The Monkees Live Almanac
  • HOME
  • '60s
    • 1966 PROMOTIONAL TOUR
    • 1966 - 1967 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • 1967 US / BRITISH TOUR
    • "HEAD" (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE) CONCERT
    • AUSTRALIA & JAPAN 1968
    • 1969 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
  • '70s
    • THE MONKEES LIVE IN 1970
    • THE GREAT GOLDEN HITS OF THE MONKEES (Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart)
  • '80s
    • 1986 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1986 '20th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • THE GREEK THEATRE 1986 (all four Monkees reunited)
    • 1987 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1987 NORTH AMERICAN 'HERE WE COME AGAIN' TOUR
    • 1988 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1989 EUROPEAN TOUR
    • 1989 NORTH AMERICAN / JAPANESE TOUR
    • UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE 1989 (all four Monkees reunited)
  • '90s
    • 'MICKY AND DAVY: TOGETHER AGAIN'
    • 1996 '30th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • BILLBOARD LIVE 1996
    • 1997 UNITED KINGDOM 'JUSTUS' TOUR
    • 1997 US TOUR
  • '00s
    • 2001 US TOUR
    • 2002 NORTH AMERICAN / UNITED KINGDOM 'MONKEEMANIA' TOUR
  • '10s
    • 2011 '45th ANNIVERSARY' WORLD TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2012 TOUR)
    • A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2013 TOUR)
    • 2014 MONKEES TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (FEATURING MICKY DOLENZ & PETER TORK)
    • GOOD TIMES: THE 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR
    • THE PANTAGES THEATRE 2016 (Michael Nesmith's final Monkees concert)
    • THE MONKEES PRESENT: THE MIKE NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ SHOW
  • '20s
    • THE MONKEES FAREWELL TOUR WITH MICHAEL NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ
  • GEAR
  • BLOG
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    • HEADQUARTERS RADIO PROGRAM
    • PRINT & WEB ARCHIVE
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Meet the Farewell Tour band!

9/25/2021

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Every night on the Monkees Farewell Tour, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith are supported onstage by a host of superb musicians and singers. Let's take a moment to shine the spotlight on each member of the touring band, including Micky's sister Coco, Michael's son Christian, and Wayne Avers, who first played with Davy Jones in the early 1990s. 

 Coco Dolenz (Vocals / Percussion)

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(Photo by Sherri Hansen)
​Micky's sister, Coco, has a long history with The Monkees. She provided harmony and background vocals on such Monkees tracks as "Shortly Blackwell," "Little Girl," "Midnight Train," and "Mommy and Daddy." Coco wrote for teen magazines in the 1960s at the height of her brother's fame, and in the late 1970s, she toured with Micky and Davy after the dissolution of Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart.

​In 1987, Coco released her own album, One Voice. She has been touring with The Monkees since 2012. You can also hear Coco at Micky's solo shows, where she often duets with her brother on "Bye Bye Blackbird" and "Crying in the Rain" while taking over on lead vocals for Michael Nesmith's own "Different Drum." 

Follow Coco on Facebook, Twitter and visit her Etsy store!

Wayne Avers (Guitar / Vocals)

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(Photo courtesy of Wayne Avers)
​Wayne Avers is no stranger to Monkees fans. He has been a part of The Monkees' family since the group's 30th Anniversary Tour in 1996, acting as musical director through the years and handling lead guitar duties.

Wayne has performed onstage with all four Monkees in London at Wembley in 1997, appeared twice on The Tonight Show with the group (1996 and 2001), and took part in The Monkees' massive 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2016. Residing in Nashville, Wayne is an ardent collector of guitars. "I play the guitar because I saw The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964," he told the Live Almanac in an interview several years ago.

Absent during initial dates on the current Monkees Farewell Tour, Wayne joined the band once again in Austin, Texas on September 23.

