"Monkees Farewell Tour" with Michael Nesmith & Micky Dolenz to celebrate 55 years of Monkeemania (UPDATED 5/10 WITH NEW DATES)

5/4/2021

In what surely will be a bittersweet moment for many fans, The Monkees Tour Facebook page has just posted the news that Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz will conduct a "Monkees Farewell Tour" beginning in September 2021, capping a storied career while also marking five and a half decades of Monkeemania.

Opening night of Michael and Micky's final curtain call will occur in Spokane on September 10, two days shy of the 55th anniversary of the debut of The Monkees television show on NBC. The tour is currently slated to visit 37 cities and will conclude in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre on November 14, site of several triumphant Monkees concerts since the 1980s.

Nesmith and Dolenz last toured in 2019 and were scheduled to return to the road in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in multiple postponements. The list of "Farewell" dates include some of the shows originally planned for that tour.

The official press release and a confirmed list of concert dates appear below. Tickets and VIP packages for select stops on "The Monkees Farewell Tour" are currently available, while most others go on sale on Friday, May 7.

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned to The Monkees Live Almanac for further updates!

Press Release for "Monkees Farewell Tour"

Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees will embark on their farewell tour in September 2021. Commemorating 55 years of Monkeemania, the tour will embrace major markets in North America through the fall, launching on September 10 in Spokane and ending back where it all began in Los Angeles at The Greek Theatre on November 14. Their critically acclaimed concerts feature the voice of Dolenz (who sang The Monkees' biggest hits: "I'm A Believer," "Last Train To Clarksville," "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Steppin' Stone") and the group’s primary songwriter, Nesmith (who wrote such classics as "Mary, Mary," "Papa Gene's Blues," "You Just May Be The One" and "Listen To The Band," to name but a few).

Tickets and VIP packages for some dates of "The Monkees Farewell Tour" are on sale now, with more going on sale later this week. Most shows will NOT have VIP Soundchecks, and the presale code is FRODIS. (Update: VIP Soundchecks will be occurring only at the postponed 2020 dates.)

"The Monkees Farewell Tour" will feature songs that span the band's entire career – from their 1966 self-titled debut album to 2016's Good Times! Their most recent release, The Monkees – The Mike & Micky Show Live, was issued in April 2020 and became their 17th Billboard charting album release. In addition to their hits, their farewell shows will spotlight songs featured on their Emmy-winning TV series ("The Girl I Knew Somewhere," "You Told Me," "Randy Scouse Git," "Goin' Down" and "For Pete's Sake") as well as music from their feature film Head ("Circle Sky" and "As We Go Along"). Plus some rarely performed deep cuts (such as "Auntie's Municipal Court") and tracks from their most-recent studio album, 2016’s Good Times! ("Me & Magdalena" and "Birth Of An Accidental Hipster").

This farewell tour will mark the end of a unique project that began in 1965 when four young men were cast in a television show about a struggling rock band that was inspired by The Beatles' A Hard Day’s Night. Few could have predicted the impact The Monkees would have on music and pop culture at large, one that still reverberates more than 50 years later.

"Monkees Farewell Tour" Concert Dates

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

9/11: Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater

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

9/24: Dallas, TX @ The Majestic Theatre

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

9/28: The Woodlands, TX @ Dosey Doe

9/29: The Woodlands, TX @ Dosey Doe

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

10/15: Biloxi, MS @ IP Casino Resort and Spa

10/16: Jacksonville, FL @ Florida 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

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

NEW! 11/5: Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Theatre

11/6: Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater

NEW! 11/7: Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre

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

11/10: Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater

11/14: Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre

Tour Press Coverage

Monkees.com: The Monkees Announce Farewell Tour Dates

Rolling Stone: The Monkees Announce Farewell Tour

San Diego Tribune: The Monkees’ 2020 tour, postponed a year by COVID pandemic, has now become the group’s 2021 farewell tour

