Monkee Shines
The Purple Flower Gang Fall 2004 Issue 60
Monkee Shines Editor: Cindy Bryant with a little help from my friends, The Road Crew. The whole crazy lot! Monkeeing around since 1987
You CRAZY lot!
In This Issue: Micky and Coco in Oshkosh Waterfest Saved By The Blues A Special Family Wedding Keeping uUp With The PFG One Small Gift A Monkee Halloween In Canada Viva Las vegas And much much more!!!!
Celebrating 17 years of Monkee Shines
Monkee Shines
Table of Contents
Membership dues are $10 (US & Canada) and $15 (Overseas). Ads are $25 for a full page, $10 for half page, and $5 for a quarter page. Money orders are preferred. Cash at own risk. Make all payments payable to Cindy Bryant NOT the PFG. Mail to: The Purple Flower Gang, 1803 Lucas Street, Muscatine, Iowa 52761.
Letter From the Editor ............................. 3 Personals ................................................... 4 Purple SUV ............................................... 5 From Bobby Hart ..................................... 6 A Special Family Wedding...................... 7 Come Monday .......................................... 12 Crazy Lot .................................................. 13 Keeping Up With The PFG ..................... 14 One Small Gift.......................................... 41 A Monkee Halloween .............................. 43 Pen Pals ..................................................... 44 E-Pals ........................................................ 45 Birthdays ................................................... 46 Waterfest Saved By The Blues ................ 48 Peter’s News ............................................. 56 David’s News ........................................... 57 Micky’s News ........................................... 58 Mike’s News ............................................. 59 Viva Las Vegas ........................................ 60 Micky & Coco in Oshkosh ...................... 62 A Christmas Card From Hazel & Ken .... 68
If you find a stamp in this area, your membership has expired with this issue. Please renew as soon as possible to assure your next issue. This is the only notice you will get.
My sincerest thanks to all who made this issue possible: The Road Crew as always...Bonnie Borgh, Shane Worden, Kimmi Janvrin, Colleen Johnson, and Janet Litterio. Denise Gautier, Pat Smith, Bobby Hart, Hazel & Ken Wilkinson, Micky Dolenz and sister Coco, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Davy Jones!
Monkee Shines is printed by Mailboxes & Parcel Depot pfg@machlink.com
http://purpleflowergang.tripod.com/
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From the Editor! not together these days there is plenty of activity. Micky’s on the radio, Blue Suede Shoes and David touring...you just never know where the guys are going to show up! In this issue you will find a wonderful story from Hazel about her niece’s wedding. Thanks so much Hazel! There’s also another PFG road trip to Lockport. What a trip that was!! Also Micky and Peter’s appearances at Waterfest and much much more. There’s a road trip in March shaping up. Hello Colleen! From the looks of winter so far it will be much needed! We’re always looking for your stories so send them in!!!!! In the meantime I hope you enjoy ours!
Dear Gang, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I didn’t send out Christmas cards this year to save money but I want to thank everyone for the beautiful cards I received. A couple of people contacted me to say they did not receive the last issue. Please let me know if you believe this has happened to you. While I did not get any back from the post office, it is possible that the mailing labels came off and they were not delivered. I have been posting the date the newsletters are mailed on the website for those of you with internet access also. Even though the guys are
Notice We have tried to stick to a regular schedule for the newsletter but something always gets in the way/ We have a choice to throw something together or take a little longer and do something we can be proud of. We hope you think it is worth the wait. As always, if you are unhappy with your membership for any reason, we will be happy to refund the remainder of your membership dues upon request.
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You Crazy Lot! I miss you already! Cindy
Guestbook readers, Am I real or just a figment of my imagination? "Faked out" in WI
Happy '05 everybody! All the best to my friends in the road crew, to our readers, and the Monkees who make it possible. Shane
Colleen, Thanks for the poster (and CD)! Another addition for my living room! Shane
Jahn, So...was the drawbridge open or closed? Enquiring minds NEED to know. Bahnknee
David, "And once again such anxious men find questions but no answers". The Crazy Lot
David. I got my tax form...but I haven’t got your form. I’m waiting! Bonnie
Hey Jones!! I am now the proud owner of the Lord of The Rings Trilogy. 12 Hours of hobbits, elves, and dwarves! Oh my!! Kimmi
Shane, Are you real...or vividly imagined?
David, Be afraid...be very afraid!!! Someone who knows Kimmi
The Phantom
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Purple SUV Who Writes This Stuff? By: Bonnie Borgh (To the tune of Yellow Submarine by The Beatles) In the state of Iowa Lived some girls who longed to see, And they hoped with all their hearts To someday meet a Monkee. In ‘86, their dream came true, And they saw them face-to-face. They met up with other fans Who traveled from place to place. They became The Purple Flower Gang Purple Flower Gang/Purple Flower Gang They became The Purple Flower Gang Purple Flower Gang/Purple Flower Gang While their friends were all alike Some liked Peter, Micky, and Mike, But Davy Jones will always be… And they have such Good Clean Fun Meeting new friends along the way, And it’s simply all because Of the band that came to play! They all rode in a purple SUV Purple SUV, Purple SUV They all rode in a purple SUV Purple SUV, Purple SUV
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October marks the 17th anniversary of the PFG! Time flies when you are having fun!
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A Special Family Wedding Article Courtesy of: Hazel Wilkinson There had not been a wedding in our family since Sarah and John got married in Santa Barbara in 1999. August the 7th was the date in our diaries that was to be a great celebration and Jones’ Family Reunion and Kneesup!
David Jones and Robert Wilkinson [Robert is just a carbon copy of that dashing and debonair man, Ken!]
Beverley, Beryl and Allan’s daughter, was to marry Matthew Barber at his family church, and our family were to attend from all parts of England and, of course, brother David from America. He was Beverley’s Godfather at her Christening, and Deborah was Godmother. I knew it would be a lavish affair as I had a sneak preview of the table decorations, candle displays, and floral arrangements when I visited Beverley’s home months before, and her theme was butterflies and feathers in turquoise and silver. Little did I realize how elaborate the “reception” dining room at the chosen hotel would look like. Beverley (a trained window dresser) is very artistic, organized, and her detail and planning was outstanding to make this a special day for her and
Matthew. The invitations were hand-made (stamped by Beverley) with the silver butterflies. There were eighty guests and over one hundred forty at the evening reception. Many phone calls were made between Lynda, Beryl, Anita, and myself. “What are you wearing?” “Will you wear a big hat?” Ken said everyone would be looking at his outfit and not at us so why all the fuss; he doesn’t alter, but he did find a tasteful tie in apple green to match my suit, and he told everyone it was his wedding suit (just got it out of mothballs, it was antique like him). [Where do you go to be abused, Ken?] The hotel in Cheadle near to Beryl’s home was booked for the weekend as guests would be staying over, and the recep7
Monkee Shines wear [David will love your attention to detail, Hazel!], and we found a Super Gents Outfitters in our town, so he bought trousers, shirts, and a couple of nice stage tops, no doubt you will be seeing those. That guy must have sold more in that hour than he had done all month. The guy didn’t know who he was, and it was nice for David to try on—no hassle. Ken sat in the car on the car park waiting and thought we had skipped town. He rested in our garden, enjoyed all his favorite English meals I cooked, and we even had an impromptu concert when he found Deborah’s guitar. He often tries out new songs on us! He enjoyed a couple of long walks (in the sunshine!) around our town. We are surrounded by hills which he loves and visited our Town Hall and purchased postcards. We did have a huge storm one afternoon, and we heard fifty planes were delayed and people stranded. At least he got here. Robert called in to catch up on news after work, and Ken practiced his jokes which will be used at a later date (You have been warned!) The day before the wedding, David decided to head back (one hour) to the Manchester Airport and protest in person as the luggage had still not arrived here. He had a five-hour wait and finally the cases were found, and guess what? All the contents were wet through. It had been left on a trolley in the
tion held there. On August the 3rd, Ken and I were just about to start lunch when in walked David (fish and chips in hand). He had arrived in Manchester, got a hire car, and decided he would stay with us and rest here, but there was one problem. No luggage had arrived. [What was that line from Sledgehammer? “It always arrives after you do.”] He had checked in at Philadelphia Airport having driven from Beavertown, and his suit for the wedding was in a suit carrier over his shoulder. (He will be often seen going to gigs like that as you will all know.) The guy at the desk said his suitcase wasn’t too heavy so he put the suit in the case and just had his carry-on bag. His overnight flight landed in London at 8:30 am, and he took the shuttle to Manchester and went to collect his belongings, but no case, and there were about ten people all in the same position. He wasn’t too bothered at this point. He was more concerned about the young people on holiday from Japan and Australia who had cases missing. He could at least borrow a t-shirt from Ken! Who cares if it looks like a dress on him? Luckily, there was a pair of Robert’s old pajamas here. Nobody would see him if he sat in our garden. We paid a visit to our local Mark’s and Spencer’s and stocked up on socks and under8
Monkee Shines pouring rain for days, and the other ten in London. At least he was only ten minutes from Beryl’s and the hotel and would meet up with all his family and had time to get the wedding suit pressed, etc.
Robert greeted us, and I must admit I got a lump in my throat; he looked quite handsome. We chatted with some of our old neighbors we hadn’t seen since our wedding. Lynda and family arrived. She looked elegant in a lilac suit [What a lovely color!], large hat to match, and navy accessories. She had son, Mark, and wife, Debbie, and her beautiful grandchild, Rebecca, eighteen months with her and Kirsty (daughter) and Steve and her two grandsons, Liam (twelve) and Ryan (nine). Oh how these children have grown.
Anita, Jessica, Phoenix, Scott, and Annabel were all there to greet him. It was a glorious day on the 7th of August (couldn’t be better-nearly 80 degrees), and Robert set off to get into his wedding suit at Matthew’s home only five minutes walk from the church. Robert was an Usher and had to meet and greet guests outside the church and show guests to their places inside and hand out the order of service. He looked great in his navy morning suit, top hat, and silver gray waist coast and cravat. (All the men were dressed alike.) Ken and I set off for the one hour journey in plenty of time, and I took my apple green lace suit (long skirt and coatee) and navy hat, shoes, and bag. We found a car park nearby, and I changed there as I didn’t want it to be creased. Our cousin, Gerald, appeared whilst I was doing my quick striptease but was busy talking to Ken. [Busy just like Shane was when he saw Kimmi make a wardrobe change in the car!] The church was very old in a lovely garden through an arch all trimmed up by the ladies of the church. Matthew and Best Man were having pictures taken, and there was a video expert there.
Next came Anita and her gang [not to be confused with The Purple Flower Gang] with little Phoenix. “He’s gorgeous!” Jessica looked like a model with red sun dress and cute little white modern flower hat. Scott carried Phoenix. He looks so much like David at that age. (Well, we would say that!) Ken said Annabel looked pretty in her yellow dress and shoes. David and Bobbi Boyce were taking pictures of all the family, and everyone seemed to be arriving together. There was just time to snap Beryl and the Bridesmaids arriving. Beryl was in turquoise and navy, (Beverley had made her feathery hat) and the Bridesmaids were in turquoise (long satin dresses and chiffon overlay) and carried white roses 9
Monkee Shines and silver posies, silver butterflies, turquoise and white feathers with headdresses to match, and a cute Page Boy (five) in matching suit and hat like the men. We were all given buttonholes of white stephanotis and feathers and were ushered into church by Robert where we took our places in the first four rows awaiting for the entrance of the Bride. Matthew and his Best Man were glancing round, and we caught his eye and smiled.
Beverley’s friend. Whilst the wedding party went into the Vestry, the congregation sang “Lord Of The Dance”. [That is a beautiful song!] The Wedding March struck up, and we got our cameras at the ready to snap the newly wed couple. Outside the sun was shining, and we had official photos taken of each family group, and chatted with family members. I had trimmed my shoes with gold fan earrings and lost one so I got the children searching amongst the many legs and feet. Anita spotted it the second time lost. It was pretty hard to get pictures of relatives as everyone was mixing and moving around so we decided to head back to the hotel as soon as the Bride and Groom got into the car to go back to the reception.
At 2:00 pm, Beverley arrived in a white open-topped (1927) Rolls Royce [Nice wheels!], and as the organ played “Here Comes The Bride” Beverley appeared at the church door on the arm of Allan, her Dad. There was a rattle of tissues out of handbags. She looked beautiful in a strapless fitted dress in white duchess satin with fitted waist and a train with a lace panel in the back with diamantes. She had a pearl coronet and necklace to match and carried a bouquet of white roses and cala lilies with feathers and butterflies. The church choir led the Hymns, and we sang “Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us”. Prayers followed, and then the vows. Matthew answered too quickly, and everyone started laughing, and the Vicar said he was too eager and started again! Rings were exchanged, and there was a reading by
We were all greeted with Bucks Fizz [I’m sure that’s like lemonade.] and mingled whilst the wedding party were taken to a local country park for more photos. The Master of Ceremonies in his red/black uniform and top hat set up a Greeting Line, and we were all called by names to congratulate the parents and Bride and Groom and take our seats in the dining room. I knew the decorations would be spectacular (Beverley and friends had been there from 7:00 am, and it would have needed an army of helpers to transport the displays.)
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Monkee Shines There were huge silver candelabras draped in turquoise chiffon and silver butterflies and greenery dripping in silver beads. The top table was draped in turquoise chiffon, and a center piece flower arrangement. The ten round tables each had a huge circular mirror in the middle, and there was a huge vase on each one filled with turquoise sand and huge silk roses and grasses. Even the menus were stamped with silver and turquoise butterflies.
danced as Man and Wife. Next he sang “Daydream Believer”, and we got on the dance floor to strut our stuff. “Not a pretty sight!” said Ken. The guests were thrilled to hear “Uncle David” sing, and he got a great reception. Beryl, Lynda, and I were dancing (You can’t keep the Jones girls down.), but I wish you could have seen Lynda’s grandchild, Rebecca, eighteen months old and already a “star” in her white frilly dress. She stood in the middle of the dance floor right in front of David and took the spotlight moving her arms and legs and ignoring everyone and danced away, and that was her first family party. I think she will be the next entertainer in our family.
We sat with Anita and company, and we enjoyed the meal and caught up with their news. Phoenix didn’t make it all the way through and was taken up to the bedroom. Speeches were made, a champagne toast, and flowers presented to Mums, Bridesmaids, and the little Page Boy was given his promised “Bat Man Suit”. Robert received a silver hip flask with his name engraved on it. We retired to various areas in the hotel for a quiet hour before the evening guests arrived. Lynda and family and Anita and company retired to their rooms for a rest. They had all had long journeys the day before.
The evening flew past with buffet supper and more dancing, and soon it was time for goodbyes. Some guests were staying overnight, and David had to leave very early on the Sunday to catch his flight to Philadelphia and back to Beavertown to tend his horses. It was a perfect wedding and a great family gathering, and as the inscription on front of the invitation said, “United In Love”.
The ballroom was made ready, and we gathered again ready for the Bride and Groom. David had brought a backing tape made by David Alexander, and he started off the evening by singing “I’ll Love You Forever” as Beverley and Matthew
[Many thanks to Hazel for sharing with us “The rest of the story!” ]
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Come Monday
words by Cindy Bryant with help from Shane Worden (apologies to Jimmy Buffet) Headin' up to old Chicago With my friends for a week-end show We've got Monkees tees on I guess we never were meant for glitter Versachi clothes And Davy we didn't know That we'd be missin' you so Chorus: Come Monday, it'll be all gone Come Monday, we'll be holdin' on We spent four crazy days in a PFG haze And we just want you back by our side Yes, it's been quite a summer Rent-a-cars and caravan trains And now we're off on vacation Something we’ve tried to explain And Davy we love you so That's the reason we just had to go Come Monday, it'll be all gone Come Monday, we'll be holdin' on We spent four crazy days in a PFG haze And we just want you back by our side We can't help it Davy You're that much a part of us now Remember that night in Lockport What a show you did…WOW! You know we’re enjoyin' the scen'ry We know that it's pretty up there We can go to a signing on tuesday With you we'd go anywhere Working has worn us quite thin We just can't wait to see you again Come Monday, it'll be all gone Come Monday, we’ll be holdin' on We spent four crazy days in a PFG haze And we just want you back by our side We spent four crazy days in a PFG haze And we just want you back by our side
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Crazy Lot Words by Shane Worden
(sung to the tune of Chicago's Stay The Night) We don't want you to misunderstand us We just wanna laugh and have some fun No need to pay us with your gratitude Although it's nice to have it done We want you to know one thing's for certain We truly love your company And we'll never go until you're smilin' At least that's our philosophy Crazy Lot--that's what he called us that day Crazy Lot--we'd have it no other way Crazy Lot--that's what he called us on stage Nothing can stop us to prove it on every page Have some lovely backstage flowers And take the big "JONES FOR PREZ" sign Until that "questionaire" we've got in mind... There's reviews to write online Crazy Lot--that's what he called us that night Crazy Lot--we think that he got it right Crazy Lot--that's what he called us on stage Nothing can stop us to prove it on every page Just to have you with us... Here by our side Just to have you READ us... and when you tell us that we're funny... We want to tell you something, Make it perfectly clear We always have a very good time. Crazy Lot--that's what he called us that day Crazy Lot--we'd have it no other way Crazy Lot--that's what he called us on stage Nothing can stop us to prove it on every page I hope you'll always say...Crazy Lot. Crazy Lot.....
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KEEPING UP WITH THE PFG POLITICALLY INCORRECT THE ROAD TO LOCKPORT By: Bonnie Borgh (With A Lotta Help From My Friends) a.k.a. The Crazy Lot Bonnie: It was a picture-perfect fall morning as we departed Lockport at 11:07 am on Sunday, October 24. The Carpenter’s song, Top Of The World (Imagine that, wrong group!) played in my head: “Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eye, and I won’t be surprised if it’s a dream…”
not.
Shane: "Psychologically speaking, the human mind, or brain, or whatever, is almost incapable of distinguishing between the real and the vividly imagined experience."
Janet: Ah yes, I recall where I was that day.
Cindy: Poor Shanie! Bonnie: As you may recall, for the October 18, 2003 Lockport show I was in Minnesota for my girlfriend’s daughter’s wedding, and Kimmi was in sunny Florida.
Kimmi: I was wondering if Kevin would notice me gone for about thirty-five hours. “I was just out for a walk enjoying the ocean, Honey, I swear!”
Cindy: If only the forty-eight hours prior to that departure had been as nice!
Cindy: tired!
Bonnie: It had been fifteen months and seventeen days since I had a Close Encounter of the Jones Kind.
Bonnie: When I learned about “Almost Same Time This Year”, I said, “No weddings, no funerals, no bar mitzvah’s, etc. would prevent me from going.” This included the annual school night scheduled for October 23. I was asked, “Are you going to (Paul) Norton Night?” I would reply, “No, I have plans.” The response was, “What?!” I would repeat, “No, I’m not going. I have plans.” Perhaps I should
Cindy: But who’s counting? Shane: That's true. Oshkosh was a NOT EVEN CLOSE encounter. Not that I'm bitter, mind you. Kimmi:
And boy are my legs
Yeah, um, obviously
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Monkee Shines have said, “No I have a plan!”; Right Cindy?
Kimmi: Don’t get me started...again.
Cindy: The best laid plans of mice and men..
Cindy: It was a lively debate that went on all weekend until we found one candidate whom we could all agree on!
Bonnie: Our plans were to travel to Lockport on Saturday, October 23, but when we learned about David’s booksigning at Harrison’s from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Saturday, we had to reconfigure our schedules to arrive there in ample time.
Bonnie: Meanwhile, Diane Klosak (who unfortunately had alternative plans for the Lockport weekend) accompanied me as we waited in line an hour and a half to obtain tickets to see George (not Harrison-God rest his soul) in Davenport on Monday, October 25.
Cindy: See? Bonnie: Cindy arrived in Bettendorf about 3:00 pm on Thursday, October 21 after having spent the morning at a campaign rally for John (not Lennon-God rest his soul) at Muscatine High School. Yes, I agree, he is very handsome, but he’s no Davy Jones. He definitely gets a point for having “I’m A Believer” playing in the background prior to his arrival, but that’s all I’m going to say about that!
Shane: ya?
See? What did I tell
Cindy: Shanie, are you gonna whine through another “He Said SLASH She Said”? Bonnie: Cindy and I picked up Hannah from school. Kimmi and Kevin arrived in Bettendorf shortly thereafter just in time to refocus Hannah from an accident on the tree swing just moments before.
Cindy: Yes, Mr. Edwards was quite an inspirational speaker, but his choice of music was even more inspirational! You gotta love a politician who plays Monkees’ music at his rallies.
Kimmi: Mumsy, you should be ashamed! Cindy: You’ve heard of Midget Tossing? Well, now there is Hannah Tossing. I don’t know what happened. One minute she was on her tummy in the tree swing, and the next she was flying through the air with the greatest of ease. I reached
Shane: My goodness, can that be true? It seemed politics was all anyone wanted to talk about when we weren't discussing Monkees that weekend! 15
Monkee Shines for her, but she slid right through my hands. Poor kid…I am sorry, Hannah. I usually save all of my abuse for Shanie. Fortunately, Hannah was so excited about Kimmi coming that she soon forgot the scrape on her forehead.
being en route for over twelve hours. The trip went amazingly smooth. Everything went exactly according to clockwork despite some heavy fog as we were leaving town. Bonnie: The fog was probably due to the atmospheric changes of Jones being in the Midwest.
Bonnie: Craig came home from work, and we all migrated (since that’s what birds of a feather do this time of year) to the bus station in downtown Davenport.
Shane: The only scary part was the old mentally ill man at the terminal in Oshkosh who snapped at me for no apparent reason as I walked in the door that morning. That scared me for a moment or two, but at least he wasn't riding the bus.
Shane’s bus was scheduled to arrive at 5:50 pm. It was right on time which was a good thing because it’s not a place I would want to hang (a)round very long.
Kimmi: Were we walking into the station, and I looked up and there was my brother staring at me. I swear I saw him take a deep breath before approaching me.
Shane: Oh Bonnie, the Davenport bus station is nothing compared to the downtown Chicago terminal, and if I can survive that, anybody can!
Bonnie: We then journeyed to Lunardi’s (official Italian restaurant of the PFG) where we enjoyed wonderful food, and Cindy presented Kimmi with her belated birthday present which was her very own reappropriated (as opposed to stolen)...
Janet: Us Chicagoans, or perhaps I should say us IllinoiSans, are a pretty tough bunch! Bonnie: Well, we are a Gang! Shane: Thanks to a recently reconfigured connection schedule, I am now able to get to the Quad Cities a great deal sooner than I ever used to before. It is so nice to be able to get into town now in time for dinner. In the past, it was all I could do just to get into town without losing my sanity after
Cindy: You say Po – tay – toe, I say Po tah – toe… Bonnie: Whatever happened to Dan? ROBY FOR SUPERVISOR yard sign. I told Cindy she should have called upon her 16
Monkee Shines Republican friend, and I would have been happy to pick up one of those signs for her, but she insisted that Kimmi would much prefer one hot off the market. Needless to say, she was thrilled.
NBC news of the reported thefts of political signs in Muscatine. I thought (in the nicest possible way), “Cindy’s been working the streets.” However, I thought she would be heisting to destroy rather than preserve!
Cindy: Just as lyrics are important to the song, the story is important to the gift, and what a story this one had. I had been seeing these signs all over town before the election, and I thought, ’If I only had guts to take one out of someone’s yard.’ Being a good Democrat, I couldn’t bear to walk into Republican Headquarters and ASK for one. While riding around town with three of my fiftysomething friends from work, I saw two signs in one yard. I explained to them the significance of the name and how I would love to “borrow” one as a gift for Kimmi. When the car stopped at the corner, one of my friends simply jumped out of the car in broad daylight and …ahem…acquired the sign. The gal driving had vanity plates with her name on them and was dying at the idea someone would report her. The next day at work one of the guys told her he had seen the police in the parking lot looking at her car, and she spent half the day waiting for the police to escort her out in handcuffs. We were laughing so hard we were in tears.
Kimmi: I have the best Mom ever!! (Sorry, Aunt Bonnie; You’re less than one centimeter behind, I swear!) It’s the greatest!! Robey and Mrs. Robey were both very happy to sign it. They, too, got a big kick out of it. It now has a special home in my room with the rest of my memorabilia. Thank you, Mumsy! Cindy: The things I do for my kids! By the way…Diane Roby won the election by ONE vote! Bonnie: All for the good of your party, of course, but perhaps you should have taken both signs. Seriously, the Presidential Debates filled us with such friendly fire that we decided we would nominate DAVID JONES FOR PRESIDENT since he is a candidate we all support, and we even made a little sign for him. Shane: Little sign? I should probably provide a little bit of history on the origin of this particular "backstage goodie". One of the neat things about being a part of this peculiar order of the PFG Road Crew (that crazy lot) are the things that happen
Bonnie: I’d heard on the local 17
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when we aren't working on the newsletter at all and are just goofing around. Most of the time, our ideas and thoughts wind up in the newsletter anyway, and that's where the "Jones for President" sign came up. Quite often, Cindy, Kimmi, Janet, Bonnie, and I will find ourselves in the middle of these hilarious group mass e-mails that just develop lives of their own, and for some reason, one night we started coming up with political slogans that had a "Davy Jones angle”, i.e. “I’m Davy Jones, and I am standing up.”, “No (flower) child left behind.” You get the idea. Before we knew it, Bonnie had incorporated all of these ideas into this huge poster board sign that Janet agreed to leave backstage for Jones. Pretty funny stuff, if I do say so myself.
“Good Clean Fun”. After dinner, the Gang came back to the Borgh’s for lemonades (actually it was Whitey’s pumpkin ice cream and homemade Halloween chocolate chip cookies). Kimmi: Mmmmmmmmm...is it dinner time? Cindy: You people spend entirely too much time thinking about FOOD!!! Bonnie: Unfortunately, we had to make it a short night as it was “a school night”. After I dropped Hannah off at school Friday morning, the Gang came over to our house about 8:45 am, and we departed for the Amana Colonies for lunch. Craig said, “You mean, you’re going to Amana for lunch (due west), and we’re going to Lockport (due east) tonight for dinner?” He learns so quickly!
Bonnie: It’s hard to read the fine print, but the sign also included David’s website since most politicians these days have one. It also credited: Paid For By: The Entertainment Party. It was just simply
Shane: North, South, East, West (Chapter 2). 18
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Cindy: East, West?! Silly boy! That’s Herman’s Hermits!
Cindy: There’s your sign! We’ve beaten the odds thus far!
Bonnie: It rained most of the way to and from Amana. Visions of Oshkosh danced in our heads.
Bonnie: We had a wonderful lunch. The coconut cream pie was killer! Janet: You spotted a MonkeE at lunch? Hmmm…interesting! Lots of that going around on Friday afternoon.
Shane: Rub it in, rub it in. I can take it; I'm not bitter. Bonnie: The majority vote was to eat at the Colony Inn even though Craig took the liberty to find us a “Buy One Get One Free” coupon at the Ox Yoke Inn. I have such fond memories of the Colony Inn. My family and I would travel there to eat on special occasions.
Bonnie: Oh, that’s too weird, Girl! Same Bat-time! Kimmi: I love that food! The chicken! The potatoes! The salad! The dessertssssss!!! Uhhh... Bonnie: In the pouring rain, we stopped briefly at an Amish chocolate shop and winery.
Shane: And this is another one! How often do we get together and actually have the time to go out to Amana to eat there? It's been a few years for me. I am sure we all appreciated Craig's efforts, but the Colony Inn is just one of our special places, just like Lunardi's. Sometimes you just gotta splurge.
Janet: Was it raining “Cats and Dogs”? Bonnie: Who writes that stuff?! Janet: I don’t remember much about the weather on Friday. I don’t think it was raining here. David and Dave Robicheau were on the WGN Morning news, and from there they went to an interview at the Chicago Oldies Station-WJMK. I was at the office taking ticket calls until noon. Work, work, work! Luckily I was free in the afternoon. I had quite the enjoyable and relaxing Friday afternoon before all the activity of Saturday. I never realized just how tasty a calamari appetizer and halibut
Bonnie: The place was still the same authentic German style restaurant. When we sat down, I looked up. I could not believe what I saw! There was a white Monkee hanging upon a coat rack just staring at me. (It would seem fitting, though, with a Monkee in Amish country.) I said, “Did you see that?” What were the odds? 19
Monkee Shines lunch could be. Cindy: True, but let’s face it, throughout the seventeen-year history of this group, I was way out numbered!
Bonnie: So you did really eat what wasn’t taken from you and eaten? Shane: I also appreciated the stop at the mall along the way. I picked up some really cool DVDs while I was wandering/wondering around. Kingdom Hospital is so much better on DVD.
Bonnie: It’s just like the polls! Speaking of which, we arrived back in the Quad Cities just in time to pick up a red, white, and blue bouquet to complement our nomination sign and refuel for our next departure. I picked Hannah up from school. Craig returned home from work. The rest of the Gang decided to depart after refueling their automobiles. In other words, they had a head start on us. Craig, Hannah, and I were almost out of Dodge when I realized a few blocks down the road I had forgotten my pillow. Like VISA, I don’t leave home without it. It was a good thing we returned home for it, too, because the door from the garage to our family room was locked but not shut. I wonder who the last one out of the door was, Craig?
Bonnie: It seems the conversation in the car to and fro continued to gravitate toward a political nature. Shane: sigh Bonnie: I said, ‘I was a brave woman being the only Republican in a car filled with Democrats.’ Cindy said, “Now you know how I feel being a Peter fan with all you David fans.” It’s not easy being purple! Shane: Hey Cindy, I like Peter too! I wouldn't have gone all the way to Lewisville if I didn't!
As I explained to the Gang, getting the Borgh family out of the house is not an easy task any time of day which was why we opted to leave on Friday afternoon SLASH evening rather than Saturday morning as originally intended. Of course, it rained (kittens and puppies) almost all of the way to Lockport. Craig wanted to stop at a Shell station (since we get 5% back on gasoline charges on our Shell card), but we ended
Cindy: I thought you went along for the abuse Now that was a trip and what a way to break you in on road trips!!! Kimmi: I will now take this opportunity and speak for myself and all of the other millions upon millions of Micky fans and say “Skillet face or not, I love him!! Go Micky!” But I love you, too, Davy. 20
Monkee Shines up at JC Penney’s to use their facilities. A mall makes a fabulous pit stop to quickly enter and exit. Of course, the Gang was miles ahead of us at that point.
we missed the same exact turn the previous year, as our directions via Map Quest on the internet were a bit misleading. We soon got on the right track again, and shortly thereafter Kimmi, Kevin, Cindy and I were at the hotel.
Shane: Kimmi and Kevin did a really good job of staying close behind Cindy's lead on the way down.
Cindy: Yeah, well, I would have had a tape player if someone who shall remain nameless (KIMMI) hadn’t poured Pepsi in it!!!
Kimmi: As soon as Mumsy quit fiddling with her phone and her jacket and her whatever and found an accurate speed!
Shane: Now, before we continue, I need to remind everybody of what happened last year when Cindy and I arrived at the hotel in Orland Park.
Cindy: Hey, it’s been a while since I was on a proper road trip so it took a while to settle in!
Bonnie: Shane, you don’t have to remind me. I remember I was in Minnesota!
Shane: Unfortunately, Cindy's new (used) car does not have a CD player, so we played around with the radio dial, scoping out the oldies stations on the way down. One of the stations played a tune that gave me an idea for a new addition to the PFG songbook.
Shane: As I approached the front desk to check in at that time, I noticed that Aviva was checking in right in front of me. Everyone remember that story? No? Well, why not?! Aren't you paying attention? As we were loading a luggage cart on the way to checking in, I happened to relate last year's encounter to Kimmi, but alas, nobody was at the front desk this year. That makes what happens next all the more interesting. This is Kimmi's story to tell, and I don't want to step on her toes.
Bonnie: What was it, Shane? Shane: Cindy has gone to town on that one, and I am sure the results are somewhere in these pages. We did have potty breaks of our own along the way, although somehow we managed to avoid Penney's, and missed a turn as we got close to Orland Park. Cindy and I recalled that
Kimmi: Bring it on, Sister! Shane: 21
Well, okay, maybe I
Monkee Shines do, but I don't care if I've offended her, ‘cause she can't catch me.
turn off my cell phone as we were blocks away from the hotel in Orland Park. They had just arrived. We were actually minutes behind them. I’m not sure how that happened.
Kimmi: Really? Care to find out??? Cindy: Shane, my money’s on Kimmi!
Cindy: I still cannot figure out how you made up forty minutes that quickly!
Shane: So I'll be nice and let her relate the events of checkin. All I want to say is “deja-vu” all over again.
Kimmi: Um, Uncle Craig is a Mad Man behind the wheel!! Bonnie: We were on a mission, I guess. After we all checked in, we had a wonderful late dinner at the nearby “Fire and Ice” restaurant.
Kimmi: We were checking in, and the front desk couldn’t find my reservation. I, of course, couldn’t find my confirmation number. After searching the depths of my purse SLASH suitcase (Why do I need such a large purse?! It’s only more room for more crap!!) I found it! Then they found it under Kimberly Maloney! “Hello, Kimberly Maloney. Nice to meet you.” “Please, no autographs. I’m in a hurry.” It didn’t trigger at first, but Shanie was quick to explain. Then I caught on. “Ah, hah!” We told Mum what happened, then, “Uh-oh.” “Hey, Aviva!” We told her the story, and she said they had her name as Kimberly Maloney, too. That crazy lot!
Kimmi: Again, delicious! Fantastic Cheezy Broccoli Soup Platter! Shane: This place has undergone some drastic changes since Cindy and I had our "little snack" there last year. I'm not sure whether or not they are changes for the better or worse. The seating arrangements and atmosphere inside have been totally changed to more of a modern/club theme. (A polite way of saying that people of a certain age have a hard time hearing themselves think.) The food, while very good, was also quite expensive. I recall so vivdly the conversation Cindy and I had with David in the elevator at the hotel last year when he said that the restaurant was "reasonably priced". No more. Good food, just not what I had
Cindy: Not that we are superstitious, but don’t you find it interesting how many signs we get? There’s your sign!!! Bonnie: Cindy called about 7:30 pm just as I was about to 22
Monkee Shines remembered or expected. Shane: Just like Oshkosh. No, I'm not bitter. Whatever gave you that idea?
Cindy: It was good but expensive. I really liked the place better last year though.
Kimmi: Don’t make me come over there and hurt you! Wait, that’s not a good threat, is it?
Janet: Actually the restaurant that occupied that space last year, Alexis, is now in the Register of Historic Places in IllinoiS...
Bonnie: I noticed the “Pool Rules” sign said “Absolutely No Swimming Alone”, but there was no one besides me there. I thought, “Oh well, what are you gonna do?” I thought to myself, “It’s no different than swimming laps at the fitness center with our lifeguard “on duty”. He’s out of the room more than he’s in it.”
Bonnie: Pardon me, Janet, but I think it’s pronounced SLASH spelled “Illi-NOISE!” Janet:…after Davy Jones ate there last year!!! It’s TRRUUEE! No, actually Fire and Ice was just renovated...It had to be because mad fans stole the booths, bar stools, plates, and beer mugs after Davy Jones was there last year. Everything was gone!!
Craig brought Hannah down to swim shortly after 7:00 am (It must be genetic.) We pooled it for awhile before showering and eating breakfast.
Cindy: We did not! I only steal signs!!!
Shane: Cindy and I employed the "HELLO” system at the continental breakfast in the lobby. However, Kimmi broke protocol and showed up at the wrong place at the wrong time. See??? Now you've even gotten ME talking in political-ese. Heavy sigh.
Janet: Not buyin’ it…Okay, it really just opened two weeks before you arrived. I hadn’t been in the new establishment until the Saturday evening after the show. Bonnie: Again, we needed to cut the evening short to get Hannah to bed. We had a busy day planned for Saturday.
Kimmi: I stumbled down eventually. I needed my beauty sleep, though it never seems to do much good.
I enjoyed an early morning 6:00 am swim despite the fact I thought the torrential rain was going to come through the roof.
Cindy: sleep...
23
Ah,
yeah,
beauty
Monkee Shines place that nobody goes where we could just sit and take pictures. We settled in comfortably after a little drapery redecorating.
Bonnie: We left shortly before 11:00 am to leave for the booksigning at Harrison’s. We saw Janet in the breakfast area going over details with Deb Robicheau and spoke very briefly as we knew she was busy. We were one of the first groups to arrive at the restaurant and were greeted very warmly by...
Kimmi: Heh, yeah...great idea, Aunt Bonnie! Bonnie: Thank you, Girl. Too much natural light emitted from behind is not good for photos. David arrived promptly at high noon. When he sat down, he said, “Hello, Bonnie.” We had a fabulous view of whatever. David is so gracious with his fans, and it’s so wonderful to see how excited people are when they meet him. I heard numerous people say, “That was fun!” One time, I heard David say, “Would you look at that? I signed right over Micky’s face!”
Janet: All the plans were set, but I had to pick up a few things before I went to Harrison’s. Shane: The hostess? Cindy: No, definitely not her. Bonnie:…Tom Litterio. The hostess obviously didn’t know who we were, but Tom told her! Who are we again? Oh yeah, we’re the “crazy lot.” Tom offered us a little out of the way
Janet: I’ve heard from so many
David poses with someone else’s daughter’s...also all girls! Photo by Bonnie Borgh
24
Monkee Shines people that attended the events of the weekend. All of them were so impressed at David’s graciousness and warmheartedness with everyone he met while he was here. It is wonderful to see how happy people are upon meeting him…the look of pure joy in their faces was priceless.
