Sandoval updates on "Day-By-Day" shipping + notes from the road on Monkees Farewell Tour (UPDATED 9/24)

9/21/2021

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.

(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

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!

20 Comments

BobbyG

9/21/2021 20:32:46

Always great to see this kind of heartfelt insider's info from Andrew. I love to live vicariously through his notes--imagine starting as a fan and transforming into what he's become.

One line from his note did make me sad though, and doubtful that any cancelled/rescheduled shows will ever be made up. I had plans for the Woodlands show but seriously doubt they will happen given the tone of his note and "final wave goodbye" comment.

Linda B.

9/21/2021 23:16:54

I read somewhere that Micky said this would be the final TOUR but they might do some individual shows after the tour. When I talked to management at the Big Barn, they said they expected the new dates to be in the spring. So, keep your fingers crossed.

William Byron

9/22/2021 09:28:33

Where did you read this? I've read every interview with Micky so far and the only thing he's said that I've seen is that *he* will still do solo shows billed as "The lead singer from The Monkees" so is that what you are referring to possibly?

JJ Lloyd

9/22/2021 11:42:52

William Byron... looks like you missed at least one interview. Micky said that he and Mike getting together for single dates in the future was a possibility in his interview with Variety this past May.

9/22/2021 16:43:28

Thank you JJ! You are correct, I missed that one.

Robbie Blackmon

9/21/2021 22:38:50

Curious, now.. So, what were the chords that Pete transposed for "Listen To the Band"??

Bri

9/22/2021 14:19:33

Beautiful post by Andrew. This appears to really be the end for The Monkees. Savor the moment. We've had it really good as fans with the Deluxe Edition albums, blu-ray of the series and Head with outtakes, Micky sings Mike album. Live albums . A New very good album, even a Christmas album. This upcoming book that appears to be incredible. Concerts allowed us to see all 4 in concert at different times. I saw them back in 2013 with Mike and it was a blast.
What else is left? It's been a fantastic journey. Thanks to Micky, Mike, Peter, Davy and Andrew for bringing us fans such great material and entertainment.

Matthew

9/23/2021 13:31:23

I agree. Rhino did right by the Monkees. The only thing is, as a fan, I wish I hadn't heard some of the things that came out (mostly from Mike) in the last few years. I'm referring mainly to the revelation that, while they were all kinda friends (except Mike and Peter, according), they weren't really the kind of friends who hang out together, or, well, make music together. They all had their own groups of friends with whom they preferred hanging out. As Mike put it, they were all "work associates"

Dan

9/24/2021 16:40:46

I think that is likely more true today, and in the years that followed 1967. From 1965 - 1967/68 they were probably closer/more friendly with eachother out of necessity. That same, round the clock filming/singing/playing likely also destroyed what level of friendship they did have. Look at the beatles... they spent most of the 70's - 2020's as work associates too. I mean, it doesn't seem like Ringo goes BBQing with Paul.

Environments like that, with insane work schedules, fame, and success aren't really conducive to friendships. I wouldn't read too into it one way or the other.

9/27/2021 19:54:46

Dan,
I'm not talking about the time after the 60s; I'm talking about their heyday. Before the show started airing, various Monkees would be living together occasionally. You're right that that they had a better relationship early on, but after they proved what they set out to prove with Headquarters and, to a lesser extent, PAC&J ltd. they drifted apart very quickly. According to Chip Douglas, after PAC&J it was impossible to get them all in the studio together to play. They all had their separate entourages, they recorded their own stuff with friends or session musicians. No more than a few times did more than one Monkee play on any given track.
I was actually really quite surprised that Mike made it known in an interview, in no uncertain terms, that he and Peter did NOT get along. The reason for my surprise is that during the Headquarters/PAC&J era, the two of them played parts that complemented each other in ways that were often stunning. On "Early Morning Blues and Greens" Mike's distinctive, mellow pizzicato rhythm part melded perfectly with Peter's flowing keyboard part. Same with Mike's riff and chord changes and Peter's banjo on "You Told Me." (Makes me wonder why they couldn't find more common ground with Mike's country leanings and Peter's folk banjo). The whole album seemed like they both knew what the other was thinking. On PAC&J, Peter's piano part on "The Door into Summer" is brilliant and that melodic line in the chorus climbs along with the vocals and peaks right with the guitars. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Daydream Believer" were also triumphs of mutual musical vision. You do have to give a lot of credit to Chip Douglas during all this. Nothing before and nothing after his work with the Monkees was as good as the two albums he produced. Something the four of them seemed to agree on is that they just had no musical center--no common vision to carry them forward. I recently found myself thinking, "I wonder why Chip Douglas couldn't have provided that center that they needed?" For a first-time producer, he was fantastic. He knew where the greatness was in a song, and he never let the instrumental limitations of the group get in the way of making a great track, or a spectacular single.
So what was it, exactly, that caused friction between Mike and Peter, and eventually the complete splintering of the group? Chip Douglas said he was constantly trying to get all four of the guys together in the studios, because that's when the best music came out. I would have to agree with that--I think the two best albums are Headquarters and PAC&J. I guess it was the case that Chip couldn't be the musical center. The guys let him go after PAC&J, and mostly started producing their own sessions individually. Also, there was a major difference in Mike's work ethic and Peter's. Peter was an excellent musician--far better than Mike--but while Peter was stoned, sitting in a jam circle with Stephen Stills and other friends, wasting time and money, Michael could bring in a song in the morning and have it wrapped up by the end of the day, and the dazzling part is that all of Mike's songs were good--REALLY good. I guess they just had different goals going into the studio, not necessarily musically, but one of them went in to record a song, while the other one went in to drop acid and act like every other hippie in the 60s. I'm not busting on Peter really, he just was not the songwriter that Michael was.

Jeff

9/24/2021 15:18:45

I've seen every touring combination post 60s, even DJB&H, but never all 4 together, unfortunately. But you're right, it's literally been an embarrassment of riches in terms of everything we've gotten. And just got my shipping notification for the book, so I have something to be excited about yet again.

Freddie Fredder

9/24/2021 17:17:29

I have not gotten an email from Beatland Books in months. I know there have been email issues so I am thankful to the MLA. Glad to hear the email notifications of shipping have been sent out. As much as I'd like to see the farewell tour I am going to pass. It's just been just to difficult to watch the videos of the performances. I'd like to remember M & M performing like I saw them in 2018/19. It was the remaining band --this tour seems too much like a "TV Band"

Tom B

9/22/2021 20:58:12

Micky, Mike, David, and Peter. Words can’t ever begin to describe the impact you have had on our lives. All I can say is thank you, sincerely, thank you for everything you have done and everything you have given these past 55 years.

Your music has been the literal soundtrack to the best moments of my life!

And I consider you close friends that have been with me on highs and lows of life.

Safe travels!

Lou Sevens

9/25/2021 19:53:25

Kudos to Andrew on his hard work on the book- whomever emailed him 7 time should be embarrassed and realize its a pandemic and things are difficult.

Bill

10/1/2021 07:02:18

The book arrived yesterday. Well worth the wait! The day I was born was the first day of filming for the pilot. Born together ...

Richard Silverberg

10/2/2021 09:54:10

The "Monkees Day to Day" book arrived at my front door on 10/1/21. Thanks to Andrew and staff for the book. The physical weight of the book is as advertised - heavy!

David A Bush

10/2/2021 11:15:21

Book arrived yesterday. It's beyond my wildest expectations. Don't how he was able to sell these things for $75. It had to have cost much more to produce! It's awesome!

David S Gofstein

10/2/2021 16:17:35

My copy of the book showed yesterday as well. This is even better than advertised. Seriously it is a beautiful thing to behold. I'll be working my way through it for months to come. Like the previous comment said, I can't imagine how it could have possibly even been produced for $75.00. THANK YOU for all your hard work, Andrew!

Gregg McKenzie

10/2/2021 18:16:05

Quite simply, and the best way to put it - this book is BEAUTIFUL!!! This will obviously be the crown jewel of any Monkees' publication. Not to diminish Maggie McManus' book from way back (still a wonderful book), but this one is amazing. Easily worth twice the price. Thank you, Andrew. In the words of Mr. T, "I pity the fool who e-mailed Andrew seven times and canceled his order.'
The only thing that I find sad (while on this Monkees' high) is knowing there are only two member still with us and that they are on a 'farewell tour.' Maybe something like a Deluxe edition of "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd." will be forthcoming in 2022.

Don Jack

10/15/2021 14:33:22

My books arrived today and "impressive" does not do it justice...VERY well worth the money spent! I had ordered both the Super Deluxe and the Softback...the box felt like it weighted 50 pounds!

Sandoval updates on "Day-By-Day" shipping + notes from the road on Monkees Farewell Tour (UPDATED 9/24)

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