OT: A Little Bit Less Monkeying Around
RIP Peter Tork:
https://variety.com/2019/music/news/peter-tork-the-monkees-dies-dead-1203144914/
...as another 60's TV/Music icon passes away at age 77
February 21st, 2019 at 2:06 PM ^
I guess he finally got to Clarkesville?
But seriously, RIP... The Monkeys were put together as nothing more than a money-making response to the Beatles. I'm not a big Beatles fan, but the Monkeys were nowhere near that level musically or culturally. That said, they had some good songs, a 'decent' TV show, and an overall good career.
February 21st, 2019 at 2:09 PM ^
For a manufactured band whose TV show only lasted two seasons, they did very well for themselves and had very solid staying power. They all had talent, but as Mike Nesmith said, none of them would have chosen each other had they formed a band on their own. That said, they made it work back in their day and in their reunions since.
February 21st, 2019 at 2:15 PM ^
So you are saying, Mike Nesmith would have preferred to White Out his band mates?
February 21st, 2019 at 2:21 PM ^
Heyoooo. Yes, an odd fact about him—his mother was the inventor of Liquid Paper. Also, he is indirectly credited as pioneering both country rock and MTV.
February 21st, 2019 at 2:54 PM ^
Death is just a "stepping stone" to musical heaven, enjoy the jam session, Pete!
February 21st, 2019 at 7:38 PM ^
Groan
February 21st, 2019 at 6:27 PM ^
They weren't even hired as musicians. The music on the show, like the music on the Daydream Believer clip below was all dubbed. It was only when they realized that they could tour that they learned to play. I think Nesbit could play some, but not the rest.
RIP though
Memory must be gone. Forgot that Peter could also play but the show wouldn't let him and used all studio musicians instead
February 21st, 2019 at 2:13 PM ^
I used to watch this show as a kid. Back then, it seemed good. One of the other Monkey's mom invented Liquid Paper, IIRC.
February 21st, 2019 at 2:17 PM ^
Hey, hey, we're...
February 21st, 2019 at 2:17 PM ^
BTW, Fuck Cancer---it appears to be the cause of Peter's demise.
February 21st, 2019 at 4:35 PM ^
Rare tongue cancer, I believe.
Very sad news though. I remember when Nickelodeon was a fledgling cable network and when Nick-At-Nite began in the mid-80s, "The Monkees" was one of the few shows they had, so I watched it.
February 21st, 2019 at 9:53 PM ^
It isn't easy, looking at these pictures of Peter Tork young, and realizing how we were all young once and can't stay young.
My favorite line... "we're just trying to be friendly"
February 22nd, 2019 at 1:06 AM ^
I liked the part " people saying we are just monkeying around" They use to be the younger generation and now are dying off.
February 21st, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^
This year has started off especially rough for some of the 60s-80s icons. Mean Gene Okerlund. Dean Wormer's wife. Albert Finney. Carol Channing. Bob "Super Dave" Einstein. Captain (from Captain & Tennille).
So RIP to Peter Tork. Used to watch the Monkees show when I was a kid before there were 500 channels of other garbage even if I didn't get the jokes.
February 21st, 2019 at 4:11 PM ^
....and Keith Jackson.
February 21st, 2019 at 4:33 PM ^
Man. How could I forget Keith after all the posts pointing it out.
February 21st, 2019 at 7:43 PM ^
Super Dave has passed? RIP Super Dave. I gave that guy a lot of credit for chasing the dream doing what it takes to get in the show. I thought his ego was as big as they get. He did make me laugh when he was spring boarded through a basketball backboard.
February 21st, 2019 at 3:53 PM ^
Technically, it's a little bit less Monkeeing around
RIP Peter Tork
February 21st, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
This one time, i listened to a song. I had thoughts.
February 21st, 2019 at 4:18 PM ^
How did he get so old? It can't be. Old guy.
February 21st, 2019 at 5:04 PM ^
Guy i used to work with was always telling us how he went to see The Monkees at the Grande ballroom.
He said he and everyone else there just went to see Hendrix and after he was done everyone left .
Can you imagine taking a teenage daughter to see the Monkees and then them seeing and dealing with the Hendrix crowd ?
February 21st, 2019 at 5:28 PM ^
Hendrix was the opening act for the Monkees when their U.S tour began in July 1967. The Monkees heard him in England earlier in the year and wanted him on their tour. Hendrix wasn't very well known in the U.S yet (For example, first LP released in May, "Purple Haze" single not released until August).
After about a half dozen dates, both groups realized the ridiculousness of the pairing and Hendrix dropped out.
Monkees/Hendrix never actually played at the Grande, but the Monkees did play at Olympia on that tour.
I believe Hendrix didn't play at the Grande until early 1968.
February 21st, 2019 at 7:55 PM ^
RIP Peter Tork
Monkees "I'm a Believer" written by Neil Diamond is one of the best pop dance songs of all time.
February 22nd, 2019 at 12:38 AM ^
He was my favorite as a kid... RIP Mr Tork.