We lost another big part of our youth yesterday when Peter Tork of The Monkees passed away at the age of 77. (Peter had just celebrated a birthday the week before.)
The Beatles first opened my eyes (and ears) to a whole new world when Beatlemania hit The States in February of 1964 ... the complete saturation of their material made them impossible to escape ... and they were just so much fun to watch and listen to. The music was magically infectious ... and has endured for nearly sixty years now, attracting new fans every step of the way.
Great stuff ...
But it was The Monkees who made me want to play music.
By the time their TV show premiered on NBC in September of 1966, The Beatles were already off creating far more sophisticated music than my 13-year-old brain could process and embrace.
But The Monkees kept it simple ... they were having fun so WE were having fun watching them. Oh, to be in a band and have that kind of camaraderie ... living out in a beach house ... enjoying each other's company ... playing music that other people loved, too. It was something I wanted to feel ... something I wanted to be part of ... so in early 1967, I got my very first guitar and, a few months later, wrote my very first song. (Some of you may remember it ... it was very, very deep ... with lyrics like "If I had a penny ... now what would I do ... I'd put it in my piggy bank and save it up for you" ... only to reach the punch-line ending of the last verse, "Who cares about that penny? It's just waste of time. Forgot about that penny ... 'cause I really got a dime. Yeah, I really got a dime." Look out, Bob Dylan ... I'm comin' up behind you!)
But despite the mammoth amount of success these guys enjoyed in real life, The Monkees were not a successful group on TV ... they rarely got the gig ... and even when they did, they had to contend with all kinds of obstacles along the way ... everything from gangsters to pirates to monsters. (And, truth be told, I don't think that there has EVER been a band that's had THIS much fun together in real life!!!)
And the hapless sad sack throughout all this pain and misery was Peter Tork, the "dummy," the butt of most of the jokes and the comic foil. Things rarely went right for Peter ... (although he DID get to kiss Julie Newmar ... and learn to play the harp well enough to beat the Devil YEARS before the idea ever crossed Charlie Daniels' mind!)
Tork probably shared the smallest portion of the HUGE spotlight that was cast upon the group ... Davy was the teen heart-throb ... Micky was the guy with the INCREDIBLE voice who had the best chops both musically and acting-wise ... and Mike was the functioning brain and voice of reason behind the Pre Fab Four. (Heck, he even ran for Mayor!!!)
Tork and Nesmith were clearly the most accomplished musicians hired for these roles. Dolenz had to learn to play the drums and likened it to Leonard Nimoy actually having to fly a space ship when The Monkees went out on the road to perform live in front of their screaming teenage audience. And Davy, a former horse jockey, was, at best, a cabaret singer whose strong suit was musical theater. (Tork was encouraged to audition by his buddy Stephen Stills, who had been turned down for the role, allegedly because he had "bad teeth" ... he told producers "I know a guy who looks just like me" ... presumably with better dental hygiene ... and he sent his buddy Peter over, who then nailed the part.)
Yet somehow it all gelled ... it's impossible to imagine anyone else in these roles today.
Mike, of course, became the accomplished songwriter in the group (and fought with Musical Director Don Kirschner every step of the way to allow the band to perform and produce their own material, at one point punching his fist through a wall and telling Donny "That could have been your face!")
Micky and Davy didn't want to do anything to upset the money cart ... The Monkees were running like a well-oiled machine, cranking out hit after hit after hit thanks to top-notch songwriters like Carole King, Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart providing them material for their next record(s). The Monkees were money makers, at one point outselling both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. (For more on this, check out our Boyce and Hart series permanently posted on the other Forgotten Hits website, Chapters 5, 6 and 7: http://forgottenhits.com/the_music_of_tommy_boyce_and_bobby_hart)
Tork just kind of rolled with the flow. He, too, was an accomplished musician who wanted to perform on his own records ... but didn't have the vocal chops to sing the hits and, although he did provide some of the music recorded by the band, was never taken seriously by the powers that be ... although he DID write the song that became the closing credits theme for the entire second season, "For Pete's Sake" (which, for all of the reasons mentioned above, was given to Micky Dolenz to sing.)