It was great to see all of the PFG! The crazy lot! Bonnie: Kimmi and Kevin were kind enough to stand in line for us. Kimmi wanted David to autograph her copy of “Daydream Believin’”. I asked Kimmi if she would ask David to sign another copy of his autobiography for Renee, a friend of mine, who is dealing with cancer. Cindy thought it would be nice if David would autograph Oliver (the stuffed Monkee which rides in her car). The paparazzi were ready and aimed to take a photo of Kimmi, Kevin, and David. Kimmi was also thrilled to have Deb Robicheau autograph her “ROBY FOR SUPERVISOR” sign. Deb suggested Kimmi bring it to the concert to have Dave autograph it, too. I think Kevin was impressed with his first Close Encounter of the Jones Kind (despite the fact that he looked like he was going to visit the dentist) because he was having second thoughts about going to the concert afterwards.
Cindy: He certainly was animated and in a good mood wasn’t he?! Shane: I had debated about going through the line myself. Since I was lucky enough to get an autographed copy of David's book (a little present from an "old friend") when the book first came out, I decided to just people watch this time. I perched myself on some bar stools behind Cindy, Bonnie, and Kimmi and took some overhead shots whenever I could get a good glimpse of whatever. It WAS fun to watch Jones react with all the different people, young and old alike. When fellow PFGer Karen Barnes came through with her daughter, I was able to get a really funny shot of them with David as he is trying to locate where I was taking my photos of them from. I still get a chuckle out of that picture. (Thanks, Karen, for the presents! The Peter CD has been in constant rotation in my player ever since I got home!)
Kimmi: Yes, Kevin and I stood in line with our 50 lbs. of books and 50 lbs. of monke(e) and eventually mission was accomplished. I think Kevin had a good time. I’m slowly sucking him in. Mah, hah, haahhhh! Bonnie: That’s English for?
Cindy: Yes, Karen! Thanks so much for the music and photos!
Cindy: Kimmi, the Monkey(ee) is a pillow so he probably only 25
Monkee Shines
Kimmi and Kevin with David at the booksigning. Photo by Bonnie Borgh
weighs 49.5 pounds and I appreciate you taking him up to be autographed. He’s too young to be standing in line by himself.
Cindy: Kevin is a sweetie and now that we’ve bonded Kimmi, you had better behave!
Shane: Kevin must be going to the wrong dentist! He needs one that plays Monkees’ music in his office! I've got to give Kevin a lot of credit. He was a real trooper, even when he wasn't feeling well and would just have rather gone back to the hotel. It says a lot for a person who really isn't into this like the rest of us are to have been so willing and patient all weekend.
Bonnie: When David was finished, he passed by the Gang and waved. Unfortunately, most of us missed it. David was definitely working overtime because he did not leave until about 2:45 pm. I don’t know how almost three hours could pass so quickly!
Kimmi: I use the basement wall. More stable.
Janet: I can’t believe how quickly the entire day flew by. Time seems to go by SO fast!
Bonnie: Just like Craig and Hannah, right?
Bonnie: Kevin had a request to eat at Denny’s. (Isn’t there an alternative name for that?)
Shane: You've got a good 'un Kimmi; I'd chain him to the couch if I were you. 26
Monkee Shines Cindy: Like maybe Crummy’s?
concert. We were on the road again until Kimmi remembered she had forgotten her tickets (to the really big shoe) in her car!
Bonnie: By George, I think she’s got it! Shane: We've had plenty of requests, but we're gonna eat anyway. Cindy: Sandy!
Rim
shot
Shane: At least she didn't LOSE them or anything Kimmi: Nope! They were right inside the glove box where I had put them so I wouldn’t lose them!
please,
Bonnie: Unfortunately, Kevin developed a nasty headache on site and was unable to even finish his late lunch SLASH early dinner. Kimmi took care of that!
Bonnie: After a quick circle tour, we were once again enroute to Lockport East High School. Shane: This is where experience pays off. Cindy and I learned from last year's wrong turn out of the hotel on the way to the show, and we were on the right track immediately. Familiar landmarks passed by as we were heading towards the high school, so we weren't nearly as frazzled when we got there this time as we were last year.
Kimmi: Eat one little onion ring off of someone else’s plate… Cindy: People have lost fingers for less! Janet: It’s always a nice gesture to share part of your lunch...be it an onion ring or say a bowl of soup with whomever you’re dining with...to get a good sample of the fare of the day.
Janet: It always helps the second time around!
Bonnie: What was the special of the day again, Janet? Shane: dinner?
Bonnie: We made arrangements with Tom at the booksigning if he would be able to stick our sign (in the nicest possible way) in David’s dressing room along with the patriotic flowers. Ironically, Tom was the first person we saw moments after parking the car. We once again handed off the goods from the hoods.
The headache or the
Kimmi: Hmm, hmm. What do you think? Bonnie: We made a quick costume change and agreed to meet at 6:00 pm to leave for the 27
Monkee Shines
Kimmi and Roby with the..ahem...borrowed sign!. Photo by Bonnie Borgh
a fantastic idea. Shane: Tom, I must tell you, I do so enjoy this car to dressing room delivery service you were running. From one room server to another, ya done good.
Janet: I had a little help with that suggestion…Thanks to Cindy. We had a guestbook last year as well. I wanted the people to be able to leave a message for David so he would be able to read for himself what I had been hearing the last several months.
Kimmi: Thank you, Tom!! Cindy: Thanks for all your kindnesses, Tom! Janet: Boy, talk about a real trouper throughout all this…that’s Tom!!! Always in the right place at the right time.
Cindy: I thought it would be a nice way for HIM to remember the evening. Shane: I told him not to forget about us poor, rained out fans in Oshkosh. What, me bitter? Pshaw!
Bonnie: There’s another political comment right on the tip of my tongue, but that’s all I’m going to say about that! We arrived well in time to sign the guest book for David which was
Cindy: Keep beating that dead horse, son! 28
Monkee Shines Kimmi agreed. From our vantage point, Dave seemed to find it most amusing. He was kind enough to hop off the stage, pose with Kimmi for a picture, and kiss her on the cheek. I’m sure she will never wash her cheek again!
Kimmi: Sigh! Bonnie: When the band began to assemble their equipment, Cindy encouraged Kimmi to ask Dave to autograph her sign. Kimmi: Encourage? Is that what you call threatening your children these days? Actually, it was Shanie that made me! Thank you, Bro!! :-D
Shane: No wonder Kevin gets sick. :-) Bonnie: There it is again! “:-)”
Bonnie: What is this ”:-D”? I never learned that in typing class.
Kimmi: Yeah, he was getting annoyed with the dried saliva so I finally had to wash it. My saliva, not Dave’s. Like you never drool in your sleep!
Cindy: Bonnie! Bonnie! Bonnie! It’s a smilie face! Where have you been? Kimmi, don’t mess with me! I already threw one little kid out of her swing and I’m not afraid to do it again!!
Bonnie: We anxiously awaited for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin SLASH David Jones. Shane: We had the most sincere audience around. Sincerity as far as the eye can see....
Bonnie: With a little coercing,
Reports of my death……. Photo by Tom Litterio
29
Monkee Shines
Bonnie: At approximately 8:05 pm, David appeared on stage (in Hannah’s words) wearing a “snazzy jazzy” sparkly white and black short-sleeved shirt with black pants. Whoever decorated the stage with the “dummy” in Dave Alexander’s station and the JONES tombstone was (What’s the word?)
Cindy: Autistic! Janet: I’m not quite sure whose handiwork that was. I did remember seeing the JONES tombstone last year. And I know that Ken, the theater manager, was working on the “monster” on Friday evening when we arrived to set up. He made that himself. What talent, huh? I suspect the culprit may have been Bobby…the chap that helps us every year with tattoos nearly as big as David. Bobby is SUCH a nice guy!! Although from my vantage point, I still haven’t seen his face. He’s quite tall.
Cindy: The only thing I would have done differently is I would have had a green wool hat on the mummy! Shane: "Really something"? Bonnie: Artistic? It reminded me of the stage props yester decade or two ago in the Monkees’ 1987 Pool It tour.
Bonnie: David was so funny through the entire show opting
David and Bobby the sound tech! Photo by Tom Litterio
30
Monkee Shines
Shane: Time and again we have extolled the virtues of David's storytelling in this newsletter, so it should come as no surprise that we were extremely happy with the show's focus (whether it was planned or not) on the stories and using the music almost as a secondary aspect of the concert. I swear that the guy touched on all kinds of topics, from Oprah Winfrey's car giveaway (I believe the joke was that he was giving everybody in the audience a car, but you had to supply your own keys), to reality television, (David is thinking of starting something called "Cooking For One" (a good idea, if you ask me!), to his travels through airports and the security checkpoints, therein, even mentioning some sculpture he found fascinating in one of them.
Photo By Bonnie Borgh
more for conversational dialogue and humor. In fact, I think a half hour had passed, and he had only sung two songs! “I’m a Believer” it’s the first concert I’ve attended where he omitted his standard “I Wanna Be Free” in lieu of storytelling. I absolutely loved his schtick about odd expressions, i.e. “raining cats and dogs” where he dramatized sound effects of cats meowing and dogs barking.
Bonnie: “David”, right?