Ultimate Classic Rock: Monkees Announce Fall 2021 Farewell Tour

Best Classic Bands: The Monkees’ Dolenz and Nesmith Set Farewell Tour

Brooklyn Vegan: The Monkees announce Farewell Tour

Rock Cellar: Michael Nesmith & Micky Dolenz Announce The Monkees Farewell Tour Dates

Rhino Insider: The Monkees Announce Farewell Tour Dates

People: The Monkees Announce 2-Month Long Farewell Tour with Stops Across North America

Fox: The Monkees announce farewell tour dates with surviving members

Stereoboard: The Monkees Announce Farewell US Tour For Fall

Yahoo: The Monkees Announce 2-Month Long Farewell Tour with Stops Across North America

24 Comments

Aaron Handy III link

5/4/2021 14:01:50

It's not as if the writing wasn't on the wall...BUT!

After fifty-six years.
Fifty-eight weekly half-hour episodes.
One motion picture.
Two primetime television specials.
Thirteen albums.
Six Top Ten singles (three Number Ones).
Thirty-four concerts/concert tours worldwide.
And, sadly, two deaths.

The Last Train prepares to leave the station one last time.

Thanks, old friends...and goodbye.

THE MONKEES
1965-2021

Sunny Angie Bee Nestork

5/5/2021 10:27:17

Beautifully put! Just got my ticket for The Palace!

Mary

5/6/2021 20:16:04

Well said, Aaron.

Gilbert Matthews link

5/4/2021 14:24:23

I'm pretty confident this is the last train too, so I can't miss this. I have three venues to choose from, and it will serve as my own farewell gift to my "headquarters." Simply put, I will be relocating to a warmer climate literally a couple of days after the concert ends.

The guys have given us more than we could have ever hoped for. Anytime it appeared they were down for the count, they came back and proved the critics wrong. Thank you guys for a great run!

TomB

5/4/2021 15:35:54

My brain told me this was coming, my just expected them to be around for my entire life.

What can you say? They were literally the soundtrack to so much of my life.

Thanks for the memories!!

Mr Zero

5/4/2021 15:38:46

Wow! Look how many dates they are doing. Still light by Micky’s standards. But look at he commitment Mike is making - that’s quite a run for him!!

Craig Murphy

5/4/2021 17:50:16

Is this the final definitive list of dates?
Still no word from the venue as to the status of the Nashville show.
Anybody got info on that?

Monkees Live Almanac

5/4/2021 18:27:24

Hi Craig,

Monkees manager Andrew Sandoval relayed on Facebook that he expects an update on the Nashville show this week. Stay tuned.

Alan Perry

5/4/2021 17:59:39

Does anyboady know how Mutch for the vip tickets are

JJ Lloyd

5/4/2021 21:03:44

I said it on Facebook, but I'm also gonna say it here... I collect concert/tour posters, and I really hope they have a nice Farewell Tour poster/lithograph available at the merch tables. Have Nez and Micky front and center surrounded by nods to Peter and Davy and images from the past 55 years. Not just the '60s, but the '80s and '90s and 2000s too.

MonkeesBandFan

5/4/2021 22:26:50

Got my tickets for the Seattle show that previously postponed. Taking my kids for the second time even though they have moved on to other music. Going to make a weekend of it. Thanks Micky and Mike (and Davy and Peter) for providing the definitive soundtrack for my life. Micky thanks for being a part of (almost) every Monkees tour lineup. Thanks Mike for helping to give a big send off to the band for the fans in the form of this longer tour.

Jason Cunningham

5/5/2021 00:23:24

Man, it's really sad to see that title: "The Monkees Farewell Tour." I know it has to end sometime, but it sucks. I'm thankful for all that the four guys (and their crew) have given us, but it sucks. Davy gone. Peter gone. "The Monkees" retiring. Sucks.

I've got my ticket for the Riverside show. Looking forward to it, yet kinda not, if you know what I mean.

