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The Monkees — surviving members Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith — have announced the group’s farewell tour. The final run of shows will play 20 cities kicking off on September 11th in Seattle, Washington’s Moore Theatre, with the tour wrapping on November 10th when the tour hits Kansas City, Missouri’s Uptown Theater.
Set for release on May 21st is Micky Dolenz’ take on a number of Mike Nesmith’s tunes, titled Dolenz Sings Nesmith. The album, which is being released on the Monkees-based rarity label 7a Records, was produced by Nesmith’s eldest son Christian Nesmith, who also tours as part of his father and Dolenz’ Monkees revue.
Dolenz Sings Nesmith features songs written throughout Nesmith’s career — including his Monkees years. It will be released on 180-gram colored vinyl, on CD, as well as on all digital platforms.
Micky Dolenz explained that unlike nearly all of the Monkees peers from the ’60s, because they auditioned for an already established and owned identity, the rights and licensing to the Monkees has nothing to do with Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Davy Jones, and Mike Nesmith: “The four of us, do not, did not, and have never owned the rights to the Monkees. We cannot use the name ‘The Monkees‘ without permission from whoever happens to have bought the rights to the name and the logo — which were never owned by us — a lot of people never realized that.”
Noted Beach Boys author, documentarian, and West Coast historian, Jon Stebbins told us that both culturally and musically, the Monkees are far more important than the rock community has ever recognized: “It’s funny because if you think about it, they’re one of the only iconic ’60s bands that, y’know, you can have the four original members that we all know (what) their names were. I mean, how many other acts do we know the first names of all four guys? I mean, it’s like nobody. . . Everybody wants to wash their hands of it now, but I don’t know — I don’t understand that. I don’t understand why, because their stuff holds up. Y’know the album tracks on their third and fourth albums are as good as any of the A-sides that anybody else was putting out around that time.”
JUST ANNOUNCED: The Monkees “Farewell Tour” dates (subject to change):
September 11 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theater
September 14 – Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre
September 15 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
September 17 – Riverside, CA – Fox Performing Arts Center
September 18 – El Cajon, CA – The Magnolia
October 2 – Chattanooga, TN – Tivoli Theatre
October 6 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
October 7 – Knoxville, TN – Atlanta Symphony Hall
October 10 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
October 15 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort and Spa
October 22 – Bethlehem, PA – The Wind Creek Event Center
October 24 – New York, NY – Town Hall
October 28 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
October 29 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
October 30 – Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre
November 2 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre
November 6 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
November 9 – Caint Charlse, MO – Family Arena
November 10 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater