In Memoriam

[MajorHoy]

I also watched their show in reruns.

I think I remember seeing some of their shows before they were "in reruns" . . .

. . . I recall the controversy about whether they were really musicians or not but Nesmith certainly was a good guitarist and did write a few of the Monkees songs...

I thought it was that Nesmith and Peter Tork were legitimate musicians prior to the show and that it was Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones who were actors that had to learn how to play instruments for the show.

[The Darknight Detective]

I thought it was that Nesmith and Peter Tork were legitimate musicians prior to the show and that it was Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones who were actors that had to learn how to play instruments for the show.

That is was whet I remember, too.

[Iron Maiden]

I think I remember seeing some of their shows before they were "in reruns" . . .

I thought it was that Nesmith and Peter Tork were legitimate musicians prior to the show and that it was Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones who were actors that had to learn how to play instruments for the show.

That's what I was getting at...I just wasn't sure about Peter Tork. Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz were actors first but I would call them their two lead singers so IMO they had props. Davy Jones was in the musical Oliver as the original Artful Dodger so he had on stage experience singing. Mickey Dolenz, another child actor, wasn't really a drummer but did some singing prior to the TV show try outs.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is being snobbish and should separate their TV show career and just consider their albums and body of work. They were like early music video stars.

[seismic-2]

Steven Stills auditioned to be one of the Monkees. In fact, he spent a whole day hanging out with the producers and letting them get to know him and how he would come across to a TV audience. (There was never any doubt about his musical abilities, of course.) After a day of discussions, however, it became clear that they didn't feel he was right for the role. (There is a popular rumor that they rejected him because he had "bad teeth", but it was more nearly that they felt he wasn't spontaneous enough for light-weight comedy.) Stills told the producers that if they didn't want him, then they should instead give an audition to one of his friends, a folk / rock singer and guitarist named Peter Tork, who was probably more nearly the sort of musician they had in mind. They did, and he got the job. As for Nesmith, he was already active in the music scene as a songwriter and performer, but the producers preferred to use songs by popular writers such as Carol King and Neil Diamond instead of Nesmith's own. After the Monkees disbanded, Nesmith become a highly sought-after arranger and producer. For instance, the Eagles' hit "Seven Bridges Road" used an arrangement of the song that Nesmith had made (for a solo artist on a record he was producing). He was a far more creative force than the Monkees TV show allowed him to be.

[numberthirty]

Steven Stills auditioned to be one of the Monkees. In fact, he spent a whole day hanging out with the producers and letting them get to know him and how he would come across to a TV audience. (There was never any doubt about his musical abilities, of course.) After a day of discussions, however, it became clear that they didn't feel he was right for the role. (There is a popular rumor that they rejected him because he had "bad teeth", but it was more nearly that they felt he wasn't spontaneous enough for light-weight comedy.) Stills told the producers that if they didn't want him, then they should instead give an audition to one of his friends, a folk / rock singer and guitarist named Peter Tork, who was probably more nearly the sort of musician they had in mind. They did, and he got the job. As for Nesmith, he was already active in the music scene as a songwriter and performer, but the producers preferred to use songs by popular writers such as Carol King and Neil Diamond instead of Nesmith's own. After the Monkees disbanded, Nesmith become a highly sought-after arranger and producer. For instance, the Eagles' hit "Seven Bridges Road" used an arrangement of the song that Nesmith had made (for a solo artist on a record he was producing). He was a far more creative force than the Monkees TV show allowed him to be.

Another interesting aspect of his career that is worth noting...

He was apparently pretty central in putting together the deal that resulted in Universal Pictures agreeing to distribute the film Repo Man.

Folks throw the term "National Treasure..." around quite a bit.

The older I get?

The more I tend to believe that Nesmith truly was a national treasure.

[seismic-2]

Michael Nesmith in 1992, singing maybe his biggest country-rock tune, "Joanne"

[WestPhillyPunisher]

That's what I was getting at...I just wasn't sure about Peter Tork. Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz were actors first but I would call them their two lead singers so IMO they had props. Davy Jones was in the musical Oliver as the original Artful Dodger so he had on stage experience singing. Mickey Dolenz, another child actor, wasn't really a drummer but did some singing prior to the TV show try outs.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is being snobbish and should separate their TV show career and just consider their albums and body of work. They were like early music video stars.

Two arguments I’ve heard for why The Monkees aren’t in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:

“They didn’t play their own instruments!” Neither did The Mamas and The Papas, and they’re in.

“They didn’t write their own songs!” Neither did Elvis, and he’s in.

Meanwhile, Whitney Houston is in the Hall (instead of Pat Benatar), and she’s contributed about as much to Rock & Roll as Dolly Parton has to Opera. ARGH! Don’t get me started!

[Kirby101]

Don't get me started about what a sham the "Rock and Roll" Hall of Fame is. It should be the Hall of Performers Jann Wenner likes.

[Iron Maiden]

Don't get me started about what a sham the "Rock and Roll" Hall of Fame is. It should be the Hall of Performers Jann Wenner likes.

I remember they didn't put Queen in until 10 years after Freddie Mercury had passed away. It was so touching to see Brian May and Roger Taylor escorting Freddie's mother to the podium to accept his award for him. Brian and Roger were fairly blunt in their acceptance speech.

[CaptainEurope]

Novelist Anne Rice passed away after a stroke.

The impact of "Interview with the Vampire" on pop culture cannot be overstated.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Novelist Anne Rice passed away after a stroke.

The impact of "Interview with the Vampire" on pop culture cannot be overstated.

Damn! That was sudden! I've watched the movie and found it intriguing.

[achilles]

Novelist Anne Rice passed away after a stroke.

The impact of "Interview with the Vampire" on pop culture cannot be overstated.

I have a signed copy of that which I got from a little bookstore down the street from her home. I suspect it's not worth much, as there are probably plenty of them out there, but I still like it.

[Tami]

Novelist Anne Rice passed away after a stroke.

The impact of "Interview with the Vampire" on pop culture cannot be overstated.

I just saw it on Twitter. Here is a link to the message posted by her son Christopher.

[Iron Maiden]

I just saw this. I loved Interview with the Vampire and I'm sitting here looking at my bookshelf with it stacked next to Lasher, the Vampire LeStat and Witching Hour. I also have the Vampire Vittorio but haven't gotten around to that one for some reason. I need to re-read these since there sure isn't much of interest on TV for me lately and it's been a long time since I read them.

She was a very talented writer and I loved how she could evoke a period in time.

[The Darknight Detective]

I discovered Anne Rice from Stephen King's Danse Macabre circa 1986. In the back of the book, he listed a few movies and books he felt were significant within the horror genre. One of the books was Interview with the Vampire, which sounded very cool and became the first recommended work from King that I picked up. No, I wasn't sorry I did nor the other Anne Rice novels I have read over the years. A great in the horror field and even beyond the confines of horror itself.

RIP