The Monkees was a television show from 1966-1968, and it rocked the nation. Monkeemania was extremely real and many people were swept up in it! But here are 10 things you never knew about The Monkees (mega fans might be included in this statement).
Peter Tork Was a Gifted Musician
Peter might have played the dummy on the show, but he was actually incredibly smart and talented. Peter could play the piano, the guitar, and the banjo! He was also a classically trained musician. He surely wasn’t the dummy when it came to music!
Mike Nesmith Was a Songwriter
Mike Nesmith might be known for being the one in the green hat, but he also was a successful songwriter. One of his most famous hits wasn’t actually sung by him but by Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys – the song? Different Drum. Some other Nesmith-penned songs that were featured on the show or Monkees’ albums were Mary, Mary, Listen to the Band, and Circle Sky.
Many Famous Songwriters Wrote for The Monkees
Many impressive songwriters wrote for The Monkees. Some famous names you might recognize are Carole King, Neil Diamond, and Harry Nilsson. These amazing talents helped give us the catchy songs we all love!
The Monkees Might Have Not Played All Their Album Music, but They Did Play on One Album
The Monkees didn’t usually play the instruments on their studio albums, that is a fact. However, for one of the albums, they did a little bit of a coup and got to play their own instruments on the album. Which album? Headquarters.
The Monkees Weren’t Trying to be The Beatles
If you really watch the show, you will notice a big difference between The Monkees and The Beatles. The Beatles were already bonafide stars and The Monkees, well, they wanted to be famous but couldn’t seem to catch a break. They wanted to be famous like The Beatles, but not be the same as them.
An Oscar Winner Helped Write Their Movie, ‘Head’
The movie Head is not always fondly remembered by lovers of the television show. However, love it or hate it, the movie has a very famous name attached to it – Jack Nicholson. Nicholson helped write the film but let’s just say he wasn’t sober the whole time he was writing.
They Played Live Shows
Some might be surprised to know that The Monkees actually toured! They toured in the United States and around the world. For the tours, they had to play their own instruments live (so yes, they could play instruments).
Only Peter and Micky Are in Every Episode
Davy and Mike had other things to do during some episodes. Davy had to go to England for his sister’s wedding and Mike had to get a tonsillectomy, be there when his son was born, and go on a family trip. We won’t say Peter and Micky were more dedicated than they are – this time.
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Their Album is One of the First to Use a Moog Synthesizer
The Moog Synthesizer was fairly new in the mid to late 60s. Micky Dolenz happened to own one of them and it was used on one of The Monkees albums. If you listen to Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones LTD, you will hear the Moog Synthesizer on at least one of the songs. How groovy!
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They Released an Album in 2016
The Monkees released the album Good Times! in the year 2016. The album included all members who were alive at the time – Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, and Peter Tork. There is a song posthumously sung by Davy Jones, with the song having been originally recorded in 1967 but cut from the record at the time. The album is a great addition to The Monkees’ discography and you should definitely listen to it.
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