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Now playing "For Pete's Sake" by Peter Tork & Shoe Suede Blues
from the "Cambria Hotel" CD.
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| Peter Tork & Shoe Suede Blues CD "Cambria Hotel" |
February 21, 2011 Monkees Interview on The One Show
Scroll down the page for
The Monkees 45th Anniversary Tour Information
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Click Here to sign The Monkees Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Petition !
May
4th marked the anniversary of the printing of The Los Angeles Times article "Rock Hall Snub Irks Ex-Monkee" by Joseph Dionisio which
prompted the writing of this petition. IT'S
THE MONKEES 45th ANNIVERSARY, AND PAST-DUE TO GET THEM INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME! This site wishes to acknowledge everyone who contributed to their
success - Boyce & Hart, Neil Diamond, Carole King, Chip Douglas, Hal Blaine, Tommy Tedesco, (and other members of The
Wrecking Crew), Bob Rafelson, Bert Schneider, Jim Frawley, Mike Elliot, Rose Marie, Paul Lynde (semi-regulars on the
show), and other guest actors. I'm sure we have overlooked some important people...don't hesitate to contact
us about anyone we've missed. The Monkees, were nominated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame again in 2007, on their 40th Anniversary.
They were blocked by the editor of Rolling Stone Magazine, Jann Wenner, and was brought to our attention in The Los Angeles
Times May 4th, 2007 article, "Rock Hall snub irks ex-Monkee." This petition is designed to speak
a world voice to allow them to take their place in history, and put to rest the now 45-year old urban legend that "they
didn't play their own instruments." See the petition
posted below for all of their stats...including having all 5 albums go Platinum the same day, when they were
released on CD in 1986. On Monday, May 14th, 2007 we missed beating the largest and oldest "Oldies" radio station
in Southern California at crossing the 1,000 signature point on their petition by less than 100 signatures...not
too shabby for a grass-roots effort, eh? WE HAVE COLLECTED A COMBINED TOTAL OF 34,207 SIGNATURES! As of Saturday, December 3,
2011, we
lead the campaign by 15,129 signatures with 24,531 online signatures + 137 signatures collected
at So Cal concerts/events by Peter Tork
& Shoe Suede Blues for a subtotal of 24,668 signatures that we, the fans have collected.
The largest and oldest "Oldies" radio station in Southern California has collected 9,539 Signatures, for a combined total of 34,207 signatures.
It all helps the guys get in... PLEASE DON'T SIGN BOTH! Among the "notables"
to have signed this petition are: Bob Hegyes ("Juan Epstein" of "Welcome
Back, Kotter"), Kathy Garver ("Cissy" of the ORIGINAL "Family Affair"), Amy Linker ("Lauren Hutchinson" of "Square Pegs") and most recently, ROBERT
GORE RIFKIND (the man who was the attorney for Conrad Hilton AND Howard Hughes). Special Thanks to Mark
Smigel, Signature #24,000 ! CLICK ON THE
LINK, AND SUPPORT THEM BY SIGNING IT, IF YOU ARE SO MOVED. IT
IS A SECURE SITE. THE STATS AS OF AUGUST 22, 2009 HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME, WHILE WE CONTINUE
TO GATHER SIGNATURES TOWARD OUR GOAL OF 100,000 ! Sandy Jacobson, Creator & Producer BackStage:Los Angeles Co-Author of The Monkees Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Petition
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In Hollywood, at the 40th Anniversary Screening of
The Monkees film "Head."
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| Left to Right: Chip Douglas, Bobby Hart, Peter Tork, & Davy Jones. |
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| Chip Douglas, Bobby Hart, & Peter Tork at the 40th Anniversary Screening of The Monkees film "Head." |
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| This photo of Peter Tork performing at the 2010 NAMM Festival is courtesy of Shelli Andranigian. |
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Click Here to view our Promo for The 40th Anniversary Screening of "Head"
All proceeds
from merchandise sales will go toward covering costs of us expanding our efforts.
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| After the concert at the 2010 NAMM Festival. |
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| Sandy Jacobson, Co-Author of The Monkees Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Petition, with Peter Tork. |
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Hey
Hey, It’s...The Monkees reformation
The original TV boyband are back together for their first UK tour in 12 years. British-born Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz
and Peter Tork return to perform in front of their British fans. The Monkees, responsible for some of the biggest hits of the 60s, will be touring the length of the country including
a memorable show at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London. The
original TV boy band are the example to all those who have since found musical fame via television. The Monkees wrote the
script for modern day pop music. Selling 50 million records with
hits such as Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, I’m a Believer and (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,
The Monkees provided the soundtrack to teenage lives on both sides of the Atlantic from the ‘60s onwards. With the TV
series being repeated throughout the 1980s, a whole new legion of fans were exposed to their crazy antics.
