 (From the November 1967 issue of Tiger Beat) Coco will also appear with former Wings guitarist Denny Laine when Laine celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the group's famous 1976 U.S. tour on August 27 in Westlake Village, California:
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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." She 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.
Coco has been a part of The Monkees' touring band since 2012, providing background vocals, harmonies, and percussion. You can hear Coco at Micky's solo shows, too, 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."
In comments left on the post Coco also noted that Micky was present at the session, which saw work completed on "Love's What I Want" and "A Better World."
March 25, 1968 is a milestone date in Monkees history. That evening, the last original episode of The Monkees aired on NBC. "The Frodis Caper" was written by Micky Dolenz and Dave Evans, and in his debut behind the camera, directed by Micky. Rip Taylor made a memorable guest appearance as "Wizard Glick." The episode is also known as "Mijacogeo," which is made-up of the names in Micky's family: Micky, Janelle (mother), Coco (sister), and George (father). The show opens with The Monkees being awakened by the Beatles song "Good Morning Good Morning," first heard on that group's seminal album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. When writing in the liner notes of his 2012 solo album Remember, Micky believed this was the first time The Beatles allowed their music to be utilized for an outside project. The episode is about the evil Wizard Glick, played by Taylor, who is out to control people's minds through a hypnotic eye that is being broadcasted on television sets. "This is my attempt to address the manipulation of the American mind by the media," Micky relayed in a 2003 DVD commentary for the episode. "Hooray, The Monkees save the world from the evil machinations of the media...I guess it didn’t work, though, did it?" Singer/songwriter Tim Buckley, personally selected by Micky, was featured at the end of the show performing "Song to the Siren." As the second season came to an end, and with the group tired of the format of the show, talks abounded about what direction a third season of The Monkees would take. "We started talking about what we would do on the next season–a live show? A variety show? A series of sketches?," said Micky years later. "One idea that came up was an awful lot like Laugh-In. We were, to be quite honest, getting tired of the same format. We wanted to do something a little more unusual, a little more out there." It wasn't meant to be, however, and the television series left the airwaves in 1968. Ironically, The Monkees' TV show, the whole reason behind their conception, was never as big of a hit as the records were with the public. Andrew Sandoval happened to broach the topic of a third season at the 2014 Monkees convention. It is accurate to say that the group cast aside another season on TV because of creative differences, but according to Sandoval, the real reason the show ceased production is because Kellogg's, who sponsored the 7:30pm time slot on NBC on Monday's, contended that The Monkees didn't sell enough product for their company.  "The Frodis Caper" concluded with a final Monkees romp, featuring Bill and John Chadwick's anti-war song "Zor and Zam," which was heard in an early mono mix. "It was basically about two kings who gave a war and nobody came," Bill Chadwick told Andrew Sandoval. "We all had friends going off to Vietnam, and nobody was real happy about the way things were being handled. Guys were going over there and weren't getting any support. Basically the idea of, 'If you're not going to get support from your own country, why the hell should you go?'" The website Ultimate Classic Rock is also taking a look back at "The Frodis Caper" today: For more about this episode, check out some articles from the Live Almanac's archives:
 (Photo by John Billings) This picture, taken at the Troubadour in Hollywood in September 1970, has been a part of the multimedia show during Micky and Peter's concerts this year. Micky shared the name of this impromptu group (with his sister Coco joining along) as DDT - Dolenz, Dolenz & Tork. Andrew Sandoval documented this event in his book, The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the '60s TV Pop Sensation, writing that Fave magazine reported on the unannounced performance, saying it was "experimental" and "unique."  The picture below of Peter Tork, Coco Dolenz, and Micky Dolenz, taken at the Troubadour in Hollywood in September 1970, has been a part of the multimedia show during Micky and Peter's concerts this year. Micky shared the name of this impromptu group as DDT - Dolenz, Dolenz & Tork.  Here's footage of this unique trio many years later at last Thursday's show at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey, courtesy of Cindy Ferrier. Micky, his sister Coco, and Peter perform Micky's composition "Midnight Train," which originally appeared on The Monkees' 1970 album Changes, a version that also featured Coco on backing vocals.  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." She 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 joined The Monkees onstage in a supporting role when Michael, Micky, and Peter reunited in late 2012 for a series of concerts after the passing of Davy Jones.
When not touring with The Monkees, you can 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." In this 1989 interview with Paris Stachtiaris and guest host Valerie Lionel on the Headquarters radio program, Coco talks about experiencing Monkeemania in the '60s, growing up with Micky, working with Micky and Davy (and The Laughing Dogs) on the road in 1977, and much more. You'll also get to hear tracks from her 1987 album One Voice and The Coasters' version of "D.W. Washburn."  (From the June 1968 issue of Fave)  After Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart disbanded, Micky and Davy continued to work together and formed a new act that played clubs in 1977. Micky's sister, Coco, joined the duo on the road. Coco, of course, has been a part of The Monkees' touring band since 2012. Here's a promotional photo that Coco shared on her Facebook page from her days with Micky and Davy:  (Photo courtesy of Coco Dolenz)  (From the January 1968 issue of Fave - click to enlarge)  Peter Tork joined Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones onstage at Hollywood's Starwood Club on March 24, 1977.   Coco Dolenz appears in the background (Photo by Henry Diltz) I'm guessing this photo was taken sometime during the late 1970s. Anyone know the exact date and location?  (From the program for Micky's 1982 tour of Japan) Micky and his band played last evening in Bow, Washington. "Riu Chiu," performed by The Monkees at the end of their 1967 Christmas episode, was a part of the night's set list. Joining Micky onstage in the video are Monkees backing band members Rich Dart, Coco Dolenz, and (I'm presuming) Dave Alexander as Santa, and it was filmed by bassist John Billings. I'm not for certain who the lady is standing next to Rich.
The last Monkees reunion (with Micky, Davy, and a bearded Peter) before 1986 occurred at the Starwood Club in March 1977 in Hollywood.  (From the collection of Rodney Bingenheimer)  Micky, Peter, Coco Dolenz, and Davy (Photo by Henry Diltz)  (From the November 1967 issue of Tiger Beat)  (From the August 1967 issue of Monkee Spectacular - click to enlarge)  Let's take a moment to acknowledge the musicians who currently support The Monkees during their live concerts, and to also say thanks to all of those who have played with The Monkees since they regrouped in 1986.
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