Christian Nesmith (Guitar / Vocals)

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(Photo by Sherri Hansen)
Christian Nesmith is Michael's eldest son and first appeared in The Monkees' touring band upon his father's return to the group in 2012. Christian's songs have been heard in both film and TV (Blades of Glory, The Hills Have Eyes, Lionheart) and he has composed commercials for companies ranging from AOL to ESPN to Starbucks. His theater credits include being the musical director for the first ever production of Hair in Moscow, Russia. Christian was also musical director for Hair in Los Angeles in 2007 (which also featured Circe Link), and that production was awarded Best Musical of the Year by LA Weekly. In 2016, Christian contributed greatly to the arrangement of "Birth of an Accidental Hipster," a highlight from The Monkees' album Good Times! and a set list staple ever since.

Christian joined his father in a revival of the First National Band in 2018 and produced a live album for 7a Records of the group's triumphant appearance at the Troubadour in Hollywood. Most recently, Christian stewarded Micky Dolenz's latest solo album, Dolenz sings Nesmith, featuring Micky singing the songs of Michael Nesmith.

Christian and his wife, Circe Link, continue to produce and perform music. Visit Christian on the web, download music on Bandcamp, and stop by his YouTube channel.
UPDATE: Christian Nesmith announced his departure from the tour on Facebook on October 12, 2021.

Rich Dart (Drums)

Rich Dart Monkees
(Photo courtesy of Rich Dart)
Rich Dart met Micky Dolenz in 2006 when Micky was starring in a stage production of Pippin and Rich was the house drummer. Four years later, Rich started playing drums for Micky during his solo performances. He joined The Monkees' backing band in 2012 when Micky, Michael, and Peter Tork delivered a series of concerts after the passing of Davy Jones.

R​ich has had an eclectic career as a free-lance percussionist. He has played with various symphonies, jazz groups, theater troupes, rock and country bands, and percussion ensembles. Rich also played drums for Avenue Q on Broadway and for its first national tour.

Follow Rich on Instagram and on Facebook as he posts about his travels on the "Monkees Farewell Tour."

John Billings (Bass Guitar)

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(Photo by Sherri Hansen)
John Billings was brought into the Monkees family by Wayne Avers and first performed with the group in 2012. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee where he owns a recording studio. When performing with The Monkees live in concert, John received some good advice from Avers on how to approach the songs. "Wayne gave us a fundamental direction," John said. "Go back to the records." John has also played with Donna Summer and Wynonna Judd.

In the summer of 2019 John and his wife, Amy, opened Wine Down Nashville, a boutique wine bar in Nashville. Follow John on Instagram as he documents the "Monkees Farewell Tour" and more.

Pete Finney (Pedal Steel / Guitar)

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(Photo by Tami Bassler)
​Pedal steel extraordinaire Pete Finney became a member of Michael Nesmith's First National Band Redux in 2018 and later accompanied Nez for a series of shows that celebrated Nesmith's classic 1972 album, And The Hits Just Keep On Comin'.

"I first met Nez in the spring of 2014, when I filled in for Chris Scruggs on pedal-steel and guitar for the last few weeks of the Movies of the Mind tour. The '70s albums Nez made with Red Rhodes and the First National Band had been long-time favorites of mine, so of course I really enjoyed the experience musically, and also really enjoyed the hang and the conversations that ensued during our travels."

Michael brought Pete into the band for the inaugural "Mike & Micky Show" concerts. He has also performed and toured with the Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, and many others throughout his career. 

Alex Jules (Keyboards / Vocals)

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(Photo by Sherri Hansen)
​Alex Jules is a New York born and raised singer/songwriter who, along with Pete Finney, debuted in the band on the "Mike & Micky Show" tour in 2018. He now serves as vocal director on the current "Monkees Farewell Tour." Residing in Los Angeles, Alex has also performed with Michael Nesmith's First National Band Redux.

​Sample some of Alex's work on SoundCloud and follow him on Instagram, where he often shares photos from the road.

Circe Link (Vocals / Percussion)

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(Photo by Sherri Hansen)
​Circe Link joined The Monkees' band in 2014, performing backing vocals with Coco Dolenz. She has also appeared in concert with Michael Nesmith's First National Band Redux.

