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 Salt Lake City, Utah on May 17, 1968 (Photo by Henry Diltz) "California Dreamin': The Sounds of Laurel Canyon 1965-1977" was held at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on May 9, 2014. The panel consisted of 7 members of the music industry who discussed "The remarkably rich sounds of Laurel Canyon and the sheer number of songwriters, bands, producers, artists, engineers, and record company people who have lived and worked out of Laurel Canyon." Grammy Museum executive director Bob Santelli noted the impetus behind the event. "We felt it was important to tell that story, right here in our hometown. Laurel Canyon was as much a mindset as it was a music scene," Santelli said. The panelists were: 1. Henry Diltz - Rock Photographer 2. Joel Larson - Grass Roots 3. Micky Dolenz - The Monkees 4. Danny Hutton - Three Dog Night 5. Gail Zappa - Frank Zappa's wife 6. Harvey Kubernik - Music journalist 7. Art Podell - The New Christy Minstrels  (Photo by Henry Diltz) Check out this video that talks about the wild party days in Laurel Canyon, California in the 1960s with Micky, Peter, Mama Cass Elliott, Harry Nilsson, Eric Clapton, Brian Wilson, John Lennon and more. (Be sure to watch the entire video as there is Monkees content throughout.) Micky, Henry Diltz and Samantha Juste are featured sharing their recollections of the time period. You'll also see Micky show off some 'basement tapes' from his personal collection that preserves some of the jamming that occurred at his house during this era.
This article originally appeared in the March 1968 issue of Tiger Beat's Monkee Spectacular. For easier reading, click on each image and then click on it again.     This comes from Harold Bronson's book, Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees. For easier reading, click on the article and then click on it again.  In the photo below, Micky joins Buffalo Springfield onstage on July 31, 1967 at Big Top Historyland in Old Hayward, Wisconsin.  This photo was taken on the Columbia Ranch in Burbank, California during filming of the "Monkees Race Again" episode in December 1967.   Henry Diltz, founding member of the Modern Folk Quartet and noted rock photographer, is no stranger to Monkees fans. A frequent companion of the group in the 1960s and beyond, Henry has documented The Monkees through photography countless times (and even appeared on a few of their recordings). He was the official photographer at the Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock, and is responsible for dozens of famous album covers, including the Morrison Hotel LP. The interview with Henry below appeared in the July 1995 issue of Television Chronicles. His experiences with The Monkees and more are documented in it, including the coining of Micky's infamous term, Frodis. For easier reading, click on each image and then click on it again.
Members of the Modern Folk Quartet (left to right: Henry Diltz, Jerry Yester, Chip Douglas and Cyrus Faryar) pose with Michael Nesmith at a Television Parts taping in Los Angeles in 1984.  Members of MFQ had a lot of connections with The Monkees, and here they are below pictured in 1990. Chip Douglas, of course, produced both the Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. albums, along with the "Daydream Believer" single. Henry Diltz, noted rock photographer, was constantly around the group in the '60s and even contributed to some Monkees recordings (that's Henry on the banjo on "D.W. Washburn"). And Jerry Yester played bass on "Shades of Gray" and "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" on Headquarters. In 1965, the band added rock drummer Eddie Hoh and was renamed the Modern Folk Quintet, but they preferred to be known as the MFQ. (Hoh later became a session drummer for The Monkees throughout the late '60s, adding his work to albums like Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. and singles "Daydream Believer" and "Goin' Down.") It was at this point that legendary producer Phil Spector took notice of them, producing "This Could Be the Night," co-written by Spector and Harry Nilsson. Despite enjoying a couple of high profile appearances, including a spot on Shindig! and performances at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, the group failed to breakthrough and disbanded in 1966. Years later in 1985, Diltz, Faryar, Douglas, and Jerry Yester appeared with Michael Nesmith on an installment of Television Parts.  (Photo by Michael G. Bush) Pictured left to right are The Yester brothers (Jim & Jerry), Henry Diltz, Cyrus Faryar, and Chip Douglas. This picture was taken on July 19, 1990 at a Monkees convention in Chicago where MFQ played a set that mirrored their concerts in Japan earlier that year. They were joined at the end of the show by Davy Jones, who made a few remarks. MFQ also performed "Riu Chiu" a capella-style on the first day of the Chicago convention, and Chip played a solo show on the second day. (Thanks to Chie Hama for updated information found in this post!)  Gary with Davy Jones in Feb. 2012 Longtime Monkees collector and expert Gary Strobl has apparently signed a deal to publish his long talked about book on The Monkees. Monkees and rock photographer Henry Diltz is part of the project. Strobl is also discussing the possibility of releasing live film footage from the 1997 UK tour.
This message appeared on the Forgotten Hits blog on Sunday: Hello Kent, How are you? Busy as a bee, I'm sure. Thank you for your amazing Forgotten Hits. I am reaching out to you and your readers to help me find the missing pieces of The Monkees puzzle. Henry Diltz and I along with Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik have recently signed a contract with Omnibus Press to put together a 500-page hardcover, full-color coffee table book on the original phenomenon of The Monkees. I am trying to track down anybody who may have been connected to or experienced the original Monkeemania. I am looking for interviews, original newspaper clippings, photos, radio station surveys, concert tickets, posters, etc. from the time frame of 1962 - 1973. Anybody who contributes to this project will get a proper credit in the book. I want to make this the most definitive book possible on The Monkees. I am sending you the PDF which defines the goal of this book. Our beloved David Jones told me on February 12, 2012, at the Burbank Marriott, "Gary, it's time to finish your book. I will help you get it done." We also talked about editing together the last seven concerts with all four Monkees that I shot in England in March, 1997. I want to fulfill these dreams for both David and me. I could sure use your help. Anyway, drop me a line when you have the chance. Here are a some photos from the last weekend I spent with David. David Keeler took these wonderful photos. I hope you and your family are in good health. Onward and upward! Cheers, Gary Strobl (There was no contact information provided in order to submit items to Gary.) Thanks to Al Bigley for the submission!  Left to right: Rock (and Monkees) photographer Henry Diltz, Brian Wilson, Michelle Phillips, Micky Dolenz, and Graham Nash Monkees West was a mini-magazine published by a variety of people including Gary Strobl (longtime Monkees collector) and Gene Ashman (wardrobe designer on The Monkees television series). There were only two issues ever released. Here is the first from the spring of 1987. It includes a recap of the 1986 Reunion Tour, an interview with rock photographer Henry Diltz, and a spotlight on the "Hitting the High Seas" episode. The second issue can be found here. For easier reading, click on each image and then click on it again.                 Peter live at the Vic 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:  Micky and Davy appeared with Peter during the encore at the Vic Theatre  Peter is joined onstage at the Vic by (left to right) Henry Diltz, Bill Chadwick, Coco Dolenz, and Chip Douglas for a performance of "Higher and Higher"  Monte Landis and Peter Tork at the 1988 Chicago Monkees convention (Photo by Michael G. Bush) |
Bob Rafelson
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