 Exhausted by the events of 2020? Fear not. Monkees fans have something to anticipate in the new year! Andrew Sandoval, Monkees archivist, author, and producer, has confirmed that an updated edition of his 2005 book, The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the '60s TV Pop Sensation, is set for publication in spring 2021. Long considered the ultimate source for the most complete story of The Monkees' television, theatrical, recording, live concert, and public appearance career, the book has not been simply updated, it has been thoroughly rewritten! Andrew spoke with the Live Almanac this week to provide insight into his latest project. "In 2019, I decided to revise my book: The Monkees Day-By-Day Story. I began the process of working on the years from 1971-2019, filling in details and researching the eras I did not cover in the original book. I had hoped to make some corrections and updates in the original book text and move forward." But then Andrew revealed a tidbit that will be sure to pique the interest of Monkees fans worldwide, one that ultimately altered the vision of the project itself. "My plans changed dramatically with the discovery of more than 2,000 pages of documents covering the years 1965-1970. When I approached integrating these into the original text, I realized the book would need to be completely rewritten. So much of what I understood in my original research about The Monkees' formation and struggle for musical independence was completely changed through my new discoveries." Andrew continued to expound on just how different the revamped edition of his tome will be upon its release. "New recording information, shooting dates for the series, personal appearances, and literally hundreds of unpublished images will be included. A special emphasis is placed on the later years from 1969-1971. However, the biggest expansion of information is in the year 1967 (as well as the pre-Monkees years). I look forward to sharing more when I have definitive details." Since the publication of Andrew's book fifteen years ago, Monkees fans have often expressed a desire to see an updated version that dives into the '70s all the way through the current day. Andrew explained why the initial era of the group remained his first priority. "I began rewriting the entire text from Peter's birth in 1942 through The Monkees' final contractual movements in 1971. What has developed is the most unique picture of their original incarnation. I had to make a choice timewise if I should be chasing celebrity tennis match dates of the 1970s or documenting how the Monkees became a group. I felt the latter was more important in the long run." But rest assured, telling the complete story of The Monkees through the ensuing decades remains on the horizon. "I will tackle the later years in a separate volume sometime in the future," Andrew told the Live Almanac. Andrew's first Monkees-related project came to fruition in 1990 when he acted as co-producer (along with Bill Inglot) for 1990's Missing Links Volume Two collection, which also featured liner notes penned by Sandoval. Since then, he has produced numerous Monkees releases for Rhino Records, including CD reissues, multiple box set treatments of Monkees music, and DVD and Blu-ray collections of the group's 1960s television series and feature film, Head. He is responsible for The Monkees' triumphant return to the concert stage in 2011 and went on to produce subsequent tours for the group throughout the last decade, as well as the "The Mike & Micky Show" that was a hit at venues in North America, Australia, and New Zealand in 2018 and 2019. Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz were set to return to the road in the spring of 2020, but COVID-19 altered those plans. When speaking with the Live Almanac, Andrew also relayed details about the proposed layout of the book, his plan for publishing it, and more. "The book will be completely redesigned with all new photos and graphics. The original book's photos will mostly not be carried over. I am currently completing the text and it will go into print sometime in November. Printing will likely take three to four months, so the book will be available in early spring." And this time around, readers will be able to purchase the finished product directly from Andrew, rather than at your local bookstore or online outlet. "The book will only be available directly from me via mail order. I do not know of the price yet because the book is still growing in size. There will be no digital version of the book. It will not be available through Amazon. I will be shipping internationally. The books will be deluxe hardbacks, numbered, and signed." "I am aware that a lot of people enjoyed my original book and were able to find it used or at a reduced price," Andrew said. "I am not presently in a position to offer my work in this way, though I do know it limits my audience. The new book will be available for pre-order when I have a definitive page count, price, and delivery date." While we all anxiously await Andrew's book, be sure to listen to his wonderful internet radio show, Come to the Sunshine, and check back with The Monkees Live Almanac for future updates! 