Controversially created for TV, they eventually broke their shackles and became
a respected band in their own right, embedded in the revolutionary 1960s pop fraternity. The Beatles were one of The Monkees’
biggest supporters with John Lennon naming them “the Marx Brothers of Rock”. In fact in 1967, The Monkees outsold
both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined. Following the TV show, the band
went on to tour the world, release hit albums and singles, make a cult psychedelic, surreal film (1968’s Head) and inspire
generations of bands to follow their winning formula. Without The Monkees, there would
be no Backstreet Boys, no Take That, no Boyzone, no Busted and no JLS. Even the Sex Pistols made (I’m Not Your) Steppin’
Stone part of their repertoire. To clear up unfinished Monkee Business, don’t
miss your chance to see the seminal TV show band ‘sing and play’ as The Monkees celebrate over four decades at
the top, on tour in the UK this May. The
Monkees UK Tour dates: May
12th Liverpool Echo Arena May
24th Manchester Apollo May
15th Newcastle City Hall May
16th Glasgow Clyde Auditorium May
19th London Royal Albert Hall May
20th Sheffield City Hall May
21st Birmingham NIA Academy May
23rd Plymouth Pavillions May
24th Cardiff CIAgoodma May
25th Nottingham Royal Centre North American Tour Dates
more info and ticket sales here:
Ticketmaster.com| Pollstar.com | LiveNation.com - June
3: Atlanta, GA, Chastain Park Amphitheatre info
- June
4: Clearwater, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall info
- June
5: Pompano Beach, FL, Pompano Beach Amphitheatre info
- June
6: Jacksonville, FL, Florida Theatre info
- June
8: Glen Allen, VA, Innsbrook Pavilion info
- June
9: Morristown, NJ, The Community Theatre At
Mayo
Center For The Performing Arts info - June
10: Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Casino info
- June
11: Niagara Falls, ON, Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort info
- June
12: Niagara Falls, ON, Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort info
- June
15: Lowell, MA, Lowell Memorial Auditorium info
- June
16: New York, NY, Beacon Theatre info
- June
17: Westbury, NY, NYCB Theatre info
- June
18: Atlantic City, NJ, Borgata Music Box info
- June
19: Vienna, VA, Filene Center at the Wolf Trap info
- June
20: Hershey, PA, Hershey Theatre
*$150
ticket includes Meet & Greet* info - June
22: Pittsburgh, PA, Stage AE info
- June
23: Detroit, MI, Fox Theatre info
- June
24: Columbus, OH, Lifestyle Communities Pavilion info
- June
25: Cincinnati, OH, Aronoff Center For The Arts info
- June
26: Indianapolis, IN, Murat Theatre at Old National Centre info
- June
28: South Bend, IN, Morris Performing Arts Center - info pending
- June 29: Waukegan, IL, Genesee Theatre info
- June
30: Merrillville, IN, Star Plaza Theatre info
- July
1: Apple Valley, MN, Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater info
- July
2: Apple Valley, MN, Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater info
- July
3: Council Bluffs, IA, Harrah's Casino - info pending
- July 5: Denver, CO, Paramount Theatre info
- July
8: Tacoma, WA, Pantages Theater info
- July
9: Ridgefield, WA, Sleep Country Amphitheater info
- July
10: Saratoga, CA, The Mountain Winery info
- July
13: Bakersfield, CA, Majestic Fox Theater info
- July
14: Santa Ynez, CA, Chumash Casino info
- July
15: Cabazon, CA, Morongo Casino Resort & Spa info
- July
16: Los Angeles, CA, Greek Theatre info
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PETITION CONTENT: PETITION
FOR THE MONKEES’ ENTRY INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
Michael Nesmith said it best back in 1967,
when a news reporter asked “is it true that The Monkees don't play their own instruments?” Nesmith,
ready to hit the stage, replied, “Man, I’m about to step out in front of a stadium full of people,
and if I can’t play my own instrument, I’m in A LOT of trouble.”