A singer, songwriter, and musician in her own right, Circe has previously described her music as ranging from "Cowboy Jazz to Alternative to Americana." She has recorded several albums, including a live CD from a successful tour of Japan. Circe writes, records, and performs with her husband, Christian Nesmith.

You can download Circe's music on Bandcamp, and don't forget to check out her YouTube channel, too!
UPDATE: On October 12, 2021, Christian Nesmith announced that he and Circe Link had both departed the tour.

Emeen Zarookian (Guitar / Vocals)

Emeen Zarookian Monkees
(Photo by John Billings)
Emeen is the newest member of The Monkees' touring band. He is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and sound designer specializing in audio for television, games, and multimedia. Emeen has recorded with several bands, including Spirit Kid and Bebopalula, the latter which also features Alex Jules.
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Monkees Farewell Tour stops in Grand Prairie, Texas (UPDATED)

9/25/2021

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Last evening, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and their band appeared at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas. Below are a few clips from the show, including a very impressive rendition of "While I Cry," a fan favorite deep cut from The Monkees' 1969 album Instant Replay that is making its live concert debut on The Monkees Farewell Tour.

Tonight, Micky and Nez are in San Antonio, Texas ahead of a short break in the tour until it resumes October 1 in Memphis and Chattanooga, Tennessee. 
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Sandoval updates on "Day-By-Day" shipping + notes from the road on Monkees Farewell Tour (UPDATED 9/24)

9/21/2021

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In a message sent earlier today to subscribers of his Beatland Books email list, Andrew Sandoval, author of The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story and the group's manager/tour producer, provided the latest shipping status updates regarding his new book. He also took time to report on the early days of The Monkees Farewell Tour, which stops in Austin, Texas this Thursday! 

Read Andrew's message below, along with a timely postscript:
Dear Beatland Reader:

Well, I promised to write you from the road and here I am, eight miles high, in flight to Burbank. I have left the Monkees’ tour for a few days to take care of Beatland Books business. After several false flags, I was told your books would be arriving today at the shipper (hence my leaving the Monkees for a day or two) and as my flight was delayed, so I have found the books are too.

As the plane took off, I shot out a very quick email wondering if there would be no end to these delays. The customs broker has now said a trucker would try and pull the Beatland container tonight for delivery in the morning. If everyone can just cross their fingers and toes, maybe our wait will be over. Seriously though, I am starting to take these delays very personally and honestly feel a bit down about this uncertain process. However, the books are done and ready to go as soon as I can get my hands on the finished product. I have been told by my printer and the fulfillment house that this is just how things are right now. Their other clients are having terrible delays, but the trust all of you have all placed in me to deliver is something I think of every day. Many have written me privately to say they are okay with waiting, but I am just so ready to fulfill my end of the bargain.
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(Photo courtesy of Andrew Sandoval)
The Monkees On Tour

This is the 21st Monkees Tour since 1966 and my 8th as their show producer & manager. Micky has been on all 21 tours and Michael has been on 10. The dates the Monkees are doing now are a mixture of shows scheduled in 2019 and newer ones. With the rise of the Delta variant, our plans have been fluid. Getting over the tremendous anxiety of rehearsals to being in contact with large crowds for the first time in two years has been overwhelming.

My job for the Monkees is currently a 24-hour-a-day affair. Michael is an early riser, so a call may come from him at 7am with a question or a personal dilemma. Meanwhile, Micky is a late riser and has trouble sleeping, so he may want to talk down show order or setlist concerns up to about 2am. And in between we usually ride to the next town directly overnight. So, I may be up at 4am handing out hotel keys as our buses arrive. My right-hand man for many of these tours, Dan Mapp, is an excellent tour manager and has a lot of personal experience with the Monkees. I have learned from him never to freak out over all the many bumps we encounter. We must consider all possibilities of helping our friends do their best on and offstage.


When I wrote the original Monkees book 16 years ago, I had touring experience as a member of Dave Davies’ band (I was rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist). Still, the last ten years of touring with the Monkees has given me a deeper insight into their characters and informed me of the depth of their artistry. Now when I describe a song or session, it might very well be one I know every fiber of – from hearing the raw session tape to actually going through it chord by chord with the Monkees. This most recent tour even has me acting in the role of scratch vocalist, singing leads for the band or with Micky & Michael to work off of during soundcheck and rehearsals.