Michelangelo’s
Shane: For all of the talk and all of the jokes, the funniest part of the entire concert had very little to do with anything that David did. During the performance of "Girl", most of the audience members who had purchased flowers for Jones took that song as a cue to come to the front of the stage to hand him their gifts. He got absolutely deluged with flowers, but that's not the funny part. Once all of the women were through,
I’m sure David’s sister, Hazel, and his brother-in-law, Ken, would love to hear all of the big, kind-hearted words he said about them following their recent visit at Beverley’s wedding in August. Cindy: She will, she will! Kimmi: Hazel, make sure you ask Davy about it! 31
Monkee Shines up comes this big, burly biker guy in a black leather Harley vest, chains, and the whole nine yards (the sound tech from what I'm told), who hands him his own flowers. Talk about drop dead funny! I would have LOVED to have gotten a picture of that, but I was just laughing so hard that I couldn't even think about picking up my camera!!
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You Last Train To Clarksville Consider Yourself I'd Do Anything Who Will Buy? Wasted Days and Wasted Nights It’s Nice To Be With You Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby? I’m A Believer Why All In The Family skit Bright Side Of The Road (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone Girl (dedicated to Janet) (I’ll) Love You Forever Daydream Believer No Time
Bonnie: If you didn’t know it, one would have thought it was all part of the show. It was hilarious! Janet: The big, burly biker guy was one of our soundmen, Bobby. What a stitch!! Back in March when it seemed that another concert was on the horizon, I called Bobby to line up the service of the company for which he works. He told me then that he’d be working on some new material for Davy’s upcoming show. Little did I know he’d become part of the show! Oh yes, speaking of “Girl”, talk about an honor. That was totally an unexpected, but a VERY thoughtful surprise.
I loved hearing David sing the song Janet has talked about entitled, “Why”. Janet: When David started talking about being in a cathedral in Ireland on Good Friday, I knew what song was coming next. You see, a few years ago Tom and I were talking with David at a booksigning at the Hard Rock Café in Downtown Chicago. At one point in the conversation, I was talking with him about the possibility of him coming and doing a benefit for our church, and I remember thinking at that time, yeah right, like THAT would EVER happen-who knew. As we were talking at the booksigning then, David started telling me about a song that he had heard that moved him and began singing that beautiful song to me. That was some-
Bonnie: Just for the record, David sang: Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) Valleri Who Will Buy? (Intro) Meatloaf impression Nobody Cares About The Railroads Anymore 32
Monkee Shines thing I will never, ever forget. I was so moved that when he stopped singing, I literally could not find my voice.
request from me. I was as surprised as everyone else when David sang that song. But it is SUCH a pretty song, I was honored that people that attended our show were treated to the same song to which I was treated a few years before.
Bonnie: It was a beautiful song; I’d love to hear more of where that came from. I also enjoyed hearing the tunes Wasted Days and Wasted Nights and Bright Side of the Road. I had not heard Nobody Cares About the Railroads Anymore since David’s Prairie Meadows concert in Altoona in January of 1999.
Shane: It shouldn't be too hard to dig up the music for this song somewhere, as Jones had wondered about onstage. Janet: I found the words to that song shortly after I heard it previously. Consider the words as having been shared.
Shane: Just a few overall comments from me about the music. I was very impressed to see some change-ups in the setlist from the typical Davy Jones concert (if there is such a thing). For one thing, I was pleasantly surprised to see "Nobody Cares About The Railroads" back in the lineup. I hadn't heard that one in quite a while, and I was afraid that this was just another tune that he'd do for a while and then cast aside like so many of the other non-Monkees’ songs that we've seen in his concerts. Keep this song, David, and bring back a few others like "Here Comes My Baby", "Somebody Slap Me", and "When All Else Fails" (original version). I was also enchanted by the impromptu performance of "Why" (a personal request from Janet I have no doubt).
Shane: I also enjoyed the fact that David tried his hand at "Clarksville". Yes, he did flub up the lyrics a bit... Bonnie: When was that? Shane: He covered well, and I have to give him his "props" for trying. What makes these three examples all the more exceptional to me is that NONE of these were on the official set list that the band was supplied with before the show. (Aviva gave me hers after the show, so that's how I know...swoon!) In other words, David probably chose all of these tunes on the spur of the moment, which I think makes his performance more "real" and "down to earth". Bonnie: Grandpa Borgh said David was a “down-to-earth,
Janet: No, it wasn’t a personal 33
Monkee Shines kind of guy”. David was very appreciative and thanked Janet and Tom for all their hard work. He also said, “All the guys from the Purple Flower Gang came out” to which arose select applause. David looked out into the audience toward the sound, smiled, and said, “You crazy lot!” and just laughed. Sometimes the insane act quite normal; Isn’t that right, Ken? David said, “I get the newsletters all the time, and I read them…” It does go with notice.
is almost like a little cocktail party, sans lemonades. Janet: Yeah, the only drawback to having the show in such a beautiful theater is lemonades are not allowed on school property. Bonnie: Someone once said that wasn’t a problem. Shane: I've said this before, but it's always true. One starts seeing a lot of the same people whenever there's a Monkee performing in the general geographic area. The Midwest seems to have a very loyal contingent, which I think is part of the reason why David comes back to these parts as often as he seems to.
Cindy: Select applause? Kimmi and Shane came out of their seats!!! Shane: Better a crazy lot than a vacant lot... Cindy: Been there, done that!
Bonnie: I dunno, Shane. I’ve seen George Bush more times in the Quad Cities since 1999 than I’ve seen David Jones. What is wrong with that picture? Oh, I’m sorry. My tongue was tied!
Kimmi: Well, depends on the day or the minute. Cindy: Or where the pool is or was… Bonnie: There’s another political comment there, but my tongue is still tied!
We stopped at “Fire and Ice” for something to eat and drink after the show since we had not eaten since mid afternoon, and it was approaching midnight.
David performed for close to two and a half hours. It was nice to see Mike Bush and talk with Beverly. It was also nice to see some other Monkees’ fans from another lifetime ago.
Kimmi: shrimp!
Awesome
popcorn
Shane: We all must have our three squares a day...breakfast, lunch, and dinner...in that precise order.
Shane: That's always part of the fun; isn't it? Chatting with folks before and after the show 34
Monkee Shines I drifted off to la-la land, or so it seemed, than I was wakened by a large, reckless and boisterous party making their way through the hallways. I'm not sure if it was the remnants of one of the many weddings going on that weekend or what, but it was certainly unwelcome. Not only were they yelling, but I heard them throwing things around in the hallway, as well. It wasn't until I decided that I wasn't going to be able to sleep any longer and finally just got up and ready to go that I noticed that this group had shattered a great many beer bottles all over the hallway. How mature, sigh. Well, I hadn't come all that way to sleep anyhow. I showered, dressed, packed, and met Cindy down at breakfast.
Cindy: Shane, don’t you think they are just a bit obsessed? What happened to Tic Tacs, Vivarin, and Pop Tarts? Kimmi: But pancakes for dinner are the best!! Right, Aunt Bonnie? Cindy: Don’t confuse her!!! Bonnie: That’s right; Pancakes are for breakfast! I slept until 6:15 am and swam from 6:30 am to 7:30 am. Once again, it was wonderful to have the pool to myself. I estimated that one hundred forty-eight pool lengths was close to a mile. I got out when I started to feel like a guppy. Shane: It was probably around 11:30 pm or so when we got back to the hotel from our late meal. I can understand that Bonnie wanted to check on her family, and Kimmi wanted to see how Kevin was feeling. As for myself, I was too wired to even think about sleeping. I got to my room in just enough time to flip on the TV to Saturday Night Live as Ashlee Simpson was performing her now infamous lip-synching goof. I had no idea at the time how much press that blunder was going to receive! I wonder what David might think about it... Shortly after that, I just laid there on the bed and waited for sleep to come. That was a long time in coming, though. No sooner had
Cindy: We were all on different floors, and we all had to deal with the party. It must have been one heck of a party! In younger days I would have joined them, but let’s face it, I’m too old for this crap now! Bonnie: I didn’t hear a thing. I probably had water in my ears from the previous morning. Janet: We left “Fire and Ice” around 2:00 am. It probably was the remnants of one of the wedding parties that we saw there. They were still going great guns when we left. Bonnie: Cindy and Shane were having breakfast, and I told 35
Monkee Shines them I would be down as soon as I had showered and dressed. Hannah woke up when I came in the room so Craig went downstairs (no doubt) to fire up another political conversation.
Astaire?
Shane: HEAVY sigh
Bonnie: David approached the beverages. He had a mischievous smile, and I thought, “Okay buddy…” and I said, “Good morning, Mr. Jones!” He said, “Hey, how ya doing? Hey, thanks for all that stuff you sent me.” I said, “You’re welcome. We had fun doing it.” (He has no idea!) He said, “I’m working on the form…” I knew exactly what he was talking about, and it wasn’t IRS. I said, “That’s good. Take your time.” and he was gone. Dorothy thought people came and went quickly in Oz!
Bonnie: I didn’t think he was Eric Clapton. Cindy: It was a nice way to start your day!
Cindy: ((((just grinning)))) Bonnie: Actually, he was probably reading the newspaper and eating a pre-breakfast. Shane: PRE-breakfast? Wow! Meal times at your house must be sumthin' else! Cindy: I told you OBSESSED! Kimmi: Don’t you know about second breakfast? Cindy: And elevensies..
Shane: "Heaven...I'm in Heaven”...
