewed videos to date are the following: 1. The Monkees interviewed on The Tonight Show (1996) 2. Mike Nesmith on A.M. Chicago (1982) 3. The Monkees perform "I'm a Believer" live on British television (1989) 4. The Monkees 1989 reunion on USA Today television show 5. The Monkees perform on the Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) 6. Monkees on Regis & Kelly - Part 1/2 (2001) 7. Monkees 1969 concert bootleg clips 8. Monkees performing on The Tonight Show (1969) 9. Davy Jones - "It's Now" - Live in Japan (1981) 10. Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz interviewed at the Greek Theater (1986) ![]() Of all the emails I receive, most concern the request to add tour dates to the individual pages. It is something I continue to think about, though it would be a massive undertaking. I'm also not sure it could be 100% accurate (and accuracy is important to me). Andrew Sandoval's book is the best and most reliable source for tour dates between 1966-1969, and the Reilly/McManus/Chadwick Manufactured Image book has the 1986 tour schedule. The trick comes after 1986. Old issues of Monkee Business Fanzine have the original itineraries plus all the shows added along the way for every tour from 1987 to 2002 (but would have to be assembled and checked for the site). The 2011 tour dates are readily available online and I've often thought of starting there. Keep checking back on this one! Finally, thanks to everyone who has contributed to the site with their pictures, information and stories. I'd love to hear from you with any suggestions, requests, or just general comments. Feel free to contact me. And thanks to the Sunshine Factory website for most of the screenshots you see above. Please continue to visit! From today through Sunday, you can purchase the Instant Replay deluxe edition set for 20% off at Rhino Handmade. Click the picture below to visit their website.
Some new pictures in the '87 Tour gallery, and don't forget to check out yesterday's blog post below about Nez in Australia in 1977.
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