The Day I Made The Monkees Laugh......

It was never meant for us to take them seriously… but we did. That was the deal with The Monkees. Say what you want, but they were never supposed to be as good as they were. My band only covered one Monkee’s song and it was sung by Davy Jones. It was ‘I Wanna Be Free” and today, at age 66, he is.

Back in the 60s all teen boys hated him because all teen girls loved him. They had no reason not to. He was cute, British and he could sing. His departure from life here will never be referred to as one of those “Do you remember where you were when you heard the news that Davy Jones died?” moments, but nonetheless his passing is of concern to any kid who watched the show or listened to the music.

I will never be afraid to admit I was a Monkee’s fan; a Davy Jones fan. I loved the cornball show, and as a fledgling musician myself, I enjoyed the music. We all know at first it wasn’t them, but by the time it was really important, they were playing their music in front of packed stadiums sometimes wondering if they had practiced for naught because the din in the arenas and stadiums that were sold out, drowned out nearly every sound they made.

I have one story that directly involves me and the Monkees. But it did not happen until I was in my 40s. They (less Mike Nesmith) did a reunion show in at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix AZ in the early 90s. Of course I was there… for the music and the nostalgia that seeing them clown around on stage would offer me. They left the stage doing the famous "Monkee walk."  The crowd went berserk.

After the show we waited around the back near the big black limousine that was there. In a short while out they came and headed towards the limo. Peter, Mickey and Davy… and one unrecognizable woman. People were cheering, shouting their names and otherwise going crazy. Someone yelled out, “who’s the woman?” I don’t think I ever meant to shout it out, and maybe I didn’t actually shout, but somehow just at the time I did, everything instantly got quiet. And the only thing that the Monkees and everyone in the crowd heard was my comment… “That’s the Monkee wench!” There was a second of silence again, and then Peter, Mickey, Davy and THE WOMAN looked in my direction, and busted out laughing. They enjoyed it! I MADE THE MONKEES LAUGH!

Over the years it’s been a story I would tell in the right conversations and it never seemed that important until today when I heard that Davy had respectfully taken the Last Train to Rock and Roll Heaven. 

You know how they say all that stuff about “ if you can make can make just one person happy that you’ve done well?" For a split second 15+ years ago I made Davy Jones smile and laugh out loud and today that became very very important. Never pass up the opportunity to make someone smile. You may find great comfort in it someday.

Rest in peace, Davy.