About fifteen minutes later, David reappeared again. Once again, I was back at the orange juice. Anita Bryant (Cindy’s cousin) would be proud of me. I said, “Hey, that was a great show last night. You were so funny!” He started to chuckle at himself as if to say, “Yeah, I’m not sure where it all came from…” I said, “I loved that bit about ’raining cats and dogs’ with the meowing cats and barking dogs.” He said, “Yeah” and then said something about another odd language expression, “hard as nails”, I think.
Cindy: Now you are Fred
David came over to our table
Bonnie: Every Saturday morning for breakfast, Craig makes awesome homemade wholewheat blueberry (or strawberry) pancakes with whipped cream. At any rate, back to the story. Hannah and I arrived somewhere between 8:15 am and 8:30 pm. I was standing at the juice decanter when I saw David appear. (I’m not sure where he came from.)
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Monkee Shines before departing. I was going to ask him to join us, but it was obvious his bagel was “to go”. He chatted with us for a few moments, and as he was leaving he said he would “drop the interview in the mail tomorrow” (tomorrow on Jones’ watch). I am still waiting, David! [“There’s always tomorrow for dreams to come true.”] He must have been reconsidering his answers because as he was headed towards his luggage, he said he was “being silly”, and he was “going to do it over”. Cindy and I spoke simultaneously, “No! Leave it! We like ’silly’!” He looked at us like, “You crazy lot...you would!” He said it was nice to see us (vice versa), and he thanked us for coming. And then, Elvis left the building.
checking out at 11:00 am. Shane: Well, technically, my bus didn't leave Chicago until noon, but I was out of Orland Park by that time. Chalk it up to my experience from last year. I gave myself plenty of time to get a cab and get to the downtown bus terminal. Bonnie: The breakfast area was closed by the time we left and uninhabited. It was like looking at one Charles Peterson’s memory pictures. The images of our Close Encounter of the Jones Kind filled my thoughts and Hannah said, “Mom, what’s wrong?” I said, “Nothing honey.” Cindy: A half hour out of town the guy on the radio said we should please excuse him for being a little hoarse this morning. He had been to a Davy Jones concert the night before; There’s your sign!
Cindy: David almost did join us I think. He stood at our table and chatted about winterizing the house in PA and everyday things. There’s just never enough time to have a proper conversation.
Bonnie: It was truly a wonderful weekend. Janet and Tom worked very hard to coordinate the booksigning and concert, and I am thrilled that once again, “Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow would keep us from a Monkees’ show.” This time, my umbrella stayed in the trunk!
Shane: Of course, Kimmi slept through the whole thing. Say it with me folks, "Ya snooze, ya loose!" Kimmi: I’ll survive. Bonnie: Wasn’t that what Gloria Gaynor said, too? Imagine that; wrong group! The Gang departed in shifts with (surprise surprise) the Borgh family
Shane: Nope. Not bitter. Never bitter. I wouldn't dare. Janet: Thank you. Tom and I did work very hard to coordi37
Monkee Shines also remember that Waterfest and Oshkosh wants you back, too!
nate everything from the booksigning to David’s media appearances on Friday, and oh yes, THE concert. I was heartened to see as many fans come to Harrison’s to show David their love and support.
Janet: While I so appreciate all of your thanks, the thanks really should go to David and The Davy Jones Band. Memories were made that weekend…not only with all of us, but for the hundreds of people that attended the events and saw and heard David on the TV and radio. Had it not been for our love and admiration for David, none of us would probably have ever met. Thank you to my fellow “road warriors” for supporting our church’s fundraiser and for all the fun, all the time. Thank
Bonnie: Thanks to you, too, David for appreciating our “crazy lot”. Remember...it’s the Isle of Capri in Bettendorf! Shane: My thanks to Janet, Tom, David and da band, as well. Also thanks to my fellow road warriors who make these trips the incredibly insane adventures that they always turn out to be. Love ya all. David
Kimmi and David The Barnes Clan and David
David, Oliver the Monkey, and Kevin Photos by Shane Worden
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Monkee Shines you to the members of The Davy Jones Band...but mostly...THANK YOU DAVID!!! Hope to see your back in IllinoiS real soon!
again real soon. Bonnie: Amen! John Boy!
Kimmi: Thanks everyone!! Cindy: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again...I love you guys!!! Thanks Janet, Tom, David, the band, Kimmi Maloney, Shanie the Whiner, Bonnie my sister in crime, Craig and Hannah, and Kevin. Let’s do it
The Crazy Lot
Photo By Tom Litterio
Tom and Janet with David Photo courtesy of Janet Litterio
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Good night,
Monkee Shines
Show Time Photos By Shane Worden
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Monkee Shines
One Small Gift, One Little Ticket By Janet Litterio
David and Janet Litterio
With the holidays rapidly approaching, many of us are turning our thoughts to sharing with others and holiday shopping. I’d like to share a story with you about a Christmas gift I received nearly four years ago, and since then, I always try to put a little extra thought into gift purchases I’ve made…here’s why.
boys-- so I could go “somewhere.” No details were given. I marked the calendar so as not to forget. After a few weeks, curiosity was getting the better of me. I tried every angle to find out where I was going…even resorting to bribes. I am very good at keeping confidences….must be genetic, because no one would talk. Ok, I figured I’d know sooner or later.
Four years ago, right about this time…just before Thanksgiving, my Mom tells me not to make plans on Jan. 27, 2001… she’s already asked my hubby Tom about this, and he had agreed to stay home and have some male bonding with our two sons-both
So, here we are now opening gifts at Christmas. I’m opening a small box…people start nudging each other…everyone was watching me with anticipation written all over their faces. I even listened to the box just in case I heard ticking, 41
Monkee Shines I’d be the first to hit the dirt!! Upon opening the box, I see it’s a ticket…hmm…January 27, 2001..ok part of the mystery is solved…where am I going… oh….Moraine Valley College…..hmmm I graduated from there…why am I going there?? DAVY JONES???? I looked at the ticket again….nope, nothing changed. After 35 years, I was going to see Davy Jones... practically in my back yard!!! I asked….Mom, when I was young, I BEGGED. PLEADED, CRIED….to get to see Davy Jones when they were in Chicago back in the 60’s…what made you buy this ticket now? I guess she figured that since I am in the mid 40’s, it was safe to let me go to a concert featuring THE Davy Jones. One small gift, one little ticket, just a piece of paper.
I am very proud to be able to say that on October 23, 2004…Mr. Jones and his Band performed a fundraiser…the second in as many years…for our church. To say the show was spectacular was quite the understatement. EVERYONE was treated, not only to David’s music, but to his great wit in storytelling as well as much of his life story. Earlier in the day, hundreds of people came to Harrison’s Restaurant….an establishment that when I frequent again, will never be quite the same….to meet David at his booksigning. I have never seen SO many smiling faces in one day…..you see, all this was the result of a small gift, one little ticket, just a piece of paper. The day before the show, Friday, David appeared on the WGN Morning News in Chicago. He and Dave Robicheau sang a few tunes, David did The Monkee Walk with the morning news crew…all seemed to have a wonderful time. After that, they went to the Oldies Station in Chicago, WJMK, for an hour long studio interview. While I did not hear the radio interview as it was on the air, I was working taking ticket sales, the program director sent me a cd of the interview, and I did listen to it after the fact. David and Dave sang on the radio as well…I believe the song was “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” which should have been the title of the entire weekend.
Well, the next month could not pass quickly enough. You see, I have been a fan of David’s all my life, since I was 10 in 1966. However, this was the first time I would actually get to see him in concert…and what a concert it was….thanks to one small gift, one little ticket, just a piece of paper. Leaving the school that night, I got an idea…to invite David to do a show as a benefit for our church. I didn’t share my idea with anyone for a while…and when I did, everyone thought that I had listened to “Daydream Believer” just one too many times. I will fast forward several years so you’re not bored to tears. 42
Monkee Shines Hundreds of people saw David Jones in our community on Sat., Oct. 23. There’s no telling how many thousands saw and heard him on Friday thanks to the TV and radio. I am certain of one thing, no matter if people met David at Harrison’s, or saw his talent upon attending the concert, they took away memories that will last a lifetime. I most certainly did!! So many people I’ve met as a result of all this, many of whom I am proud to call friends. Many others that helped in any and every way they could…it truly is about helping other people. No telling how people were touched by David’s interviews, booksigning and concert.
From time to time on both Friday and Saturday, my mind kept going back to one thing…a small gift I received a few years before…one little ticket, just a piece of paper, and how many lives that one small gift touched. Four years ago when I walked into Moraine Valley College, as I had so many times when I was a student there, I don’t think anyone could have EVER imagined in their wildest dreams what lay ahead, least of all, me. It is truly remarkable what giving from the heart can do…be it your time, your talent, or one small gift, one little ticket, just a piece of paper.
A Monkee Halloween In Canada From Denise Gautier
Denise and her mother share an October 31st birthday so Halloween is an especially fun time. Each year they celebrate by building spooky window scenes. This year their theme was a lifesize monster band with Frankenstein on guitar, a gorilla on drums, a skeleton on the organ and a
scarecrow with a tambourine and, of course, Monkees music played all night. Everyone loved the display and Denise and her mother delighted in telling everyone about the Monkees and that they still performed today. Those who weren’t familiar with the Monkees loved the music.
