Possible 2011 Monkees reunion tour!

[grundoontv]

According to this, http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/1...-reunion-tour/, The Monkees, as a vocal group, may have a reunion tour in 2011.

If so, this is GREAT news, considering the timing will be perfect, as next month marks the 45th anniversary since "The Monkees" TV show pilot, "Here Come The Monkees," began filming on November 13, 1965.

Since that point in time, as both a TV show and vocal group, like I said in an earlier post, The Monkees have had quite the 45-year history.

The show, about an out-of-work rock group taking various odd jobs to support themselves while living in a beach house, was first pitched in early 1965 by show creators Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider to the President of Columbia Pictures--who just happened to be Schneider's father, Abe.

On April 16, 1965, Screen Gems, the television subsidiary of Columbia, gave the go-ahead to shoot a Monkees pilot.

The following fall, over 500 applicants auditioned to become Monkees. Among those who auditioned (but did not get it) included Danny Hutton, Steve Stills, Harry Nilsson, and Paul Williams, all of whom would achieve greater showbiz fame.

Of those 500 auditionees, 4 were hired--22-year-old Robert Michael "Mike" Nesmith (born December 30, 1942 in Houston, Texas, USA), 21-year-old Peter Halsten Thorkelson (born February 13, 1944 in Washington, D.C., USA), soon rechristened Peter Tork, 20-year-old George Michael "Micky" Dolenz, Jr. (born March 8, 1945 in Los Angeles, California, USA), the son of actors George & Janelle Dolenz; and 19-year-old David Thomas "Davy" Jones (born December 30, 1945 in Manchester, England, UK).

Jones was the first Monkee hired--and the only one hired without EVER having to audition (this information according to The Monkees' E! True Hollywood Story episode aired on August 1, 1999). At Mike Nesmith's audition, the show producers reportedly played a game of chess with coke bottles--and joined right along with them, thus earning Mike his shot as one of The Monkees; Micky Dolenz, at his audition, performed a rendition of "Johnny B. Goode," and did so well that he earned his role as a Monkee.

Interestingly enough, each of the stars of the show had numerous careers in entertainment, with Mike having been a songwriter under the pseudonym Mike Blessing, Peter having been a folksinger in Greenwich Village, Micky having been a child actor who already had a series, "Circus Boy," and Davy having been a jockey in England.

After the show's debut September 12, 1966 on NBC, The Monkees became an instant smash, earning a 26-episode commitment (later increased to 32) after the pilot sold.

A month before that, as a vocal group, The Monkees released their debut single in August 1966--"Last Train To Clarksville," which immediately became a #1 hit.

An interesting tidbit: with the exception of the "HeadQuarters" album released in 1967, The Monkees NEVER played their own instruments on records, supplying only the vocals. Despite that fact, the records sold like crazy, and millions of teenage girls were watching the show.

The success, however, was short-lived, as NBC canceled The Monkees in Spring 1968, after its 2nd season wrapped production in December 1967 with the "Some Like It Lukewarm" episode.

The final broadcast episode, "Mijacogeo," aired March 25, 1968 on NBC.

After the show's cancellation, The Monkees, as a vocal group, made a movie, "Head." However, when the film was released theatrically in November 1968, it flopped big-time at the box office, and thus, after 2 years, 58 television episodes, 6 albums, and 1 movie, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, and Davy Jones faded into oblivion.

Flash forward to 1985: on the heels of the show's 20th anniversary, MTV decided to air reruns of "The Monkees," introducing them February 23, 1986 with a weekend-long marathon showcasing all 58 half-hour episodes.

The following fall, a tour is announced, and simultaneously, MTV's sister network Nickelodeon decides to air the series regularly, while the show airs on MTV occasionally during marathon events. This leads to several reunion albums plus 2 reunion albums--"Pool It" in 1987 and "JustUs" in 1996, with the latter album showcasing The Monkees not only playing their own instruments, but also all of them writing their very own songs.

If The Monkees come to your town next year, PLEASE go see them.

[dakert]

It will be nice if there is a 45th Monkees anniversary concert.

[MickeyMac]

Will all four participate though????

[ZeldaGilroy]

I saw them at their '97 reunion tour and it was awesome. Of course Mike was not there, but the others were great! If they do have a 45 year reunion tour I will definitely be getting tickets, but I am not sure it will happen. Crossing my fingers in hope though!