If you turned on the radio today and heard a Monkees song, you might not have thought much about it. But, the radio station I listen to played several Monkee songs in a row and for a sad reason. The Monkees lead singer Davy Jones died today of a heart attack at the age of 66.
My son is in second grade and when I was that age, I loved the Monkees. I mean, I LOVED them. I had their posters all over my walls, forced my parents to watch their television show – I was just terribly smitten.
Of course, that eventually gave way for other celebrity crushes such as Bobby Sherman, David Cassidy, and the Bay City Rollers but The Monkees always held a special place in my heart.
The way I’ve read it, The Monkees were created as a sort of American Beatles. Formed in 1966, Jones was the only Englishman in the group that also included Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Mike Nesmith. The group was total bubblegum at first, some marketing guy’s dream band. They were hired basically for their cute looks and vocals. Dolenz even had to learn how to play the drums, basically because Nesmith and Tork didn’t want to and Jones was too short to be seen on the drum set. It took the The Monkees years to get the right to play their own instruments.
The four eventually got more musical control of their band and found pretty good success. With hits like “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer,” “Daydream Believer,” “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday, the Monkees sold over 65 million singles and albums worldwide.
By 1969, the band was bickering and Tork quit the group. The next year, Nesmith left. Fortunately for him, his mother created Liquid Paper, so he probably didn’t need to work anyhow. If that isn’t weird enough Monkee trivia for you, know that Jimi Hendrix opened up for the Monkees in 1967. How is that for mismatching?
Although the band didn’t last long, the four guys never really stayed far apart. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, the band saw a resurgence with even Nesmith, the most reluctant of the four, returning for several shows. They always seemed to be fighting yet you knew deep down, these guys all shared an unbreakable bond. Of Jones’ death, Nesmith said, “That David has stepped beyond my view causes me the sadness that it does many of you. I will miss him, but I won’t abandon him to mortality.” Via Facebook, Tork said, “It is with great sadness that I reflect on the sudden passing of my long-time friend and fellow-adventurer, David Jones. His talent will be much missed; his gifts will be with us always.” Dolenz said, “I am in a state of shock; Davy and I grew up together and shared in the unique success of what became The Monkees phenomena. The time we worked together and had together is something I’ll never forget. He was the brother I never had and this leaves a gigantic hole in my heart. The memories have and will last a lifetime.”
RIP Davy Jones – many of your fans are missing you today.