Welcome to Sleepy Jean's FAQ Page. This is a Frequently Asked Questions page about the Monkees as a band, them as people, and questions I am just generally asked myself, which is helpful and informative, both to those very familiar with The Monkees, and those just starting out. While I want this page to be very thorough, informative, and somewhat unbiased, keep in mind, I am not an *expert* on The Monkees, nor do I intend to become one, but, in the course of my life, I tend to know a lot about them. I have tried to lay out some basic questions here, and if you have any others, think something else should be on here, or know better answers to some of these, feel free to . || The Official Monkees FAQs || 1.) Who are The Monkees? [Taken from my entry in urban dictionary]: "The Monkees was the first band used to combine music and television, as we know it, on a large-scale commercial level, modeled after other bands such as the Beatles, creating much controversy in the late 1960's." The Monkees are: Michael Nesmith: 6'1". Leader, taciturn, willful, and brilliant. Born December 30, 1942 in Houston, Texas. Bio Micky Dolenz: 6'0". Funny, light-hearted, hyper, and adorable. Born March 8, 1945 in Tarzana, California. Bio Davy Jones: 5'3". Charismatic, old world, heart-throb, and British. Born December 30, 1945 in Manchester, England. Bio Peter Tork: 5'11". Philosophical, musical, literal, and unconventional. Born February 13, 1942 in Washington, D.C. Bio 2.) Did The Monkees play their own instruments? This is actually, I'm sure, the most commonly asked question about The Monkees. The simple answer to this question of course is, yes. YES. But that is not the full story, nor does it explain how The Monkees got the point they reached in the sixties as a real band. The Monkees initially were not a real band, they were a TV show, and therefor not supposed to play any of their music at all. They went into this as actors. They were all basically just meant to play musicians on TV. However, they were capable musicians in real life as well, and when they became a real band in 1967, they all played their own instruments, and have ever since. 3.) Are all the members of The Monkees still alive? Oh YES. Yes. Yes. I get asked this one a lot ironically. ;) But, yes, unlike many of their musical rock and roll legend counterparts, no drugs, sex, or geriatrics have claimed any of the lives of these four men, and God willingly, I hope they live for many, many, many more years. They are genuinely young at heart and they will probably remain indefinitely locked in as the virile men they once were on The Monkees for as long as they live. 4.) Do you know the Monkees? Yes. I do know some of the Monkees. For the sake of their privacy and respect, and my own as well, I would prefer not to explain who or how. But yes am I am friends with some of them, respect them, and care for them, and it is the one of the reasons I like to maintain this page about them. 5.) How did The Monkees become a real band? [As taken from my Discography Page]: "The unique plight of The Monkees as musicians is often the subject of controversy, misinformation, and lies. The Monkees began in 1966 as a TV show about a fictious band modeled after the growing number of teenage boy bands popular in the mid 1960's, starring four men who went by the same stage names as real life, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, and Peter Tork. This TV show however transcended the normal boundaries of television, using media outside of it to create veresimilitude by making albums and hit radio songs written and played by hired song writers and musicians with the Monkees vocals dubbed over them. The Monkees themselves were musicians in real life, but for the sake of the television show did not play their own music. By late 1966, The Monkees, as both a television show and make-believe band, exploded with completely unprecidented and unpredicted popularity. Monkees singles were being sold-out before the songs were even played on the radio, and their first album The Monkees was number one on the Billboard. However, at this time "The Monkees" was simply a group of actor's vocals being dubbed over pre-made songs by professional song writers and musicians, and for this reason, people were angry that they adored the music of a band that wasn't real. They were the number one band in America, but they weren't even a real band. Criticism bombarded them for being "fake" and "manufactured", and as well for having an unfair advantage over other real bands who might otherwise take their spotlight. Great music was coming out of this phenomenon, but the Monkees themselves, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Micky Dolenz, could not live with this lie and wanted to create their own music themselves. By early 1967 the four members of the Monkees decided to become a real band. They fired their music supervisor, Don Kirshner, declared their independance, and began writing and playing their own music for all their future albums. During this time, they remained stars in the TV show The Monkees, but were also a real band outside of it, producing albums under the name "The Monkees", correlating in a relationship never before seen in music and television. Without their "golden ear" music supervisor, and the greatest song writers and musicians money could by, The Monkees had their work cut out for them to remain just as good as they were before, one of the number one bands in America. It was a formidible expectation for anyone. But the Monkees worked like mad to pull themselves together, and produced their third album, Headquarters, their first real album together, in May of 1967. Headquarters charted number one for one week until the Beatles Sgt. Pepper knocked it down to number two. This was a big blow to them, however, being number two, next to the Beatles, is pretty impressive as it is. After this, the Monkees went on to write, play, record, and produce all their own music. The popularity of the Monkees peaked from 1966-1968, eventually the TV show was cancelled, and the band later disintegrated one by one, for various reasons. The Monkees, however, was one of the most popular "bands" of the 1960's, outselling The Beatles and Rolling Stones combined in 1967-- after the Monkees had declared themselves a real "band". They have reunited on and off over the years, and despite their