There are a lot of unusual, surprising, and interesting facts about the Monkees are not always known by even their most obsessed of fans. This is page is compiled of many of them, which I find from various sources and usually add as I remember to and/or feel like it. This page very closely relates to the Why Like The Monkees page with some of these facts, although their purposes are different [just wanted to let you know, no, you're not insane]. If you have anything else you'd like to contribute, please e-mail me. AMAZING MONKEES FACTS: The Monkees OUTSOLD The Beatles and Rolling Stones COMBINED in 1967. According to Wikipedia, Micky Dolenz sets his drums up for a left-handed drummer, even though he is right handed. Technically, as I understand it, he actually sets up his drums up 50/50, parts left-handed, parts right-handed. The Beatles invited The Monkees to a party in England in 1967, having no anomosity towards them, stating they were funny, "like the Marx Brothers". Donnie Kirshner's basement in New Jersey is FILLED with rejected, unsold 45's bearing, "Davy Jones, My Favorite Monkee" on them. Micky Dolenz often entertained the Beatles in his Laurel Canyon house. He remained good friends with Ringo Starr over the years, spending much time with him and Harry Nilsson in the seventies. When Michael Nesmith was in Mexico in 1969 with Davy, Micky, and Sam and The Goodtimers, he was given a million dollars worth of pot by the government, after they confiscated film of his accidently, in apology, to which one of their other band members just took from Mike, hid in the nearest couch, and ran. Michael Nesmith's mother invented Liquid Paper. Michael Nesmith threw his "original" green wool hat out into the audience at a concert in the summer of 1967. *sigh* I wonder where that hat is today. The Monkees' hairdresser made more money per week than the Monkees individually made per week during The Monkees show. Gotta wonder about that one... "Daydream Believer" has been suggested to originally have been written about Marilyn Monroe. "Papa Gene's Blues" was going to be called "Brand X". "Cuddly Toy" was going to be called, "For Any Boy". Former members of the band, Cake, Greg Brown, Victor Damiani, and Todd Roper were in a band called Saturday's Child [you know, the Monkees song]. Coincidence? LOL. I just felt like sharing that. If anyone knows of any good Cake sites, please let me know. Micky owned the 3rd Moog synthesizer that was ever made, and was the first to use it in a pop-song. The Monkees were contractually obliged to wear/use at least one peice of sponsered merchandice at all times. The Wichita Train Whistle Sings, Michael's first "solo" album in 1968 was really a big "party" the threw with 58 other musicians, including Hal Blaine, to "use up" money Michael had been alloted for recording purposes. Jimmy Hendrix toured with the Monkees for 8 shows in 1967. Davy fans would shout "Foxy Davy" everytime Jimmy sang "Foxy Lady". Peter called Hendrix "meaningless noise" when he first heard it. Yet, the Monkees were apparently wise enough to realize what a zeitgeist he was for the time. Oh yeah. Michael thought "I'm A Believer" would never be popular, and when he said that the people in the recording session jokingly asked him if they should add horns and other instruments. Michael didn't get the sarcasm, and agreed it would be better that way, and they all laughed at him. The first "independant" Monkees song, that the Monkees did on their own after leaving Donnie Kirshner's control, was "All Of Your Toys". Davy hit Peter before Peter hit Davy during the "Daydream Believers" recording sessions. Davy later said he was pissed off, and had trouble getting the notes right. That needs to be noted, I swear! Davy and Peter won't admit/don't remember what their fight was about during the DDB sessions, but they will say the Daydream Believers movie dipiction of it was not accurate- why does that not surprise me? John Stewart, writer of "Daydream Believer", admits to not knowing what "Daydream Believer" really means. And, for the record John, I WORSHIP your song in ways I can not express, and am very sorry I missed that concert back in 2002. Originally the lyrics to "Daydream Believer" were "now you know how funky I can be". The producers told John Stewart, "Davy doesn't do funky." OMG, LOL. I Ching- Chinese Book of Changes is said to be Peter's favorite book. I mean, really. According to the VH1 Pop-up Video version of Daydream Believers, there is some rumor among fans that the Monkees "white outfits" from 1967 have "higher meaning" and represent something-- didn't I start that rumor? Peter had to buy himself out of his contract in 1968. U2 once used "The Monkees" as an alias when staying in a hotel on tour, and they received more fans than they would have had they used U2. Could have called that one! ;) No, I'm kidding... really, I'm kidding... Headquarters was number one in 1967 for one week until Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band knocked it to #2. Damn people... The Monkees won an Emmy in 1967 for the Academy of Arts and Television. Michael bought Phyllis a $200,000 house as a present. Michael held all the recorded tapes from the HEAD writing sessions in his car until the dispute over the writing was settled. So Michael. "Daydream Believer" was the Monkees only hit after Donnie Kirshner left. The Monkees only movie, Head, was first called "Changes" then "Untitled". When Phyllis drove her car off a cliff in 1968, Michael forced her to come home from the hospital because they were Christian Scientologists- they believe in spiritual healing. Peter went to prison in 1974 (73?) for possession of hash. Allegedly Micky and Davy also got in trouble with the law for illegal possessions of certain substances, but never went to jail...