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Monkee Says Rock Hall of Fame Is Bananas

In the theme song of their hit '60s TV series, the Monkees claim they're "too busy singing to put anybody down." Then it must stand to figure that Monkeeman Peter Tork hasn't been doing enough vocalizing as of late, as he has taken the time to direct a few choice words at Rolling Stone editor and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame co-founder Jann Wenner for what Tork perceives as the music mogul standing in the way of the original Prefab Four's rock immortality.

Tork told Newsday, "The only person ... holding a grudge is Jann Wenner." He went on to say that Wenner "has never written a gracious word" and "he personally has the veto power to keep us out" of the Hall of Fame.

The mad Monk then pointed out that Hall of Famers the Sex Pistols ('I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone') and likely future Famers Run-DMC ('Mary, Mary') have covered Monkees tunes, and that R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, a 2007 inductee, has long been a champion of the group, who in their heyday had met some criticism for being assembled at a casting call and for not playing its own instruments on early recordings.

Tork sees it this way: "I've not heard the slightest murmur about the Monkees being fake," he said. "Everybody's forgotten it, except Wenner. He's been vicious."

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MCC

The Monkees may have been auditioned, but before the show Davy Jones and Mike Nesmith released solo albums. Peter Tork had been hanging around the village singing folk songs, and Micky Dolenz had been singing in a bunch of groups in California before being casted. After the first two albums the "prefab four" took controll of their music and started singing, writing, and playing instruments for all of their songs. Some of their biggest hits were songs that Mike Nesmith wrote, although every Monkee took turns writing songs. The Monkees essentially had the first "music videos" in their tv episodes, and their style was immitated by other artists. Mike Nesmith was one of the first people to get into the "country-rock" style of music, including songs like "Michigan Blackhawk" (missing links vol.2 ). Their songs have been covered by many more artists.

April 26 2009 at 10:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
basket 25

THE HALL IS A JOKE!DC5 SHOULD'VE BEEN IN YEARS AGO.THEY MADE BLACK SABBATH WAIT 10 YEARS, SKYNYRD 7.PUT IN GRANDMASTER FLASH ? AND THE JACKSONS (POP)BUT NOT HERMAN'S HERMITS(R&R AT THE TIME)WHO HAD MORE HITS IN '65 THAN THE BEATLES OR STONES.IT'S JUST A BUNCHA ELITIST ROCK CRITICS WHO THINK THEY KNOW IT ALL! I MEAN ELVIS C. IS GOOD BUT SHOULDN'T BE IN BASED ON HIS TALENT (HE EVEN CALLED RAY CHARLES "A BLIND N-WORD")

March 11 2008 at 2:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
john

Put the Monkees in the Rock hall of fame in 2009.They have been waiting a long time.

March 10 2008 at 11:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Omar

Monkeys were fine but when will the hall vote in Johnny Maestro???

October 03 2007 at 12:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Omar's comment
keith T

Look the monkees where good..Had thier time... The can make the hall of fame. But the are some bands that belong that I can't believe that have not made it or even been considered.... Rush( come on Van Halen, Metallica before them Deserving though yes), Depeche Mode( look Talking head, Blondie are in all deserving), for that matter The Cure ( the police, Elvis Costello all deserving)

December 26 2009 at 12:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Petey Devine

Johnny Maestro~ Absolutely!!! What is it with all of these~"Hip-Hop Bands?....That Crap~ is NOT~ "Rock & Roll"` they need a "Hip-Hop_ Hall of Fame"...

February 06 2011 at 6:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gary

The Monkees, were a good band I like their music every now and than, however I'll be damned if they get in before KISS, RUSH, JETHRO TULL or even the MOODY BLUES do. I guess, since bands like Grandmaster flash got in, we'll have to wait until the Fat Boys and Kurtis Blow are inducted before any more rock bands do.

July 09 2007 at 11:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
waydown

The Rock Hall is a joke.

May 07 2007 at 2:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply