Imagine being the last surviving member of a legendary band, carrying the weight of decades of memories, music, and fandom on your shoulders. That’s Micky Dolenz today, the sole remaining Monkee, who admits that watching old clips of his bandmates can still bring tears to his eyes. But here’s where it gets emotional—as the Monkees celebrate their 60th anniversary, Dolenz is both the keeper of their legacy and the one who feels their absence most acutely.
Dolenz understands something crucial: fans don’t want a reimagined version of classics like Last Train to Clarksville—they crave the original, and so does he. This realization came from his own experience as a fan. ‘I was a huge Everly Brothers fan,’ he recalls. ‘They were my Monkees.’ Sitting in the eighth row at their 1983 reunion concert, he vowed to honor his own band’s legacy by performing every song in its entirety, no shortcuts, no compromises. ‘I’ve stuck with that,’ he tells USA TODAY, ‘including the arrangements and opening licks.’
At 80, Dolenz is the last man standing from the made-for-TV group that once captivated preteens worldwide. The losses have been staggering: Davy Jones, the band’s charismatic frontman, died in 2012 at 66, followed by Peter Tork in 2019 and Michael Nesmith in 2021. Yet, Dolenz remains both pragmatic and romantic about the Monkees’ place in history. ‘It wasn’t a band,’ he clarifies. ‘It was a musical comedy sitcom.’ And this is the part most people miss—Dolenz was cast as the drummer despite not being one at the time, and while he sang most of the hits, his personal taste leaned more toward the Beatles, the Stones, and Otis Redding.
The 60th anniversary is being celebrated with Rhino’s new compilation, The A's, The B's & The Monkees, and Dolenz’s 60 Years of the Monkees tour, which kicks off on February 12 in Solana Beach, California. The tour promises a chronological journey through the hits, complete with storytelling and video footage. ‘It’s going to be a lot of video, talking about the genesis, the genetics of the show,’ he explains. But don’t expect a somber affair—Dolenz is quick to laugh about the absurdities of fame, like being yelled at in restaurants to sign napkins.
Here’s where it gets controversial: Despite their commercial success, cultural impact, and longevity, the Monkees remain excluded from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Dolenz shrugs it off, likening the Hall to a ‘private country club’ with exclusive membership. ‘It isn’t on my radar that desperately,’ he admits. Instead, he takes pride in the Monkees’ two 1967 Emmys, calling them the ultimate achievement. ‘To me, it doesn’t get better than that.’
Dolenz’s love for the Monkees’ music is undeniable. ‘I’ve learned to appreciate what makes a really good song,’ he says, crediting songwriters like Carole King, Neil Diamond, and Boyce & Hart. And while he’s ‘more selective’ about touring these days, he insists he’ll never stop. ‘I hate the travel, but they pay me to travel, I sing for free,’ he quips. ‘The show is the easy part—that’s why they call it playing.’
As fans clamor for a Monkees movie or documentary, Dolenz remains grateful for the journey. ‘It has given me a great frigging life,’ he says. But here’s the question: Does the Monkees’ legacy deserve more recognition, or is their impact already immortalized in the hearts of fans? Let’s discuss—what do you think?
