Check out the new design on the homepage.

There are three new photos in the 1968 Far East Tour photo gallery, including a scan of the '68 Australia tour program.  

Don't forget to check out the 1997 US Tour update if you haven't already...

I have updated the blog post from a couple of days ago that featured the 1970 concert ad. Andrew Sandoval verified that this May 1970 show in Philadelphia took place, saying it's the one confirmed appearance by Micky and Davy as The Monkees that year.   Thanks, Andrew!  

Wouldn't you like to know what songs were performed by Micky and Davy at that concert, and if any Changes material made it to the setlist?!  

Speaking of 1970, check out this photo of Davy and Micky.  The location is unknown to me.

I just added this clipping for a 1967 concert in Philadelphia to the 1967 US/British Tour photo gallery.  Thanks, Lisa, for another great submission!

Here's Micky onstage back on July 15 at the Pacific Coast Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, California.  Looks like the turnout for the Happy Together show there was great.

A few odds and ends:

Dean left a comment on a previous blog post about Justus on (clear) vinyl for the first time, saying it's available on the UK website HMV for pre-order with a September 24 street date.  Nothing on Amazon yet...

There are some new pictures in the photo galleries of the following sections: 1967 US/British (including a Wembley review submitted by Lisa), 1969, DJBH, 1997 UK and 2001. 

Here's another rare item, something I didn't know existed - a program from the first full live concert given by The Monkees.  The show took place in Honolulu, Hawaii in December 1966.  I've never seen this program in any memorabilia collections, nor is it listed in such books like The Monkees Collectibles Price Guide. 

This picture has been added to the 1966-1967 tour section.

Here is a rare find sent in to the Live Almanac by Lisa - an ad from 1970 for the only confirmed live appearance by  The Monkees that year, playing in Philadelphia at a festival-like event sponsored by WFIL Radio in May 1970.  I passed this along to Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval, and he told me that this show did indeed take place with Micky and Davy.

Little is known about any other concerts that might have been performed by The Monkees in 1970. Brendan Cahill, who along with longtime Monkees associate David Pearl managed the group during 1969, told Andrew Sandoval in 1991 that a short American club tour was conducted by Dolenz and Jones in 1970 to promote the Changes album.  Andrew writes in the liner notes of the 1991 Listen to the Band box set that such a club tour took place, but later could not completely confirm the idea in an internet interview conducted in 2006 as Cahill was deceased.  In his book, however, Andrew does report on a performance that took place on November 21, 1970 at the Valley REC Center in Van Nuys, California with Micky, Davy and Peter.  The show was billed as "Freaky, Foxy, Funky Revival."  But, there are no other details about shows that Micky and Davy might have performed in 1970.

Thanks to Lisa for this great find, and to Andrew Sandoval for confirming everything. 

Below is the rare promo video for the only single from Changes, "Oh My My."

I just noticed on Amazon that the Instant Replay limited edition 180 gram red vinyl is now shipping.  (Friday Music's website is still not updated.)  It features a gatefold cover, which looks awful.  Why didn't they use photos from the '69 era?  Instead we get pictures and lyrics from the back cover of an '80s Japanese release of the album, complete with Japanese writing.

I'm also reading reviews that the back cover of the gatefold is dark and grainy, though the front cover appears sharp.  Check it out below.  Thumbs down.  I actually just cancelled my order. (Thanks to JDistheone at the Steve Hoffman forums for the images below.)

My suggestion: if you want to check out a special release for Instant Replay, stick with Rhino's deluxe edition.  Well worth it!

On a brighter note, check out this post from Nez and be sure to take a look at the big update for the 1997 US Tour page:

To my everlasting delight, gratitude – and relief -- the show I am doing October 29th at Queen Elizabeth Hall has sold out!

I am so happy and excited to be performing there, and am thinking of doing a second show in London due to the demand.

I’ll keep posting here about where and when the second show will be – if it happens.

I am elated and optimistic about my trip there in October and happily anticipate seeing Glasgow and Manchester and London again, maybe even a little social visit to Edinburgh and Dublin to check in with friends.

I do so love the UK.

Be sure to check out the recent updates to the 1997 US Tour page.  It has been completely revamped with an expanded tour summary, new photos, reviews, etc.  It's a good read for those interested in how the '96-'97 reunion changed when Mike opted out of the American portion of the Justus tour.  I also just found a few pictures from 1997 in my collection that I have now posted under the tour summary.  Check it out here.

As I said in yesterday's post, if you have any 1997 US tour photos, or even some promo shots from the ABC television special and would be willing to share for the website, please contact me.

Speaking of photos, here's a few others I've got hanging around.  Enjoy.  (I'm not really sure on the photo credits for these, though I'm guessing pictures 1, 5, 6, 7 & 8 are Henry Diltz shots.)

Everyone,

A huge update for today: the 1997 American tour page has been completely revamped. It's a must read!  The tour summary has been expanded and discusses all of the details about Michael Nesmith not participating in the tour, reactions from Micky, Davy and Peter, and more. I also provided additional examples regarding the setlists, since they were ever-changing during that year's tour.  There's a few new pictures all around and another part of a review posted from a show that was held in Indiana.  

Some of the quotes gathered about the '97 US tour were taken from music magazines from that time period, but a huge chunk of them came from Monkee Business Fanzine.  After reviewing a few old issues for this update, it only makes me miss MBF that much more.  (Thanks, Maggie.)

A request: does anyone have any great photos from the '97 US tour for the website?  If so, please contact me!

Everyone, 

Please check out the 1996 tour page.  The tour summary has been largely expanded to include a more detailed look at how the 30th Anniversary unfolded, including Michael Nesmith's participation.  There are also a few new pictures in the photo gallery.

I also updated the first paragraph on the 1986 Reunion Tour page to clarify Mike's inability to join the 20th Anniversary reunion.

Check out the 1989 North American/Japanese tour as well for some new pictures in the photo gallery there.

Still no word on the latest round of Monkees releases from Friday Music, including the Justus deluxe and the vinyl editions of Instant Replay and Justus.  Their website pictures these items prominently on their homepage, but provides no other information.

Check out this interview conducted earlier this month with Michael Nesmith on BBC Radio here.  (Fast forward to 1:14:00.)