Micky, Davy, Mike, and Peter (and everyone else a part of the grand Monkees experiment)—thank you for all of the good times you've given me (and many others).

William Byron

5/5/2021 07:56:35

I second what many have said here. It's bittersweet and intertwined with such joy and gratitude- to be seven years old in the eighties and watching 'Heart and Soul' on Nickelodeon to being an adult today and a working musician. So much magic came from The Monkees- what started literally a decade ago when they began the 45th Anniversary Tour in 2011 until now- it's been unprecedented. Thanks also to The Monkees Live Almanac for all of this great and fantastic work. The Monkees will never end in our collective memory.

5/5/2021 10:29:49

Wonder if any surprise special guests will show up along the way or at least the last show: Bob Rafelson? Jack Nicholson? Chip Douglas?
Unfortunately, Adam Schlesinger is already gone, or I'm almost certain he'd show up somewhere, too.

Gregg McKenzie

5/6/2021 11:44:07

Let's hope for a couple of things: First, the R& R HOF get's their sh** together and inducts the Monkees while Micky and Mike can accept and perform. Second, this tour is captured on video. I would suggest audio, but I'm sure the set-list won't be that different than what was released on the marvelous Monkees Live CD that Andrew produced. Lastly, I hope Micky and Mike know how much that 'pre-fab' group not only changed their lives, but millions of us others. I offer up a sincere thank you to the moon and back.

5/6/2021 11:49:11

I know what you mean Gregg but I *still* think The Monkees are cooler BECAUSE of their lack of inclusion in the phony RNR HOF. Apparently all of the guys did (except for Peter) also.

I hope they'll film it (Micky said on the 2012 tour that all shows were audio recorded at least), but one thing I've noticed about recent Monkees tour is that no one stops fans from filming so I'm sure there's gonna be a lot of fan-shot footage at the very least. I know I'm taking my iPhone 12 to do so and will be sending what I get to the Almanac!

Lou Sevens

5/6/2021 12:01:00

Is it possible still that they shows would be postponed to 2022? I wonder what the fallback dates are? I know several promoters who all have a backup date (if not 2) for any shows going on sale at this point.

John

5/7/2021 02:26:07

Is this really the farewell? Maybe under the Monkees brand, but I don't see Micky or Mike going quietly into the night. And with Sandoval and 7a, there's always something cooking. Don't put an end date anywhere near the guys, there are still chapters yet to be written.

5/7/2021 23:59:26

Well, I'd hope so but isn't Nez turning 79 in December? Isn't Micky 76? Do you expect these guys to go touring at 83? That'd admittedly be awesome but isn't likely. It's completely understandable that they want to end the Monkees project on their own terms while they're still able.

M. D.

5/7/2021 12:15:22

Just locked my tix for Chattanooga, 2nd row. This is going to be amazing!!!

5/8/2021 12:41:24

Looks like the Dallas venue has changed once again. First it was at the Majestic. Then it moved to The Verizon Theater in Grand Prairie. Then back to The Majestic. Now it's at the Texas Trust CU Theater (formerly Verizon Theater) in Grand Prairie again. And they didn't even bother to announce it. No email... nothing.

5/8/2021 21:27:44

- In reading some of the comments on the forum I am yet excited about the tour yet wish some of the other venues could have been included.
i.e. Las Vegas- we would have visited my cousin , maybe some Ohio, Philadelhpia and some of the NE cities easier to reach by train.
Red Bank isn't easy to get to and if I am correct other venues sell quicker

Lord High 'n Low

5/8/2021 22:22:24

Is there any reason why Michael's social media accounts have yet to recognize this tour announcement?

Sam

5/9/2021 10:46:11

Does anyone know if the Oct. 23 show in Atlantic City NJ will be a "full" performance as opposed to a "shortened" set that they tend to do in casinos? Also, what happened to a potential date in Washington DC or Baltimore?