They were two struggling folk musicians who had met in New York City. When the folk revival slowed they headed to California and were looking for their next thing. Stephen Stills answered an ad in a trade magazine looking for actor-musicians for a new tv project. When Stills was rejected for his bad teeth he suggested his old NYC buddy Peter Thorkelson. He was exactly what the producers were looking for and as Peter Tork became one of the Monkees that exploded to manufactured overnight fame. Tork died yesterday at the age of 77 after a long battle with cancer. The thing was, Tork, along with Mike Nesmith, were actual musicians that expected to play on the records. When Tork showed up for the first recording session he started unpacking his guitar and the producers asked him what he was doing. It seemed he wasnt told that session players would play and the four “Monkees” would only sing. It bugged him for quite awhile but, of course, they had to play the songs on the road and eventually they demanded and recieved creative control on later albums. On the TV show Tork played the goofy one and later said he came to realize what the Monkees were and accepted it. Still he was a musician in California in the late 60's He and Mickey Dolenz used their Monkee money to buy houses in Laurel Canyon where the “cooler” musicians would hang out. He borrowed David Crosby the money to buy his beloved sailboat “The Mayan” . And then there was Monterrey Pop. There was no way the Monkees would ever be on the bill at Monterrey. That was the “cool” kids stage. But Tork was there in his hippie clothes and love beads, hanging out and digging the music. Talking backstage with Hendrix, and on-stage introducing Buffalo Springfield, which included his old friend Steve Stills. No, the Monkees music was not “cool”. But those records have stood the test of time and when you listen you hear 3 minute slices of pure AM radio pop pleasure…and there's nothing wrong with that.
Here is a classic episode of the show featuring Peter Tork
And one of his playful Monkees tunes
A slice of history you might have missed…I know I did.
Things to piss You Off today:
Quotes Of The Day
“Next week the House will vote on a bill to force background checks on all firearm purchases. Next week we get to find out which US Reps care more about the NRA than they do about America. There is no reason why anyone should vote against this bill.”-Ed Krassenstein
“Republicans called FDR a “socialist' for passing Social Security. They called LBJ a 'socialist' for passing Medicare. They called Barack Obama a “socialist” for passing the Affordable Care Act. Now they are calling Democrats “socialists” for seeking decency.”-Robert Reich
“Black people, please don't fall for this racist trope that one black person's (or any minority's) actions, good or bad, reflect on the whole. It's racist to its core. It's rooted in “credit to your race” conditioning. No person must answer for anothers' sin.”-Charles Blow
“100% chance Trump was briefed on the US Coast Guard domestic terrorist plotting to kill Democrats and reporters BEFORE he tweeted that the New York Times is the enemy of the people. His rhetoric is inciting violence. He's going to get someone hurt. He doesnt care.”- Tommy Vietor
Songs Of The Day