Yesterday, we were at a circular theatre (like the one in Head) and got into a discussion of the chords of “Papa Gene’s Blues” with Michael. His son, Christian, wondered if it was a Bm or B7 in the turnarounds. Michael explained it was a passing Bm and we corrected our charts. A similar thing happened years ago with “Listen To The Band.” Peter Tork was flummoxed that he’d been playing the wrong chords for several decades (in Nesmith’s absence).

The tide is turning and the shows are getting better and better as much of the rust from lockdown has been shaken off. And we are constantly trying to refine what we are doing. Michael hasn’t been playing guitar so far and is less mobile, but he is starting to stand up more and being on the road has given him a spring to his increasing steps.

The other night he told the audience in San Jose, “These concerts are life giving.” I think he was speaking for so many of us. His spirit is so different now that he made it out his front door. His performances of “While I Cry” are becoming a very special part of the shows. There is really something more personal and intense about the performances overall on this final Monkees tour.

I think it is clear to the audiences that more than anything we are all doing this tour because we want to. Our window is this window and this is a final wave goodbye. Last night onstage, Michael clasped his hands together in prayer as Micky sang “As We Go Along.” It was really a spiritual moment for a group of unlikely friends brought together in a surreal setting. The cyclical theme of Head and the Monkees’ quest to escape may have found an ending. They are at peace with what they created and the roles they played and the music they made.

On a more mundane note, because of motion sickness concerns, I had to help move the venue’s rotating stage by hand every four songs. Most days I am not heads in the cloud or soaking in the sights. I am usually figuring out placement of items onstage, what time Michael & Micky go on, booking air travel or collecting money for their business manager. It is a point of pride for me to look out for them. And suffice to say: the same guy who turns the stage for the fans will also make sure you get your books, no matter what. Thank you for your love and support as we near the conclusion of this remarkable story.

- Andrew Sandoval

Beatland Books
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Andrew spins the stage in Phoenix, Arizona (Photo courtesy of Andrew Sandoval)

Hours after sending the message above, Andrew posted the following on Facebook :

UPDATE 9/24/2021: Now shipping!
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Sandoval offers another glimpse of "Monkees Day-By-Day" book

9/17/2021

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In a brand new interview with The Phoenix Times, Andrew Sandoval talked about his forthcoming book, The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story. Speaking with Robrt L. Pela, Andrew revealed that a lot of attention was devoted to the albums produced towards the end of The Monkees' original incarnation. "Those records are a major focal point of my revised book," he said.

​Read more of the interview with Andrew via the link below:
One More Time With The Monkees (and Their Manager)
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Reviews: Monkees Farewell Tour

9/16/2021

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Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith are currently on the road bringing "The Monkees Farewell Tour" to over 40 cities in the United States. They may be coming to your town!
UPDATED 11/18/2021
Monkees Farewell Tour

The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith say farewell in style (The Spokesman-Review)
​Watch The Monkees Perform ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’ at Farewell Tour Launch (Rolling Stone)
The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith recall their heyday at San Jose Civic (RIFF Magazine)
The Monkees’ ‘Farewell Tour’ Review: ‘1966 All Over Again’ (Best Classic Bands)
The Monkees ‘Farewell Tour’ Sings Superior Performance (NY/NJ.com)
Monkee Time One Last Time as Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith Celebrate 55 Years of Hits and Memories (Showbiz 411)
Monkees duo bids fond farewell with Masonic concert (The Oakland Press)
Monkees Say Farewell: Set List and Videos (Ultimate Classic Rock)
The Monkees Take the Greek (The Glorious Corner)
Hey, Hey, it's The Monkees — for the very last time? (Goldmine)
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Video Footage: Monkees Farewell Tour travels the West Coast

9/16/2021

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Catch up with The Monkees Farewell Tour as it stopped in Portland, Sacramento, and San Jose this week, a week that also marks the 55th anniversary of the debut of The Monkees television series on NBC.

Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and their band return to the stage tomorrow night in Riverside, California!

Portland, Oregon (9/12/21)


Sacramento, California (9/14/21)


San Jose, California (9/15/21)

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Andrew Sandoval addresses Monkees fans

9/14/2021

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(Photo by Chris Willman)
Andrew Sandoval is the producer of "The Monkees Farewell Tour" and author of The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story. Today on Facebook, Andrew gracefully discussed a variety of topics that have surrounded the opening of Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith's current tour. You can read the full message below:
Hey Hey:

I wanted to write a very long open letter to my fellow Monkee fans about my current endeavors on the road with Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz. Let me be clear and upfront: this is a personal letter from me and I am not speaking as a representative of the Monkees. The ideas and thoughts expressed are purely my own.
​
We are on a farewell concert tour through November 2021. As you may know, it is part of a tour that was postponed from April 2020, what you don’t know is we originally planned a farewell tour for September and October 2020 that could only be announced after we fulfilled a promise to Rhino to promote the live album I produced. As time went on, the tour got moved due to Covid and compressed into one long final run.

It is really not in my comfort zone to open up in this way and tell you every last personal thing going on, but I am literally on my knees begging for some relief. Being out on tour is actually not my first choice right now. But out of an abundance of love for Micky & Michael and our band and crew - who have each struggled with different personal aspects of Covid life that only they should share - I am here to symbolically give them strength and support. And, as a result, I am in talk therapy to deal with the intense stress that organizing and reorganizing an effort such as this takes on me personally.

There is a campaign that I am quite aware of to “Save Michael Nesmith” – I talk about it with my therapist and my loved ones. The campaign has collected a list of incidents and unflattering pictures in an effort to expose individuals as being abusers of the great man. Unfortunately, I have seen this thread take on more of a “Shame Michael Nesmith” tone in recent days as he has finally reemerged publicly. I got a call from Nez this morning, he said: “Andrew, I am in bed and in tears over the terrible things people are saying about me online. You know it is very hard for me to move around right now and now I don’t even want to get out of bed.”

I am aware that some are saying: “Why did you even bring this poor man on the road in the first place?” Well, actually you are one of the reasons. I was paying attention to your posts saying he was a prisoner and not allowed to talk with his friends or family. I reached out to Nez regularly during Covid and he called me even more often. His recurring question directly to me was: “When can I go out and play?” I kept saying, “Nez, it is just not safe.” But the vaccine came and seemed like it would resolve the safety issues and I bowed to the desire to complete the tour dates we had. Furthermore, I felt it would be Nez’s opportunity to reconnect and directly communicate to his fans.

I am not sure about you, but during Covid I aged several years and gained a lot of extra weight. If you didn’t, I admire you! However, from reading some of the intensely critical posts about the guy of late, I question your motivations just as much as I sit and question my own. I DO want to do the right thing for the Monkees and their fans and it is more complex than you might imagine. Still, I know I am not perfect – no person is.

I visited Nez after I was vaccinated and found he was not in shape to walk or exercise much or even make music, but he did talk of his dream to “be with the band” and he never failed to display his brilliant wit. I believe that one of the things that got him through Covid’s dark days was the idea that he would once again be among the people who loved him and brought him light. I thought too this might resolve the whispers that he was cut off from everyone.

I visited him several more times and we played through his songs and his voice sounded as good as it did in 2019. I remain convinced of his talents and that is the basis of the mutual decision to do this farewell tour. Not the money, not our needs for exposure but rather a collective closure. I talked with his family, I spoke to his friends and they all thought having creative purpose might encourage Nez to find further years to share with us. It is as simple and difficult as that. Michael does not need the money and he only does what he likes. He is here because of a wish he communicated to many of us again and again.

The first show in Spokane was quite good. At least I thought so. I quickly read that Nez was being used as a mascot and sent out like a circus animal out of greed or malice. That is so very untrue. It is so very mean and it is so very hurtful – to Micky, the band, our families and everyone involved. Do you honestly think we are all that soulless and selfish? That not a one among us looks after or cares for his well-being? Social media has given us all a voice and the power to hurt one another. And right now, I and others are hurting.