AMEN Peter Tork has carried that
sentiment into the 21st century by continuing to play, record and compose music while also giving new life to a few of The
Monkees hits that he and his colleagues brought to international attention. In reaction to the April 17, 2007 Newsday
story written by Joseph Dionisio from an interview given by Peter Tork on tour
with his band Shoe Suede Blues, the question reverberates - Why aren't The Monkees in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? After
forty years, it is time one “urban myth” is finally acknowledged as fiction and the nay sayer is out voted. When
the facts are revealed, studio musicians have always been and will always continue to be a part of the recording industry
AND Bands who do concert tours must be able to perform live. The Monkees, unlike any other band in the
history of pop music, rebelled against the powers that were - and and won the rights to record, play and perform their own
music. Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz,, David Jones and Michael Nesmith carried that hard won right like a battle flag across concert
stages and into recording studios in the 60's and then into the 70's, 80's 90's and today. Their contribution
and success in the music world as a band, and also as four individuals, is staggering. Their influence on generations of musicians
is evident and will continue well into the future. The Monkees were eligible to be inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a decade ago. The people are now going to take up the flag and take a stand that The Monkees
finally be given the honor for which they are long overdue. The people want The Monkees to be part of the next class of inductees
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In support of that request the undersigned offer the following facts: Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith & David Jones...The Monkees contribution to the History
of Rock and Roll As
a BAND: In 1967 The Monkees sold more records than the Beatles and the Rolling Stones - COMBINED. The Monkees
changed the way music was marketed to the public - video - and later one of them would invent MTV... The Monkees had
FOUR (4) #1 albums in ONE year with their first two albums dominating the #1 position on the album chart for 31 weeks. Not
too shabby for the so called "Pre-Fab Four". In 1967, selling 5 million copies of one album was unheard of.
The Gold Record an award for those rare recordings selling 1 million copies. When the Monkees sold 5
million albums in a single year, it was a music industry milestone. The Platinum Record was introduced
in 1976 for sales of 2 million records, and the Multi-Platinum Record was introduced in the mid-80s. "More of
the Monkees" could have been awarded 5 x platinum earlier than 1994. The RIAA waited until re release on CD
to certify platinum those recordings which originated prior to the new certification status. The Monkees first five (5) albums
were released on CD simultaneously, with all five (5) CD's being certified as platinum and multi-platinum award winners
that same day. ACCORDING TO “Billboard” Album Charts: -"I'm a Believer" was the 5th biggest song of the 60s. -As of 1995 "More of the Monkees" was the 11th
most-weeks-at-number-one #1 album. -"More
of the Monkees" made the second biggest jump to Number One in history going from # 122 to # 1 in one week "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd."
was the 10th biggest jumper, going from #29 to #1 in one week. -The Monkees are #27 on the Top Artists of the Rock Era. They were ranked higher than The Eagles,
Madonna, Pink Floyd, Neil Diamond, and Bruce Springsteen. -They are the #8 biggest selling band/artist of the 60s. -They are #11 on the list of the most weeks at #1 on the album chart -They're #15 on the list of the most #1 albums. FOUR Chart Stats:
“The Monkees”
appeared on the Billboard Album Chart from October 8, 1966 to March 30, 1968 Holding the #1 spot from November 12, 1966 through
February 4, 1967; when it was beat out by the newly released “More of The Monkees.” “More of The Monkees”
remained on the charts at the #1 spot from February 11, 1967 through June 10, 1967. Two weeks later, on June 24, 1967 the
#1 spot was replaced by “Headquarters.” Headquarters dropped to the #2 spot on July 1, 1967 where it remained
through September 9, 1967, when it dropped to #3. On December 2, 1967 “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones, Ltd.”
Took the #1 spot, through December 30th, 1967, when it dropped to #3. “The
Birds, The Bees, & The Monkees” opened at #3 on May 18, 1968, and held that position through June 15, 1968, when
it dropped to #4. From
November 1967 through March 23, 1968, The Monkees had all four of their albums in the top 100 Billboard Album list…with
all four albums remaining on the charts through May 25, 1968. On February 28, 1968 “Head” appeared on the charts,
and on March 1, 1969, “Instant Replay” was added to the charts…followed by “The Monkees Greatest
Hits” on June 28th, 1969. “Instant Replay” was added
to the charts on March 1, 1969, where it remained through June 7, 1969. AS a BAND of INDIVIDUALS Headquarters
was the ground breaking third album on which Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and David Jones fought and won the
rights to perform, write and select everything recorded. It was released on May 22, 1967. Notable facts:
Peter
Tork contributed one of the pioneer uses, arguably the first use, of the banjo on a pop/rock record on the
Nesmith tune, "You Told Me.," for the Headquarters album (recorded on March 3
& 9, 1967) Tork was encouraged to carry on with his banjo playing by one George Harrison. Tork continued to weave the
sound of that magical banjo into George Harrison's work, "Wonderwall," the first solo project by any of the
Beatles and into his own current record, Cambria Hotel released February 27, 2007. Tork penned the fabulous
"For Pete's Sake" (Headquarters) which also became The Monkees TV closing theme. Peter Tork's
"Can You Dig It?" for the Monkees feature film "Head" is also among the notable tunes
(and film sequences) for Eastern dancers.
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. was the fourth album
by The Monkees, released on November 14, 1967. Notable facts:
Micky Dolenz pioneered the use of the Moog Synthesizer, of which he owned one of the first
three ever sold. In 1967, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. is most likely the first commercially issued
recordings to feature the Moog and IS the first album to feature a synthesizer to ever hit #1 on the charts. Not even
The Beatles had
experimented with one before this point. (George Harrison would experiment with a Moog in late 1968, employing it on his second solo album, Electronic
Sound, and the Beatles used it on Abbey Road.) Dolenz
played the his Moog on Nesmith's psychedelic tune "Daily, Nightly," a commentary on the Sunset Strip.
David Jones was starring in the Broadway production
of "Oliver!" as the Artful Dodger at fourteen years of age for which he earned a Tony nomination. He brought
his self titled "Broadway Rock" to the Monkees palate of hits. Jones had a big voice and a great face. David Jones'
lead vocal on Daydream Believer was a solid #1 hit. (Tork's original piano lick helped fan the fire with
Nesmith's guitar and Dolenz backing vocals on board to make DDB one of the all time most loved Monkees tunes or pop tunes
ever recorded.) Michael Nesmith's
sound withThe Monkees and on his later solo recordings (Magnetic South and Loose Salute) is
what would come to be called "Country Rock." We will stand behind the notion that he IS the Father of Country Rock. The Ian Matthews
album Nesmith produced called "Valley Hi", specifically the tune "Seven Bridges Road", had vocals by Nesmith
and Matthews. If you check the date recorded vs the Eagles version of the same song and the date recorded, Nesmith was the
pioneer. Michael Nesmith, without question or argument,
invented MTV.
Album / Weeks on Chart / Start Year / Weeks @ #1
The Monkees 78 1966
13 More of The Monkees 70
1967 18 Headquarters 50
1967 1 Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, &
Jones, Ltd. 47 1967 5
The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees 38 1968 Head 14 1968 Instant Replay 15 1969 The Monkees Greatest Hits 12 1969 Present 14 1969 The Monkees Greatest Hits 12 1969 The Monkees Greatest Hits (NEW ENTRY) 16 1976 The Monkees Greatest Hits (RE-DEBUT) 13 1986 Then & Now 22 1986 Changes 3 1986 The
Monkees 19 1986 More of The Monkees
19 1986 Headquarters 16 1986
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones, Ltd.
16 1986 The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees
11 1986 Then & Now 22 1986
Random Factoids: In
the 60's, the Billboard singles chart was based on sales and radio airplay combined. It is unusual for artists to
have both sides of their single chart. The B-side of a single chart was based on how many times it was played on the radio.
In the 60s, only the BIGGEST bands (Elvis, The Stones) had both sides of their single played on the radio. Beginning
with "I'm a Believer", the Monkees had double-sided hits. Two of their B-sides even made it into the Top 20!
Even "Tapioca Tundra" charted...and is definitely among the strangest songs to ever make the Top 40. The Monkees
were big, man, real big. The reason "Valleri" was released as a single was due to some DJ in Ohio taping the tune
from the TV SHOW (the first version) and playing it on his radio show. People went crazy for it...so the boys were
forced to release it.
The people are speaking again...for the only band from the 60's who are still with us and
never had nor would the public ever accept, a personnel change... Peter, Micky, David and Michael - The Monkees *Source materials “The
Monkees – A Manufactured Image” Rock & Roll Reference Series, Pierian Press 1986 Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits Top
Pop Singles 1955-1993, both by Joel Whitburn, Number One Albums by Craig Rosen RIAA website Wikipedia
All chart placings are based
on actual Billboard Chart
___________________________________________________________________________ 1. Sandy Jacobson, Co-Author
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