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Episode 1: The story of the original boy band!

Episode 1 of 2

Back in 1966 the world was shaken by the arrival of the Monkees - this is their story, told in their words.

Another chance to hear this two-part series as a tribute to Michael Nesmith who died on 10 December 2021.

Back in 1966 the TV & pop worlds were shaken by the arrival of the Monkees, a post-Beatles, pre-boy band sensation who took the charts by storm, selling millions of records off the back of their hugely successful TV series.

The songs – I’m A Believer, Last Train To Clarksville, Daydream Believer and many more – were instant pop classics and the Monkees – Mike Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork and Davy Jones – were instant pop stars.

Except that they weren’t. They were actors playing a part, pretending to be a band, miming on screen and singing over other people’s music. But like Pinocchio, they wanted to be real and the puppets turned, wrestling control of their records from the hands of the TV moguls and striking out on their own, a path that led them to the Sgt Pepper recording sessions, to Jimi Hendrix, to avant garde film-making and to a completely unique type of stardom.

In this two part series - originally broadcast in 2016 before the death of Peter Tork - the Monkees tell their own story, alongside their friends, family and associates.

Speaking about the programme after its initial broadcast Mike Nesmith remarked "It is unique in my lifetime to see a programme get to the fundamentals of the Monkees phenomenon & to catch not only the events but the spirit of those events. A remarkably accurate account as I recall it - and lived it!"

57 minutes

Last on

Sun 16 Jan 2022 02:00
BBC Radio 2

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Episode 2: The story of the original boy band!

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Music Played

  • The Monkees

    Pleasant Valley Sunday

    • The Definitive Monkees.
    • Warner Strategic Market.
    • 1.

  • The Monkees

    Cuddly Toy

    • The Definitive Monkees.
    • Warner Strategic Market.
    • 4.

  • The Monkees

    Take A Giant Step

    • Classic Album Collection.
    • Rhino.

  • The Monkees

    Papa Gene's Blues

    • Classic Album Collection.
    • Rhino.
    • 5.

  • The Monkees

    (Theme From) The Monkees

    • The Monkees - The Collection.
    • Arista.
    • 1.

  • The Monkees

    Last Train To Clarksville

    • Delilah - Jukebox 60's Hits.
    • Old Gold.
    • 2.

  • The Monkees

    Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)

  • The Monkees

    Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)

    • Clasic Album Collection.
    • Rhino.
    • 7.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 19 Jul 2016 22:00
    BBC Radio 2
  • Sat 16 Jan 2021 03:00
    BBC Radio 2
  • Sun 16 Jan 2022 02:00
    BBC Radio 2