THE MONKEES

Groovy man, ya made it to my Monkee Pad. Chill here for a bit and enjoy the view!

Words to Ditty Diego according to Track 14 on the "Head" soundtrack.

All: Hey! Hey! We are The Monkees, you know we love to please. A manufactured image, with no philosophies.

Mike: We hope you like our story, although there isn't one. That is to say there's many, that way there is more fun.

Peter: You've told us you like action and games of many kinds. You like to dance, we like to sing, so let's all lose our minds!

Micky: To mix it all together, pictures, sounds and songs and time and place and weather and even rights and wrongs

Davy: We know it doesn't matter, 'cos what you've come to see is what we'd love to give you, and give it 1-2-3.

Mike: But it may come 3-2-1, too, or jump from 9 to 5, and when you see an end in sight, beginning may arrive.

Peter: For those who look for meanings, in form as they do fact, we might tell you one thing, but then we'd only take it back.

Micky: Not back like in a box back, not back like in a race, not back so we can keep it, but back in time and space.

Davy: You say we're manufactured, to that we all agree. So make your choice and we'll rejoice in never being free.

All: Hey! Hey! We are The Monkees. We've said it all before. The money's in, we're made of tin, we're here to give you more!

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DAVID THOMAS JONES

With a mischievous smile, long hair, and a British accent to die for, Davy Jones invaded teen hearts as the breakout heartthrob of the 60s television classic The Monkees. The international idol of millions, Davy has continued to wow audiences worldwide with his solo concerts and numerous television appearances. Although best known as one of The Monkees, Davy was wowing audiences on Broadway long before television anointed him America's "dream prom date". It was in the BBC Radio Studios of Manchester, England, that Davy's career began, and at age sixteen Davy found himself the toast of New York, complete with a Tony Award nomination. Davy was offered a contract with Columbia Pictures/Screen Gems Television, and the rest is history.

Davy is an accomplished writer as well, and has recently completed the second edition of his autobiography, Davy Jones: Daydream Believin', which updates his life and career to the present. A regular on the charity sports circuit, Davy's proudest effort for charity was a successful completion of the London Marathon in 3 hours, 40 minutes. An extremely able horseman, Davy maintains his amateur jockey license and on February 1, 1996, Davy won his first face under rules in England, riding his ace horse, Digpast. Davy continues to ride and train winners, and has serious aspirations of training any one of his numerous racehorses for a Maryland cup victory. Judging from Davy's many accomplishments and successes thus far, it is clear to see he is the true incarnation of a Daydream Believer!

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GEORGE MICHAEL DOLENZ

After selling more than 65 million records worldwide as the star of THE MONKEES TV show, Micky Dolenz has continued to make his mark in other areas of the entertainment business, through his varied career as an actor, director, producer and performer.

Micky first established himself as a performer at age 10 when, under the stage name of Micky Braddock, he starred in his first TV series, "Circus Boy," which aired on NBC from 1956-1958. In his teens, Micky guest-starred on a number of television shows and also learned to play guitar.

In 1977, Micky flew to London to star in Harry Nilsson's West End Musical, "The Point." He planned to stay three months but remained for 12 years. During that time, Micky honed his behind-the-camera skills (which he first practiced by directing episodes of "The Monkees") by becoming prominent producer-director for the BBC and London Weekend Television. He also directed a feature film, "The Box," written by Micheal Palin and Terry Jones of Monty Python, and helmed numerous music videos.

In 1986, MTV broadcast episodes of The Monkees show and exposed a whole new generation to Monkeemania. In 1996, The Monkees again joined together this time for a "30 Year Reunion" summer tour around America. The response was such that they toured again the following year, this time finishing up in England.

More recently Micky has spent more time behind the camera, including directing for the Michael Jacobs Production ABC/Disney hit TV show Boy Meets World, staring Ben Savage which aired earlier this year.

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PETER HALSTEN THORKELSON

Peter was the oldest of the Monkees even though this fact was concealed so that Mike Nesmith could assume the job as leader of the group. When he was younger, Peter and his family moved quite a bit, and even ended up in Berlin, Germany at one point until his family finally settled into Connecticut. His father assumed a job at the University of Connecticut teaching economics.

Peter began mastering musical instruments at a very early age. At nine, he studied piano and later took up the banjo and acoustic guitar. He attended Carleton College in Minnesota, but he flunked out twice, so he decided to seek his fame and fortune in the Greenwich Village scene of New York. There he played in clubs and cafes, trying to make a living, but soon gave up and headed to California.

In California, Peter had hoped to make it big, but ended up working a dishwashing job for $50 a week. At the Monkees audition, Peter's musical ability and his ability to play a convincing dummy landed him the job.

Peter wasn't one to embrace his stardom though. He immersed himself in the lifestyle of the 60's; love beads, paisley clothes, and, of course, chemical stimulants. Peter was the most hippie-like of the four Monkees.

After the cancellation of the Monkees in 1968, the group moved onto movies. The Monkees starred in their first, and only, feature length movie, Head. The movie was not much success, and has now become a cult classic. There have been given many interpretations of this movie, but the most common is the one that it is an explanation of The Monkees phenomenon. In the end, the Monkees leap off a bridge, trying to escape their teeny bopper image.

In late 1968, Peter finally quit The Monkees with the official reason of suffering from exhaustion. Now Peter has a solo album, Stranger Things Have Happened and he has perfomed many solo shows. He also has two albums, Two Man Band and Once Again, with his best friend and fellow musician, James Lee Stanley. Peter can still be seen in solo shows, mostly in Southern California, with his blues band, Shoe Suede Blues, who also has a CD release, or doing shows with James Lee Stanley.

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ROBERT MICHAEL NESMITH

Mike started with his upbringing in Texas. With his start as a Monkee, some say the ultimate destruction of the group was due to his solo career, which led to his own record company Pacific Arts.

In between all of that, his mother Bette invented Liquid Paper, he invented MTV, and he also went on to win the first Grammy in the category of home video for "Elephant Parts." All the while Michael stubbornly sticks to his guns and makes certain everything is run on his terms.