Likely Peter's best know Monkees track came off of the group's second album (a record that topped Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart for an incredible 18 weeks in 1967), "Your Auntie Grizelda." The track was featured in a couple of TV episodes at the time and also garnered a fair amount of airplay at a time where nearly everything they recorded was being played on the radio in regular rotation.
Another personal favorite of mine that showed off Peter's comic skills was this one, used as a brief interlude on their "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd." LP, leading into their hit single "Pleasant Valley Sunday" ...
The one thing I have read again and again in all the news reports covering Peter's death is that "he was like the Ringo of the group."
First of all, that's a huge insult to Ringo, who played a big part in the early success of The Beatles and, at one point, had the largest fan base here in America of The Fab Four. (A similar comment was made during the stage production of "Jersey Boys" where Nick Massi referred to himself as "the Ringo of the group," The Four Seasons. Even Lorne Michaels, when he offered The Beatles $2000 to reunite to perform live on "Saturday Night Live" made some type of comment about splitting the money any way they liked, even if that meant giving a smaller share to Ringo.) ENOUGH ALREADY!!! I'll tell you what ... I defy ANYBODY out there to compare bank books with Mr. Richard Starkey ... I think the lad's done all right for himself!!! So enough with the put-downs!)
Naturally, every music and news publication from coast to coast covered Peter's death yesterday ... but after reading most of them, I don't think anybody covered it as thoroughly and accurately as Ultimate Classic Rock ... so if you only read one report, make it this one ...
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-tork-dies/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=newsletter_4572276
You'll also find interesting side stories in the Rolling Stone piece ... as well as "Five Things You Didn't Know About Peter Tork" in the piece done by Death Beeper.
http://deathbeeper.com/0768282.html
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/peter-tork-monkees-dead-at-77-obituary-797269/
https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/AJsc7TQJqyPYXG9FFAOxULs6TDw
https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8499445/the-monkees-mourn-peter-tork-death?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%20Template%20BB:%20Multi%20Story%20-%201.0&utm_term=daily_digest
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/monkees-peter-tork-dies-age-77-175617524.html
Micky Dolenz issued this early statement on his Facebook Page (and promised to say more later) ...
There are no words right now ... heart broken over the loss of my Monkee brother, Peter Tork
-- Micky Dolenz
And then this from Mike Nesmith (who is currently back touring with Micky again) ...
Pardon me if I am being dogmatic -- but I think it is harder to put together a band than a TV show -- not to take anything away from TV shows. These days I watch MSNBC -- mostly aghast at what I see -- and what I am missing is "madcap".
Peter Tork died this AM. I am told he slipped away peacefully.
Yet, as I write this, my tears are awash, and my heart is broken. Even though I am clinging to the idea that we all continue, the pain that attends these passings has no cure. It's going to be a rough day.
I share with all Monkees fans this change, this "loss", even so.
PT will be a part of me forever. I have said this before -- and now it seems even more apt -- the reason we called it a band is because it was where we all went to play.
A band no more -- and yet the music plays on -- an anthem to all who made the Monkees and the TV show our private -- dare I say "secret" -- playground.
As for Pete, I can only pray his songs reach the heights that can lift us and that our childhood lives forever -- that special sparkle that was the Monkees. I will miss him -- a brother in arms. Take flight my Brother.
One cannot help but wonder if Peter's health is what kept him from joining Micky and Mike for this latest tour. But then again, also keep in mind that the first leg of that tour had to be cut short when Nesmith had a heart attack! With half of The Beatles and half of The Monkees gone now, it's really starting to hit home how all of this that we've been enjoying for so long has a very real expiration date. These are the two groups that meant the most to me and inspired me during my most formative years. It is sad to feel any sense that it may all be coming to an end.
I have been fortunate enough to have seen some version of The Monkees perform at least thirty times over the years ... and Peter was there for the great majority of those shows. I also saw him perform here locally at a couple of unusual venues with his Shoe Suede Blues band ... first at the Old Chicago Amusement Park (where he signed a couple of napkins for me in green marker!) and then again at a club called Haymakers, typically more of a hard rock venue, which was packed to the gills that night to see the former Monkee.
PT will be a part of me forever. I have said this before -- and now it seems even more apt -- the reason we called it a band is because it was where we all went to play.
A band no more -- and yet the music plays on -- an anthem to all who made the Monkees and the TV show our private -- dare I say "secret" -- playground.
As for Pete, I can only pray his songs reach the heights that can lift us and that our childhood lives forever -- that special sparkle that was the Monkees. I will miss him -- a brother in arms. Take flight my Brother.
One cannot help but wonder if Peter's health is what kept him from joining Micky and Mike for this latest tour. But then again, also keep in mind that the first leg of that tour had to be cut short when Nesmith had a heart attack! With half of The Beatles and half of The Monkees gone now, it's really starting to hit home how all of this that we've been enjoying for so long has a very real expiration date. These are the two groups that meant the most to me and inspired me during my most formative years. It is sad to feel any sense that it may all be coming to an end.
I have been fortunate enough to have seen some version of The Monkees perform at least thirty times over the years ... and Peter was there for the great majority of those shows. I also saw him perform here locally at a couple of unusual venues with his Shoe Suede Blues band ... first at the Old Chicago Amusement Park (where he signed a couple of napkins for me in green marker!) and then again at a club called Haymakers, typically more of a hard rock venue, which was packed to the gills that night to see the former Monkee.
Incredibly, Peter was the first to leave the group, buying his way out of his contract after the television series was cancelled and their movie "Head" and TV special "33 Revolutions Per Monkee" bombed. The group carried on as a trio for a couple more albums before finally calling it a day.
When the band got hot again after MTV started airing their '60's television series, I caught up with them at The Star Plaza Theater in Merrillville, Indiana, where I was able to thank the three of them (Mike was missing in action for most of the reunion years) for all the joy they had given me over the years. I told Micky flat out that night, "You're the reason I play music."
Their ridiculous little TV show has played non-stop for nearly sixty years now ... The Monkees are, for all intents and purposes, frozen in time. They will always be the young, exuberant, playful group of musicians performing their timeless hits for countless generations to come. And the coolest part of all? When we watch these episodes again, NONE of us have gotten any older. And ain't that great??? (kk)
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Sad to hear about the death of Peter Tork. He was relegated to being #4 in importance (ala Ringo) in the group, yet he did a great job on the TV series, sang some cool and fun songs for the band and was HIMSELF when it came to doing what he wanted, whether it affected the band or not.
"Your Auntie Grizelda" is crying today. :(
Clark Besch
It is very sad to hear about Peter Tork's passing.
I have been to a few of the Monkee reunions. A few years ago I saw Nesmith, Dolenz, and Tork in Milwaukee. Peter impressed me with his guitar playing and his joking with the audience that night.
Another hero from my childhood is gone.
Phil - WRCO
This is a very sad day in the world of rock & roll with the sudden death of Peter Tork of The Monkees.
For over 50 years Peter was one of the most loved personalities to not only the television screen but on the music charts as well. In the 1960s, The Monkees were brought into the crazy world of rock & roll, and in the beloved quartet, Peter was a true original. On TV he often played the hapless but lovable clown, but in real life was a deeply talented musician who was as warm and good-natured as the character he portrayed.
Peter Tork, you will always be remembered fondly by your millions of fans. Your passing makes today shrouded only in "Shades of Gray."
Mark Bego
I was broken hearted today to receive the announcement of the passing of Peter Tork. Loved him as a Monkee. Loved him in Shoes Suede Blues. Loved seeing him in concert.
His family confirmed he died this morning at his home, here in CT, after battling adenoid cystic carcinoma for a decade. I must say that we were blessed to have had those 10 years with Peter. He was SOMETHING ELSE.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