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 Monkees fans have the opportunity to vote for the group's multi-platinum #1 debut album to be issued as an expanded deluxe edition double LP featuring previously unreleased songs and mixes, courtesy of Run Out Groove, a vinyl only label that, according to its website, "caters specifically to music fanatics, pressing limited edition titles made by music fans for music fans." Run Out Groove provided more details about the proposed release, noting that Monkees producer and archivist Andrew Sandoval would be a part of the project: [Mastering engineer] Kevin Grey and Andrew Sandoval would cut lacquers for the original album from the analog stereo tapes for the first time since original release in 1966! Proposed Track Listing:   VOTE FOR THE MONKEES! Recording has yet to begin and they haven’t even picked out the exact songs yet, but the record will be produced by Nez’s son Christian Nesmith with Monkee manager/historian Andrew Sandoval tackling A&R duties. The British label 7a, which specializes in Monkee-related albums, is releasing it. “They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Dolenz says, slipping into a Marlon Brando accent. “They’re a nice, little company that really do good work. They do their homework and do these real nice packages.”  Listen as Andrew Sandoval provides a track-by-track preview of forthcoming live album on "Zilch"3/6/2020 Monkees archivist and producer Andrew Sandoval stopped by Zilch to speak with host Ken Mills about The Mike & Micky Show Live. The podcast, featuring audio samples from the album, is linked below!  
Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval is the author of The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the '60s TV Pop Sensation and has overseen the group's concert tours since 2011. Today on Facebook, Andrew talked about his latest production, a live album highlighting Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith's current show, recorded in March and June 2019:
Missing Links Volume Two was released in January 1990. Like the first Missing Links collection in 1987, the album consists of songs that were left inside The Monkees' vault in the 1960s.
This past weekend on Facebook, Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval recalled his work on Volume Two, which happened to be a seminal moment in his career. 
(From the November 1989 Rhino Records catalog)
The Monkees Live Almanac is happy to pass along the news that Monkees archivist and producer Andrew Sandoval is currently working on a revised edition of his exhaustive book on The Monkees, originally published fourteen years ago. Andrew recently announced through various social media channels that he hopes an updated edition of The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the '60s TV Pop Sensation is ready for publication in late 2020.
Andrew's first Monkees-related project came in 1990 when he acted as co-producer (along with Bill Inglot) for 1990's Missing Links Volume Two collection, which also featured liner notes penned by Sandoval. Since then, he has produced numerous Monkees projects for Rhino Records, including CD reissues, multiple box set treatments of Monkees music, and DVD and Blu-ray collections of the group's 1960s television series and feature film, Head. He is responsible for The Monkees' triumphant return to the concert stage in 2011, and produced subsequent tours for the group in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, as well as the "The Mike & Micky Show" that was a hit at venues in North America, Australia, and New Zealand throughout 2018 and 2019. 
Years of research and dedication resulted in Andrew's 2005 tome on The Monkees. In it, the band's recording sessions, live concerts, filming dates, public appearances, and much more from 1965-1970 were all richly documented. Considered to be the primary resource for anything and everything Monkees, Mojo said Day-by-Day was "The only Monkees book you need . . . Essential reading and a poignant primer in how the template was set for today's shooting stars . . . as close as you'll get to the official word . . . an engaging document of one of the '60s most important phenomena."
While we all anxiously wait for a revised edition of his book, be sure to listen to Andrew's internet radio show, Come to the Sunshine, and check back with The Monkees Live Almanac for future updates!
October 2: Lobero Theatre / Santa Barbara, California
October 3: Largo at the Coronet / Los Angeles, California October 5: Fremont Theater / San Luis Obispo, California
A pre-sale for the Santa Barbara concert will take place Thursday, July 25. The code for the Lobero Theatre presale is "LEO." The pre-sale begins Thursday, July 25 at 10am PT, and ends at 10pm PT that evening.
(Artwork by Dawn Aquarius & John Sellards / Courtesy of Videoranch)
Andrew Sandoval spoke about the upcoming shows on Instagram:
Michael's familiar blonde Gretsch guitar (below, left) has been at his side since returning to the concert stage with The Monkees in 2012. It's not, however, the original blonde Gretsch that Michael owned in the 1960s, but a reproduction. His current blonde Gretsch guitar is a twelve string Country Classic I. It was custom made for him by Gretsch when he did a concert for them in the 1990s at the NAMM Show, a music products industry trade event. This was also the guitar used during recording sessions for the 1996 Monkees album, Justus. The Gretsch sunburst guitar (below, right), reminiscent of the Gretsch Viking guitar Michael played in the 1960s, was given to Nez by Andrew Sandoval in 2013. Michael played both guitars during the 2018 and 2019 "Mike & Micky Show" tour. (And that's pedal steel extraordinaire Pete Finney in the background of the photo below!)  (Photo courtesy of The Monkees Tour Facebook page)
If you are wondering what happened to Michael's original blonde Gretsch, it was stolen in the 1970s (along with Michael's white Gibson guitar, most famously seen during the "Circle Sky" live sequence in Head). Nez spoke about his affection for these instruments on Facebook in 2010, as well as his desire to have them returned. "I know they are out there still and I miss them and would like to have them back after all these years. Whoever has ended up with them, please return them, no questions asked. They were and are an important part of my life." 
Monkees archivist and producer Andrew Sandoval remembered his friend Gary on Facebook:
The Monkees' 1969 television special 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee aired 50 years ago on April 14, 1969. Monkees archivist and producer Andrew Sandoval documented the making of the special in his book, The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the '60s TV Pop Sensation:   (Click images above and below to enlarge)  Thanks a lot to SirQ for alerting the Live Almanac to his personal restoration of 33 1/3:
Last night, "The Mike & Micky Show" stopped at The Paramount in Huntington, New York. Thanks to Monkees archivist and tour producer Andrew Sandoval for sharing the evening's set list!
Micky Dolenz also happened to be celebrating a birthday yesterday. Prior to the performance of "Randy Scouse Git," Andrew presented Micky with a cake and a special birthday gift. He shared a photo of the gift and the story behind it on his Facebook page:
(Photo by Paul Undersinger and courtesy of Micky Dolenz on Twitter)
(Photo courtesy of Christine on Twitter)
Micky with Christian Nesmith (Photo courtesy of The Monkees Tour Facebook page)
Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval is the author of The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the '60s TV Pop Sensation and has produced The Monkees' concert tours since 2011. Andrew honored Peter Tork today on Facebook:
Ken Mills is joined by Monkees Tour Manager Andrew Sandoval to talk about the busy touring schedule in 2019, including Mike Nesmith and Pete Finney dates in January, the Mike and Micky Show US dates in March, and Aussie and New Zealand dates in June. Plus, Bronwyn Knox-Lawler talks episode 3 of the Monkees: Monkee vs. Machine…& More!  Today, Andrew Sandoval announced on Facebook that Michael Nesmith will perform the songs from his 1972 album And The Hits Just Keep On Comin' with pedal steel guitarist Pete Finney for a series of shows on the West Coast throughout January 2019. Here is the text of Andrew's announcement: "I am pleased to announce that in a few weeks, Michael Nesmith will return to the concert stage to perform his classic 1972 album, And The Hits Just Keep On Comin’ for a series of West Coast shows. Accompanied by just his trusty pedal steel guitarist, Pete Finney, these performances will mark the first time Nez has toured in a duo format since 1975. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, November 21, 2018. VIP Meet & Greet packages will also be available in limited numbers. "Although his recent performances have focused on his legendary 1970s albums recorded for RCA, this is the first time he will perform any of his albums in its entirety. And The Hits Just Keep On Comin’ is significant in Nesmith’s catalog, because it returned him to his roots as a singer-songwriter where his career began before The Monkees. Featuring just the accompaniment of Red Rhodes on pedal steel, his music and message achieved real purity on the album’s ten original songs. "Hits served as the truest songbook that Michael would ever issue on record and it remains among his most satisfying albums. In addition to the album’s ten songs, you can expect to hear many of Nesmith’s other key tracks of the era, such as “Joanne,” “Silver Moon,” “Some Of Shelley’s Blues” and “Propinquity.” If I don't see you in January for these shows, I hope to catch up with you for the Mike & Micky Show, which is hitting the Northeast & Midwest in March!" A complete list of venues and cities appears below, and tickets go on sale this Wednesday, November 21: January 17: Neptune Theatre / Seattle, Washington January 19: The Rogue Theater / Grants Pass, Oregon January 20: Sofia Center For The Arts / Sacramento, California January 22: Troubadour / West Hollywood, California January 24: The Coach House / San Juan Capistrano, California January 26: Sweetwater Music Hall / Mill Valley, California   Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Andrew Sandoval (Photo by Chris Willman and courtesy of Variety.com) Video: Micky Dolenz & Michael Nesmith celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Head" in Hollywood11/2/2018 Last night's 50th anniversary celebration of Head at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood featured special guests Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith. Monkees archivist and producer Andrew Sandoval hosted a Q&A session with Micky and Michael after the sold-out screening which can be seen in this video, courtesy of Ed Heffelfinger: Variety reported on the golden anniversary celebration of Head and the joint Dolenz/Nesmith appearance. And here's a great photo from the night's festivities of Nez and Micky with Davy's daughter, Annabel, courtesy of the Davy Jones Equine Memorial Fund page on Facebook: 
Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith will celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Monkees' feature film Head with a special screening in Hollywood on November 1 at the Egyptian Theatre. Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval will host a Q & A session with Micky and Michael after the screening.
More details are available below, courtesy of The Monkees' official Facebook page.
"We are pleased to announce that The Monkees in association with RHINO will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the motion picture, HEAD, with a special screening at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday 11/1/18 - 7:30pm.
"Michael Nesmith & Micky Dolenz will appear in person to answer questions following the screening, which will be from an original 35mm print. Andrew Sandoval will conduct the Q&A and you are welcome to contribute your questions in advance online. That way everyone can join in! "There will also be merchandise available inside the theatre - which is directly opposite the original venue that HEAD premiered in November 1968. You may also visit The Monkees star, which is on the walk of fame opposite the theatre. Please join us for this incredible event!" Tickets are now available Michael & Micky will also be holding a special meet & greet 
(Image courtesy of the official Monkees Facebook page)
UPDATE 10/25/2018: According to Andrew Sandoval, the 50th anniversary screening of Head is now sold out:
The last four dates of “The Monkees Present: The Mike & Micky Show” tour have been officially postponed.
This afternoon at the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of what was to be this evening's sold-out performance by Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz, tour manager Andrew Sandoval addressed approximately 40 pre-show VIP attendees a little after 5pm and announced Michael was ill and that he was returning to Monterey, California to see his personal physician. The remaining shows in Philadelphia, New York, New York, Huntington, New York, and Red Bank, New Jersey, according to Andrew, will be rescheduled for January 2019. I am leaving Philadelphia at the moment. More information later. The Monkees Live Almanac would like to extend well wishes to Nez for a speedy recovery!
UPDATE 6/21/2018 @ 7PM: Andrew Sandoval shared the following message on Facebook about the postponement of the remaining shows on the tour:
I was in the lobby at the Keswick Theatre this afternoon when Andrew addressed the fans gathered for the VIP soundcheck experience. Andrew handled what was obviously a very challenging situation with grace and poise. And the fans, while disappointed, were grateful to Andrew for coming to speak with everyone and vocally expressed their concern for Nez. A special thanks goes to the accommodating staff at the Keswick Theatre.
UPDATE #2 @ 8:30PM: Thank you to John Hughes of Rhino Records for submitting the following statement to The Monkees Live Almanac:
"Michael Nesmith had a minor health issue today in advance of his tour date in Philadelphia tonight. He visited a local medical facility and, although the issue was not serious, was advised to rest for the next week, so unfortunately the remaining four dates on The Monkees Present: The Mike & Micky Show tour have been postponed until a later date. Nesmith has been dismissed from the hospital and is traveling back to his home in Carmel Valley. He is in good spirits and thanks all the fans for their support and understanding. He looks forward to getting back on the stage again soon."
UPDATE #3 @ 9PM: Andrew Sandoval posted on Facebook for the second time this evening to dispute an article published by TMZ about Michael's condition:
TMZ later updated its original piece to clarify errors in their reporting.
UPDATE #4 @ 9:15PM: Various statements about the postponement of the final four shows have been shared on social media from Videoranch, the official Monkees Facebook page, and Peter Tork:
UPDATE #5 @ 9:40PM: Kyler Schwartz posted a photo on Facebook from inside the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia after tonight's cancelation. VIP attendees were ultimately permitted to enter the theatre to use the restroom if needed. Band members John Billings and Rich Dart were mingling with fans inside. By the time I went to take a picture of the stage, the backdrop had already been removed and the stage was beginning to be cleared by the crew.
UPDATE #6 @ 10PM: The mainstream press are reporting about Michael's health issue and the postponement of the remaining dates on the tour:
UPDATE #7 on 6/25/2018:
UPDATE #8 on 6/26/2018: Micky Dolenz, in an interview with Billboard, speaks about Michael Nesmith, the postponement of the final four "Mike & Micky Show" dates, the potential for a live album from the tour, and more:
UPDATE #9 on 6/29/2018: Michael's daughter, Jessica, posted the following message on her Facebook page:
UPDATE #10 on 7/3/2018:
UPDATE #11 on 7/12/2018: Michael's oldest son, Christian, posted the latest information about Nez on Facebook while also confirming that the previously announced First National Band fall tour will still take place:
UPDATE #12 on 7/25/2018:
UPDATE #13 on 7/26/2018:
From Andy Greene's Rolling Stone interview with Michael:
Nesmith says he’ll definitely make up the four postponed Mike and Micky shows early next year, including a Red Bank, New Jersey show at Count Basie Theater on March 5th. The other three rescheduled dates should be announced in the near future. No plans are in place for additional Mick and Micky shows beyond the make-up dates, but Nesmith says he’s willing to book them should the market demand it. “I’m wide open in terms of what’s going to be,” he says. “I don’t have any reason to say no to anything.” |
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