By my nature, I am a caretaker and speaking up for myself is the last thing I want to do after a very tough childhood. I would rather be behind the scenes. All of Nez’s guitars are out with us on the road and he has played some, but he didn’t feel immediately up to doing it the first couple of nights. Last night before the show in Portland, his son Christian showed me his phone and one of the many posts made by concerned fans. He said, “Don’t they understand that my dad is 78-years-old?” I told him I couldn’t go there with him. I was struggling with all of the criticism and felt personally responsible. Whenever we laugh backstage with the band and Nez I think to myself: “Is this okay?”

Nez uses a teleprompter. It is called a Presidential and he really likes it. For the last 8 years he had an iPad that was too small and he had all of the chords and words squeezed to a single page. He got lost sometimes. Have you ever been onstage and forgotten what you were supposed to sing or say? I have. A teleprompter is actually a very professional device that nearly every major artist uses on tour. Some are better hidden than others. I have also sat with him in recent weeks and watched him sing and play his songs from memory flawlessly. But he doesn’t really feel comfortable doing that. He would much rather have the structure of the device.

Given everyone’s safety and the timing of our rehearsals, expectations must be tempered. Even my own expectations in asking the Monkees to perform obscurities that they only sung once in the studio in 1967 are on the edge and I acknowledge that. Every tour we go through this: we all have to study up even on the obvious songs as well as the new obscure ones. Last week I went line by line with them on “Love Is Only Sleeping.” They both wanted to sing parts. We had a lengthy process where we broke up the parts so they could each sing sections of the song (which is in two different time signatures). Then people online immediately said: “Look! They barely let Nez sing." Actually, he was involved in what parts he and Micky are singing.

Micky mentioned the feedback to me too. His first reaction was to ask to drop the obscure songs. He said, “Don’t these people understand we’ve only done two shows and we haven’t been onstage in two years?” I said that people felt it was their duty to call us out as though Nez was performing against his will. We both discussed the fact that Michael Nesmith has never done anything against his will. I have seen him leave tours and close the door when he felt it was best for him. That is his nature and it is to be expected and to be accepted.

Now I know there were a group of people who had greater interaction with him in the last ten years and felt unceremoniously dumped by him online and otherwise. You may never accept that the guy who played World of Warcraft with you changed or moved to a different phase of his life or let you slip through the cracks of his world. You can try to pin all of this on another individual, but basically Nez still picks and choses who he deals with and when he communicates. He also picks and choses what he eats, what he wears, when he shaves and how he wishes to be presented. It has been that way since the first time we spoke in 1991.

However, I DO know first-hand the hurt this group of people might feel. Very honestly, Nez and I have had a number of fallings out over the past 30 years. In 2014, I was dumped after making considerable sacrifices for him. He did not want me around at all. I walked away and said not a word. But I suffered emotionally for several years. We patched things up after enduring some horrible feelings. That is just real life.

I am glad I didn’t burn the bridge personally because it resulted in some key elements of Good Times! and the final show at the Pantages. Two-years-later he said to me, “You know, I knew we’d get back together at some point.” And if your accusation is that I personally profit off of Nez by trotting him out, I will tell you this: I set up his solo tours gratis as a matter of personal pride. I have worked tirelessly to prove something to the man: he is one of the greatest songwriters of his time. People DO love his solo music and they DO genuinely love the Monkees.

And that is why I am here to this day. It is that belief. You may doubt it, you may want proof. You may want to know why he is sitting, why he slouched once, why he mumbled, why he jumbled. He is under such scrutiny when all he wants is to share his soul and his remarkable voice. Can you imagine how hard it is to be in his sparkle shoes right now? He has taken a leap of faith to challenge himself and to be vulnerable. You can kick him while he’s down or you can try to lift him up. That is your choice.

