Given their advancing years, doubts may arise regarding the possibility of extensive monkeying around.
The Monkees revealed yesterday that they would be reuniting for a tour to celebrate their 45th anniversary.
Although they now fall within the pensionable age range, three of the four members, aged 69, Peter Tork, and 65-year-olds Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones, announced a ten-date UK tour set to commence in May.
As for the fourth member, Michael Nesmith, he will not participate since, according to Jones, he prefers to avoid touring.
During a dinner in London on Sunday, the trio discussed their plans, with Jones, the only Monkee born in Britain, stating, ‘We need to share this music once again.’ He further mentioned, ‘The fan mail indicates they want it – and so we’re going to do it.’
The band, known for hits like Daydream Believer, I’m A Believer, and Last Train To Clarksville, stands to earn £1million from the tour. Should it prove successful, they might take the show to the U.S. and return for additional UK performances in larger venues later in the year.
Currently, drummer Dolenz is touring the UK as part of the musical Hairspray, while Tork has been performing with his band Shoe Suede Blues. Meanwhile, Jones has taken on roles as a racehorse owner and participates in various ‘bits and pieces’ on U.S. television.
The band hopes that this reunion will succeed where previous efforts did not. In 1996, Nesmith opted out of the U.S. dates, and in 2002, Tork, who is in recovery from alcoholism, exited after a dispute regarding backstage drinking.
Jones expressed, ‘I still want to perform. During these economic times, people are looking for the music from familiar periods that brought them joy.’