Row 1: DMX, Biz Markie, Dusty Hill, Charlie Watts, Joey Jordison, Nanci Griffith and B.J. Thomas. Row 2: Mary Wilson, George Wein, Michael Nesmith, Terence “Astro” Wilson, Tom T. Hall, Stephen Sondheim and Graeme Edge. Row 3: Chick Corea, Gift of Gab, Bunny Wailer, Shock G and Sylvain Sylvain.…

Michael Nesmith from the Monkees playing his guitar in the 1960s. Courtesy. Songwriter and Monkee Mike Nesmith died on Friday at the age of 78. I already dedicated a column to the underrated greatness of The Monkees, and you should absolutely read it because the Monkees are great and…

Michael Nesmith, courtesy. When I last spoke to the Monkees’ Micky Dolenz, just a few months ago, he’d told me that rumors of the band’s “farewell tour” were overblown; that he and Michael Nesmith would go on until they couldn’t go on any more. That statement seems more powerful…

Micky Dolenz (L) and Michael Nesmith of the Monkees perform at San Jose Civic in San Jose on Sept. 15, 2021. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. SAN JOSE — Storytelling and classic songs held equal weight at a concert with Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz of the Monkees at The Civic Wednesday night.…

Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith have been friends for a very long time, and for decades Dolenz has been part of a band—The Monkees—for which Nesmith was a primary songwriter. So Dolenz Sings Nesmith is not the first time Dolenz has sung Nesmith-penned songs. Dolenz Sings Nesmith Micky Dolenz…

The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz, courtesy. A year ago, The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz was literally digging in at his Los Angeles area home as the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic clawed into the U.S. With a tour with fellow Monkee Michael Nesmith postponed, he had his hands in the…

In 1920 poet T.S. Eliot wrote, “immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different.” In the 1960s this passage should have been amended with the clause, “Great capitalists cash in.” When The…

Moderator Paul Myers (L) with The Monkees’ Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz at Marines’ Memorial Theatre on Jan. 12, 2020. Courtesy: Dan Dion. SAN FRANCISCO — “I’m a Believer” and “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” wafted through the Marines’ Memorial Theatre Sunday before SF Sketchfest’s Tribute to The Monkees:…