The Monkees to Monkey Around the U.S. on Summer Tour
The three surviving members of the Monkees have announced a 14-date U.S. tour kicking off May 22nd in Hampton, New Hampshire. Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork will be playing venues across the East Coast and Midwest, following the success of their recent reunion tour in 2013.
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In a press release, multi-instrumentalist Tork says he’s “happily looking forward to reuniting with (his) partners,” while drummer-vocalist Dolenz says he’s excited about seeing his old friends, “Papa Nez and the Torkmiester” and “looking forward to great music, great fun and truck-stop chili dogs at 4 a.m.” Tickets and VIP packages for the dates are currently on sale at the band’s website.
The band, of course, began life on their wacky Monkees TV series in 1965, finding massive success as Beatlemania continued to ravish the country. The group released several hit albums in the ’60s – evolving from a simple pop-rock style to a more psychedelic approach – before splitting up, and a different trio configuration (Dolenz, Tork and original frontman Davy Jones) eventually reunited for a 20th anniversary tour in 1986. After Jones’ death, the remaining three members came together for a brief run of shows in 2012 before their larger reunion tour the following year.
Last year, Nesmith spoke to Rolling Stone about reuniting his old bandmates and his enthusiasm for hitting the stage: “It was so much fun,” he said. “The people that come, they bring their expectations, and we give them exactly what they want, so that’s perfect. I don’t know what they’re bringing in the door, but I’m happy to see them.”
The Monkees’ 2014 dates:
5/22 Hampton, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
5/23 Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, The Music Box
5/24 Newark, NJ – New Jersey PAC
5/25 Huntington, NY – The Paramount
5/27 Bethlehem (Philadelphia), PA – Sands Bethlehem Event Center
5/28 Greensburg (Pittsburgh), PA – The Palace Theater
5/30 Detroit, MI – Fox Theater
5/31 Merrillville, IN – Star Plaza Theater
6/1 Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
6/2 Minneapolis, MN – Weesner Family Amphitheater (Music in the Zoo Concert Series)
6/4 Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
6/5 St. Louis, MO – Fox Theater
6/6 Cincinnati, OH – PHC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
6/7 Northfield/Cleveland, OH – Hard Rock Live