Nez has chosen his time to say goodbye to the Monkees. If you feel safe to join us we hope you respect our safety, because we certainly care about yours (which is why I postponed and cancelled some tour dates). And if you don’t feel safe, we respect that too. We are all taking a risk in an attempt to move forward with our lives. It is hard. It hurts and it will be this way for some time. But there is a positive light ahead. Last night was their best show yet. People got up and danced. And before the show, Nez made me laugh. I am working on myself to help others and enjoy being here one last time. Maybe you will read my words and know they are sincere.

Much love to you all – each and every one of you – let this music be your music.

Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye.

37 Comments

Monkees Farewell Tour - Night #2: Micky Dolenz & Michael Nesmith Live in Seattle (UPDATED WITH MORE VIDEOS)

9/12/2021

26 Comments

 
Last evening, The Monkees Farewell Tour made its second stop in Seattle, Washington at the Moore Theater. Andrew Sandoval confirmed with the Live Almanac that the set list was the same as opening night.

Here's some footage from last night's show, including a stunning new arrangement of "Porpoise Song":
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Opening Night Set List: Monkees Farewell Tour

9/11/2021

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The first show of The Monkees' Farewell Tour is now complete. Micky, Michael, and the band performed this evening in Spokane, Washington and presented an eclectic set list that featured The Monkees' greatest hits, deep cuts, selections from their 2016 album, Good Times!, and more. A big thanks to Monkees author and historian Andrew Sandoval, who is producing the tour, for sending this picture of the set list to the Live Almanac.
Monkees Farewell Tour set list
In many ways, the set resembles the 2018-2019 "Mike & Micky" shows, but a couple of songs made their much anticipated live concert debut this evening in Spokane.

"Love Is Only Sleeping," a perennial favorite from The Monkees' fourth album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., is being performed for the first time, as is "While I Cry," a Michael Nesmith original from 1969's Instant Replay and another song fans have long held in high regard. "Through the Looking Glass," the opening track from Instant Replay, returns to the set for the first time since 1989. 

"Different Drum," performed throughout the "Mike & Micky" shows and another Nesmith original, was the lead single from Micky's latest solo album, Dolenz Sings Nesmith.
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First Look: Monkees Farewell Tour merchandise

9/11/2021

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The Monkees' official Facebook page posted photos of the items being sold at the merchandise booth on The Monkees' Farewell Tour, which opened tonight in Spokane, Washington:
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Monkees Farewell Tour featuring Dolenz & Nesmith opens this Friday

9/7/2021

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Here they come, one more time!

​With rehearsals now completed, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith are ready to commence "The Monkees Farewell Tour" this Friday evening at First Interstate Center for the Arts in Spokane, Washington. The tour will open two days shy of the 55th anniversary of the debut of The Monkees television show on NBC. Micky, Nez, and their band are slated to visit 42 cities through November 14, with a final curtain call in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre, site of several triumphant Monkees concerts since the 1980s. 

Dolenz and Nesmith's last joint performance was on June 19, 2019 in Sydney, Australia at the historic Sydney Opera House. At that time, the duo closed a successful multi-leg tour entitled "The Monkees Present: The Mike & Micky Show" that had opened in 2018. They were scheduled to return to the road in 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in multiple postponements.

​As the concert industry continues to reopen during the Covid era, various venues hosting The Monkees' tour have recently announced special requirements for admittance into the shows. Please be sure to check the website of the venue you are attending, or call their ticket office for details regarding Covid safety guidelines.

Monkees historian and author Andrew Sandoval, who is producing the tour, addressed measures being instituted to keep everyone healthy.
"All of us are taking every precaution possible to stay safe," Andrew wrote in a message sent out today to Beatland Books email subscribers. "Everyone on and offstage is fully vaccinated and wore masks for the entire rehearsal period and that is how it will remain for all those not onstage. Even the musicians in the band wore masks for rehearsal if they were not singing.

"Nevertheless, the spirits are high, especially when we have a lot of great music to share and with strong ticket sales, The Monkees have had to do less work in promotion and can just focus on what is important: resting and singing."

Monkees fans, surely feeling bittersweet at the prospect of their favorite group calling it a day, might be wondering if this is truly the end of the road. In an interview published today, Micky Dolenz puts it plainly when asked if it was hard to accept the prospect of a "final tour." 

