Mickey Dolenz

When I saw the headline to the article about Mickey Dolenz I cringed a bit in anticipation of clicking through and seeing a bald old guy looking thrashed by all the years since his heyday.

But he looks good--healthy and sounds content with his life. I think maybe--was it him that was a child actor, too? I'm not looking this up 'cos I knew this once.

My first big celebrity crush was his bandmate Davy Jones, but Mickey seemed more accessible. If I remember correctly it was Dolenz and Jones who had the most performing experience when drafted into the pre-fab made-for teevee band, the Monkees.

I haven't seen a photo of him in a while nor of the others.  I hope they all are  as happy as he looks.

Handout picture shows former Monkee Micky Dolenz. Dolenz just finished playing Charlemagne in the play 'Pippin' in Toronto. He's also had two books published this year -- a children's book titled 'Gakky Two-Feet' (Putnam, 2006) and a trivia game book titled 'Micky Dolenz' Rock 'n Rollin' Trivia' (Square One Publishers, 2006). (Timothy Fielding/Reuters)

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Ex-Monkee follows his muse to stage and writing

By Julie MollinsSat Dec 16, 10:55 AM ET

Former Monkee Micky Dolenz, who now also writes books, has a dislike of long-term plans so he relies on his muse to tell him what to do.

"She's this five-foot-seven blond in a satin nightdress with a nine-millimeter, semi-automatic pistol and she holds it to my head and says: 'Direct this, write that, do this, do that,"' the former singer and drummer for The Monkees told Reuters in an interview.

"It's my wife," he said laughingly. "But she doesn't really have a semi-automatic."

It's been almost 40 years since the popular television show, "The Monkees," was canceled by NBC in 1968, but its legacy lingers in part due to some hit singles by the four-man band of the same name such as "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer."

The quartet became a phenomenon and has reunited to perform concerts many times over the years. As yet, there is no plan for a fortieth anniversary bash, said 61-year-old Dolenz.

Dolenz's muse keeps him busy. He just finished playing Charlemagne in the play "Pippin" in Toronto. He's also had two books published this year -- a children's book titled "Gakky Two-Feet" (Putnam, 2006) and a trivia game book titled "Micky Dolenz' Rock 'n Rollin' Trivia" (Square One Publishers, 2006).

Q: What did you do after "The Monkees" was canceled?

A: "When "The Monkees" went off the air, I had already become very interested in the production side of the business. I ended up getting a job at the BBC directing a television drama. Then I went on to do years and years of sitcoms, films, commercials and music videos. It was great. It enabled me to step back from the whole Monkee thing."

Q: Have you been able to get away from The Monkees?

A: "Well, I have in my own mind, but whether or not other people have ... It's sort of a very subjective opinion. I don't dwell on it. It was a long, long time ago. It was a very short period of my life; just a couple of years. It wasn't until I came back in 1986 for a reunion tour did I realize what kind of an impact it had on the cultural landscape."

Q: What was life like when you were a Monkee?

A: "It was just a lot of hard work essentially. It was long before the current wave of intrusive paparazzi and maniacal media feeding frenzies so home life was relatively calm. Not only were we filming the television show for 12 to 14 hours a day, but then we'd have to go in the studio and record at night. On the weekends we'd practice and rehearse for touring. There wasn't a whole lot of party time or spare time. I had a family -- I had a wife and a kid -- my spare time I spent in my shop building things."

Q: You've had offers to be on reality television shows, why haven't you done one?

A: "I am just not a fan of reality shows. I just can't go and participate in one when I actually don't appreciate the genre. I feel it is kind of dishonest. They just haven't sparked my interest. Who knows why, probably because I grew up in the world of drama and television and scripts and acting and stories and things like that."

Q: What made you write a children's book about our ancestors first walking upright?

A: "Basically, a couple of years ago there was a spate of celebrity children's books coming out and a publisher asked me if I'd be interested. I've always been fascinated with those seminal moments in human evolution -- in the case of "Gakky Two-Feet" the first time the hominids started walking on two feet."

Q: What gave you the idea for a book of rock 'n' roll trivia games?

A: "I am a trivia buff, not so much pop and rock 'n' roll trivia, but I love history and science trivia. I am really good at that. (Square One Publishers) approached me and said would you like to edit it and I said: "Yeah, absolutely, it sounds like fun."

Q: What has been the high point of your career so far?

A: "Besides The Monkees, I would say it might be the children's book. The high point of your career is not necessarily the greatest success of your career."

Comments

[Cyn]

I've missed out on so much by not watching Adult Swim
but I've truly been enlightened by you both. Thanks! ;)

[Dan]

Well if you bring the Venture Bros into the mix, the discussion is over. Mickey rules.

[Her Brother]

The Tick is to Venture Bros what Rocky & Bullwinkle is to The Simpsons: the latter is much more mature and clever but could not exist without the former. In fact, much of the crew who worked on The Tick now work on the Venture Bros. Unfortunately, the show has a very specific demographic--guys in their late 30s & early 40s--which caps the ratings.

[Cyn]

Well then it seems that by any measure used Mickey has been a success.

Were the Venture Bros. better than the Tick?

[Her Brother]

What Monkees? Dolenz was the voice of Arthur on the animated "The Tick"! Without that show, "The Venture Bros" would not have been possible.

[Dan]

I actually saw the Monkees a few years ago at a casino and did not have high expectations. Bottom line I was very, very impressed at how tight they sounded and the quality of their playing and singing. Mike Nesmith was the only one missing and I must say that Mickey Dolenz was the highlight. He was funny, genuine and held things together. And he's still pretty good on drums.