individual attempts at other acting and musical endeavors, they will probably remain typecast as the Monkees for the rest of their lives. There is much controversy over their claim to fame, because the start of their popularity was obviously created for them by their original musical supervisor, song writers and musicians. However, their acting talents in their TV show played an equal part to their success, and as far as their musical side goes, they clearly have demonstrated their talents in that area as well. Furthermore, I think its obvious that the Monkees as individuals were integral to this whole process, and if not for their humour, charm, charisma, musical and acting talent, and the dynamics of that winning combination of people, that "band" might never have existed as it did and gained the following and influence it had. Anyone could have been chosen for their roles, but they were the ones chosen. They were meant to be together in this ironic journey, and they proved it when they became their own band. Everyone involved in the Monkees phenomenon pioneered through a strange experiment that became music and television history. Their conception is unique, incredible, controversial, and complicated; however, despite and within all that, I feel The Monkees have earned their rights as musicians, actors, artists, and individuals. Their music is loved by millions, their television show equally successful, and they deserve recognition and understanding, as much as the people who helped create them. For these reasons, I think the Monkees should be respected not as a "band" but as a "phenomenon", their music should be respected for exactly what it is at every step of the way, and there should be understanding of exactly what went on in this process, who created what for them, and what they really created for themselves. The exact truth of the Monkees phenomenon needs to be expressed." 6.) What were The Monkees characters on the TV show? One of the great things about the TV show was while The Monkees each had very distinct characters, they never felt wrong stepping out of those characters, and especially towards the second season, there was a lot of spontaneity and improv in their lines. Many people talk about their characters being very defined, but I always saw them as distinct but unpredictable all the same. Still, I'll define their basic characters. Micky: Micky was the happy-go-lucky, girl-crazy, wild, fun, partying, drum-playing, climbing around their house, loud, unrestraint Monkee. He had enough energy to make the Energizer Bunny jealous, enough hair to be on a shampoo commercial, and a smile like the Cheshire Cat. Micky was often telling jokes, doing impersonations, plotting and scheming more ways to get the Monkees in and out of trouble, or being pussy-whipped by pretty girls. He was quite fun. Later on the show he is known for wearing a table clothe, which allegedly he had custom cut and hemmed for him from a real table clothe in England. Did I mentioned the Monkees smoked a lot? Yeah, that's no secret. ;) And also, may I say, Micky has the cutest nose of anyone I have ever seen in my entire life. :) NONE of the Monkees can compete with him in that regaurd... I'm crazy, I know. *grin* Michael: Michael was tall, dark, and Texan. He was careful, thoughtful, private, and yet aggressive, willful, and determined. He was seen as authoritarian, the "father" figure. He thought outside the box, but protected the status quo at the same time. He was a father figure, despite his protests. He watched over everyone and gave serious thought and answers to everything. His signature originally was his green wool hat, an item he was almost never without, along with jeans, button down shirts, and other country western styles. During the second season he adopted a "cooler" look, the hat often gone, and he was never seen without aviator sunglasses instead. He was often seen questioning things, standing with his arms crossed, thinking, being the man of reason. Davy: Davy was allegedly the heart throb, but he honestly didn't fall in love that often, and they all did themselves at times too. Or, did heart throb mean all the women wanted him? Well, he was cute, in that five foot three sort of way-- but they were all cute. Admittedly though, Davy's cuteness was one reserved for the coming of age pre-adolescence that much of this show targeted. As well, Davy often played the hero-- especially to damsels in distress. He had a very warm, comfortable, calming demeanor that had the effect of relaxing and relieving one. He was matter-of-fact, took things as they came. And, he was British. To many, this was quite a package. But, speaking of packages, have I mentioned he's five foot three? Yeah, we won't go there... Peter: Most people called Peter, "the dummy", but even though I don't really like Peter, I don't like calling him this either, because I sincerely don't think it's true. And yes, it's just a TV show, but that's not how I saw this character, which was very much based on part of his real life personality, and at the time I first watched The Monkees, very much like my own. Peter was the niave one, the literal one, something about his mind was very innocent or sheltered for some reason. But you wouldn't really call him dumb, because he wasn't like some stoner that couldn't figure out anything around him, he was very sensitive and by that aware, and he was pretty funny, which even in character you could tell was intentional. He was blonde, he was niave, and he was creative and unusual. But, he wasn't dumb. 7.) Are The Monkees married, and do they have children? Yes, lots. I copied this directly from here [because I don't, believe it or not, have this stuff memorized]. Micky Dolenz Married Samantha, - daughter Ami (1/8/69) Married Trina, - daughters, Charlotte (8/8/81), Emily (7/25/83), Georgia (9/3/84) Currently married to Donna, no children Michael Nesmith Married Phyllis, - children, Christian (1/31/65), Jonathan (2/4/68), Jessica (9/10/70) Affair with Nurit Wilde - son Jason (8/7/68) Married Kathryn, no children Married Victoria, no children Peter Tork Married Jody, no children Married Reine, - daughter, Hallie (1/25/70) Married Barbara, - son, Ivan (12/22/75) (details unknown) - daughter, Erica Davy Jones Married Linda, - daughters, Talia (10/2/68), Sarah (7/3/71) Married Anita, - daughters, Jessica (9/4/81), Annabelle (6/26/88)