"Well, not really," Micky answered. "It was inevitable."

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(Photo by Sherri Hansen)
All these years later, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith are still "too busy singing to put anybody down."

​Join Micky, Michael, their band, crew, and fellow fans for The Monkees Farewell Tour. A complete list of tour dates appears below.

​ Enjoy the show!

​"Monkees Farewell Tour" Concert Dates

 9/10: Spokane, WA @ First Interstate Center for the Arts

9/11: Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater

9/12: Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall

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

9/23: Austin, TX @ Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater

9/24: Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre

9/25: San Antonio, TX @ Tobin Center For The Performing Arts

9/27: Midland, TX @ Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center (CANCELLED)

10/1: Memphis, TN @ The Soundstage at Graceland

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
​
10/16: Jacksonville, FL @ Florida Theatre

10/18: Washington, DC @ Warner 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


 11/3: Northfield, OH @ MGM Northfield Park - Center Stage

 11/5: Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Theatre

11/6: Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater

 11/7: Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre

11/9: St. Charles, MO @ Family Arena

11/10:  Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater


 11/11: Salina, KS @ Stiefel Theatre
​
11/14: Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre

​4/1/22: Savannah, GA @ Johnny Mercer Theatre (RESCHEDULED)
3 Comments

7a Records issues exclusive Peter Tork vinyl and unveils digital releases

9/6/2021

1 Comment

 
7a Records
7a Records, the label that specializes in Monkees solo-related projects and more, recently announced that a couple of their titles are now available to stream and download on over 70 different platforms. And on top of that, vinyl lovers rejoice! Peter Tork's 1994 solo album, Stranger Things Have Happened, is coming soon on limited edition green vinyl.

​Here's a rundown of 7a's latest activities:

In late 1980 Peter Tork formed a band called The New Monks, and shortly thereafter the group recorded a single, "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone"/"Higher and Higher." Last year, both songs were featured as bonus tracks on 7a's CD and vinyl editions of Peter's Stranger Things Have Happened album.

And now, for the first time, the single is officially available to stream or download:
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
Peter Tork single

Back in 2019, 7a revived Davy Jones' long out-of-print early 1980s live albums that were recorded and issued in Japan. Stream or download  Davy Jones Live in Japan now:
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
Davy Jones Live in Japan
Don't forget that this collection can still be purchased on compact disc and as a triple vinyl LP, and both of these versions contain exclusive bonus tracks.

​In 1994, James Lee Stanley's Beachwood Records released Peter Tork's first ever solo album, Stranger Things Have Happened, featuring several notable guest musicians and friends including Stanley, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Laurence Juber (Paul McCartney & Wings), Mackenzie Phillips, and Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles). Last year, 7a celebrated Stranger Things with an expansive compact disc reissue while also pressing a limited edition splatter vinyl.

Fans can now pre-order 7a's latest incarnation of the album, this time on transparent green vinyl, which is set for release on September 10:
Deep Discount
Amazon
Peter Tork Stranger Things Have Happened green vinyl

For more information about other 7a Records releases featuring the works of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork, visit the website and follow 7a on Facebook and Twitter.
1 Comment

Updates: Monkees Farewell Tour

9/1/2021

17 Comments

 
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The official Monkees Facebook page has recently relayed information about the upcoming Monkees Farewell Tour featuring Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith, slated to begin in Spokane, Washington on September 10.

It was announced yesterday that Micky and Michael's October 3 appearance in Nashville has been canceled. Monkees manager Andrew Sandoval confirmed on Facebook that the venue, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, was responsible for the cancellation. Refunds are available at point of purchase.

Furthermore, the duo's shows in The Woodlands, Texas on September 28 and 29 have been postponed due to safety concerns surrounding Covid-19. It has been suggested that if you have tickets for these particular shows to contact the venue about refunds.

Stay tuned to The Monkees Live Almanac for future updates, and please be sure to follow the site on Twitter and Facebook!

17 Comments

    In Memoriam: Michael Nesmith

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    Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart returns​

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    Dolenz sings Nesmith - The E.P.

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    50th Anniversary Editions

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