Only on the first two albums; from that point on, the four Monkees took greater creative control, and were largely responsible for the performances on their albums.
Also (and I didn’t know this until today), the four were initially sub-optiminally assigned to their instruments by the show’s producers. Davy was actually the only one of the four who had substantial experience as a drummer, but the producers wanted him front and center (since he was the “teen idol” character), and he was so short that they were afraid he wouldn’t be visible behind the drum kit – so, they put Mickey on drums, despite the fact that he had never played them. Peter was likely the best guitarist of the four of them, but wound up being assigned to the bass, while Michael wound up as guitarist.
Fun fact: Stephen Stills tried out for the Monkees and was rejected. He then told his friend Peter Tork about the audition and Tork was picked for the group.
Interview - Peter Tork, how the Monkees were cast.
It’s interesting that the tracks for the early songs were already recorded by the Wrecking Crew. The vocals were added after the actor’s parts were cast.
The guys deserve a lot of credit for learning to play and perform live. They did become a real band. I would have enjoyed seeing one of their reunion concerts.
Just saw him in the birthday list for the 13th. Somehow it’s oddly surprising to see someone has died so soon after being reminded of them being alive.
Damn, we were just talking about him last night. I got to party with him once at a folk festival. Besides being famous as a Monkee, Peter was actually a very good, though not famous folk musician. He played our Festival the same year Pete Seeger came down to do it.
On Saturday nights the crew would get together and drink a lot of beer, he joined us for this relaxation like a lot of the other musicians.
BTW: Monkee fans, Mike & Mickey are touring this year. That is why we were talking about Peter last night.
Another factoid: After the Monkees ended and he could no longer live on the residuals and royalties, he finished up his degree and got a job teaching at a private junior high school.
I had a chance to see them on their last tour when they released their latest album, but $100 a ticket felt out of my range. I regret skipping it now. I did pre-order the album on CD though.
Well, I was one of the folks who watched The Monkees in syndication in the 70’s, I always enjoyed it. I wouldn’t have paid money for their albums at the time, but if we acquired one while were going through the records people had tossed out after their garage sales in the 80’s, it was a pretty nice find. Even though I wouldn’t have bought them, it would take a damn good trade to get them out of my hands now. It’s odd how we value things.
Either way, thanks for the entertainment, Pete! Anyone who decries you guys for not being a real band doesn’t know what being in a band is.
I’m not going to say Peter was my favourite Monkee (I was always partial to Mike and Mickey), but he was great, both as a performer and a person, so RIP.
Mike was my favorite for his air of quiet competence and amusement, but Peter was so close a second it could have been a tie. His character always had an air of innocence and wonder about him that I really loved.
I remember, about 35 years ago, that I was at a party in Bloomington, drunk as a lord, and a girl and I got everyone to singing “Hey, Hey, We’re the Monkeys.” I still remembered the words from watching the show as a child.
It was fashionable at one time to mock them, but that song, “I’m a Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville,” and especially “Pleasant Valley Sunday” still hold up well.
RIP, Peter Tork. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