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Monkee Shines
Write to your favorite Monkee at: Davy Jones PO Box 400 Beavertown, PA 17180 Peter Tork 524 San Anselmo Suite 102 San Anselmo, CA 94960
Diane Klosak 2101 Nicholas Ct Bettendorf, IA 52722
This is a new address for Micky: Micky Dolenz CBS-FM 1515 Broadway 40th Floor New York, NY 10036
Rick Schwinden 3275 Valley Ridge Drive Egan, MN 55121 Ronda Russell 2031 Glen Avenue Beloit, WI 53411
Mike Nesmith Video Ranch 8 Harris Court Suite C1 Monterey, CA 93940
Susan Bragga 4222 West Robin Meadows Lane Eau Claire. WI 54701
Jenny Hersey 31 Prescott Street Apt. 23 Concord, NH 03301
Maria Tereza Pinho Gomes Da Silva Caixa Postal 01 1501 Copacabana Rio De Janeiro RJ Cep22020-970 Brazil
Beverly Ann Clark 2710 Crestmont Drive Garland, TX 75040 Nina Totaro 137 Long Point Road Stevensville, Maryland 21666-3639
Diane Scharp 14850 Phelps Drive Bridgeton, MO 63044 44
Monkee Shines
Colleen Johnson 9104 Lemona Drive St. Louis, MO 63123
Debbie Kolbaba PO Box 89 Holstein, IA 51025
Susan Jensen 210 Washington Street Audubon, IA 50025-1133
James Elswick 5017 W 2nd Street South Bloomfield, OH 43103
Shane Worden 306-A Waugoo Avenue Oshkosh WI 54901
Kathy Brewer 1198 Turkey Blind Road Crossville, TN 38572
E-mail Pals Maria Tereza Pinho Gomes Da Silva: terezaharrison@uol.com.br Shane Worden: idolthreat@prodigy.net Janet Litterio: janet6356@juno.com Barbara Woerner: Wbwoerner@aol.com Nina Totaro: woolhat@atlanticbb.net If you would like your email address listed in Email Pals please let me know. 45
Monkee Shines
December 2 3 9 11 14 15 17 18 20 21 22 23 25 27 29 30
Red Rhodes Bo Diddley Beverly Ann Clark
Janelle Scott Len Lesser Donny Osmond Teri Garr Richard Devon George Furth Rodney Bingenheimer Dave Clark Anita Jones Keith Richards Charlie Callas Frank Zappa Carl Wilson James Elswick Ivan Iannoli-Torkelson Robin & Maurice Gibb Cyndi Torres Little Richard Phil Spector Karen Sue Schwait Ray Nitschke DAVID JONES MICHAEL NESMITH
January 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 11 13 17 19 24 25 26 46
Bobbi Boyce Stephen Stills Michael Stipe Henry Corden Kenny Loggins Ami Dolenz David Bowie Jerry Yester Bill Cowsill Pat Smith Lester Sill Rip Taylor Robin Millan Phil Everly Janet Carbert Neil Diamond Lynda Moore Hallie Torkelson Vito Scotti
Monkee Shines 31
Christian Nesmith
20 23
February 1 2 4 6 9
10 11 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 25 26
25 26 30
Don Everly Graham Nash Jonathan Nesmith John London Fabian Forte Deborah Stidham Carole King Barry Mann Jack Winter Beryl Leigh Gerry Goffin PETER TORK Joe Perry Rick Klein Sonny Bono Linda Jones Ronda Russell Gene Pitney Bobby Hart Lou Christie Bob Rafelson George Harrison Johnny Cash Cyrus Faryar
April 3
Jan Berry Jeff Barry Jan Chilton 5 Coco Heinzelmann 6 Phil Leeds Michelle Phillips 9 Carl Perkins 12 David Cassidy Tiny Tim 13 Diane (Hildebrand) Roland-Skye 14 Shorty Rogers 17 Don Kirshner 18 Alex Singer 19 Mark Volman Julie Harris 20 Monte Landis 22 Jack Nicholson Glen Campbell 26 Donna Lee Bacalla Bobby Rydell 29 Tommy James 30 Bobby Vee
March 1 2 7 8 9 10 13 14 15 17 19
Diane Scharp Bruce Kessler Shane Worden Elton John Diana Ross Eric Clapton
Roger Daltry John Cowsill Donna Loren MICKY DOLENZ Ceil Cabot Mark Lindsay Dean Torrence Neil Sedaka Carolyn Travis Arch Johnson Mike Love John Sebastian Irene Davidson 47
Monkee Shines
Waterfest gets Saved By The Blues Shoe Suede Blues in Oshkosh, WI, 7-29-04 Story & Photos by Shane Worden
Okay, so you've read about the disappointing nonencounter with David here in June. Let me fast forward things seven weeks. It is now the middle of summer, it is Peter's turn up at bat for Waterfest, and there hasn't been a single rainout since David's week. (Not that I'm bitter, mind you.) So, naturally, when it came time for Monkee Number Two, ol' Mother Nature had to put a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. How wonderful for me. But yet, I had very limited time to even think about that, as I was getting a houseguest that week. (And no, it wasn't the return of the squirrel.) My friend, and fellow PFG member, Joyce Lopez had been making plans for several weeks to join me here in Oshkosh for Peter's show. Traveling on the Greyhound bus (My favorite mode of transport! Not.) all the way from St. Paul, MN. I've known Joyce ever since I got
caught up with the PFG in 1994. In fact, I believe that we both joined the Gang at the same time. For quite a while during the Monkees resurgence in 1996 and 97, we wrote pen pal letters to each other often, and then kind of lost touch over the years as the guys went on with their lives, and so did we. Then in March of last year, Joyce surprised the heck out of me with a happy birthday email on my special day, and we've been keeping in touch via cyberspace since then. Unlike the Davy Jones show, (or non-show), back in June, Joyce didn't have the luxury of being put up at the resort where I work. The week of Peter's show happened to coincide with the week of the EAA, (short for Experimental Aircraft Association), which is an unbelievably huge aviation convention which attracts close to 750,000 people to this area every year. Needless to say that every hotel in the general area is booked solid that week. So, it was 48
Monkee Shines my pleasure to put her up in my place. But that also meant a degree of cleaning. You know the drill--washing the dishes, vacuuming the floor, squirrel-proofing the living room.... The plan was for Joyce to come in at 5:30 PM Wednesday night, which would give us a whole evening to chat and get caught up before concert day on Thursday. After getting out of work (late) on Wednesday afternoon, I had just enough time to get my Mom's loaned inflatable mattress together before it was time to go and pick her up at the bus terminal. Surprisingly enough, the Greyhound was right on time. Well...okay...if you want to be picky it was 4 minutes late. But man, given the experiences I've had in the past, that's pretty darn good. Even more so considering the extra traffic and congestion that the EAA brings into this area. For a rookie Greyhound rider, I'd say that Joyce had a pretty good experience. After a quick tour through the area, including a drive by my place of employment so Joyce could at least get a glimpse of the outside of the building, it was off to my place for an evening of Domino's pizza and Monkee memories. When Bonnie and Kimmi stopped over at my apartment in June during the Davy disaster, Bonnie noted how my place looks like a Monkees museum. And I suppose that's a pretty apt way of putting it. Some people have pictures of their family on the walls. I have pictures of the Monkees. My
philosophy is this: My memorabilia does me no good sitting in boxes somewhere, collecting dust. I prefer to have my stuff out where I can see it all the time. Hence, all of my autographed albums have been professionally framed and put on my walls, as have some promotional JUSTUS posters and record flats that I got through my local music store. Even the handmade poster that I had made and put on my hotel room door that David had signed behind our backs during one of his weekends at the old Lady Luck in Bettendorf has found a place in my abode. Lots of stuff like that. I think the enormity of it all overwhelmed Joyce a bit upon entering my apartment. But, by the end of the evening, I had ALL of my albums out, and had even delved into the un-catalogued wasteland that is my photo cache in the cabinet beneath my TV. Thank goodness Joyce came to visit! I found things that night I
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Monkee Shines had even forgotten that I had! But what a nice trip down memory lane. Needless to say, it was quite late before we hit the hay that evening. Normally, that would be a problem for me, especially during the week of EAA, when things are so busy at work at help is hard to come by early on in the morning. But by hook or by crook, I finagled my way into getting Thursday off. My ONLY day off in what became quite a bit of a stretch actually, so I allowed myself the luxury of sleeping in the next morning. Once we were up and ready to go that day, I gave Joyce the 25 cent tour of downtown Oshkosh: the gift shop, CD store, thrift market, not to mention the library and bookstore. It was while going through the latter two locations that Joyce really impressed me with her love for the written word. It seemed as though every other book we looked at she had read at some point or another. Totally unreal! After a stop at the local Blimpe's for some takeout subs, we made our way back to my place. Our local oldies radio station had been promoting a *supposed* in-
studio interview with Peter at 1:30, so we wanted to be back home in plenty of time for that. I also wanted to check out the weather report on the noon news to see if the forecast had improved at all. Unfortunately, it had not, but still things were not looking any worse outside than they had previously that day, so I remained hopeful. We turned on the radio at around 1:00, at which time Peter's forthcoming interview was still being promoted, but when 1:30 came and went without anything further to report, I knew that something must have happened. An onair caller even asked the afternoon deejay if the interview was still going to happen, to which he answered that he hoped it would, but Peter seemed to be operating on "rock star time". To further add to the confusion, it was announced on-air that Peter was driving north from Milwaukee, because he wasn't able to procure any rooms here in Oshkosh due to the EAA, and if anyone should happen to see the Monkeemobile driving north on Hwy. 41 to let the station know... All of this is in direct negation to what my friend Jacki, who interned at 50
Monkee Shines Waterfest this summer, told me about the Park Plaza hotel, (across the street from the concert park), reserving rooms for all the acts at Waterfest *all summer long*. As it turns out from what I found out after the fact, Jacki was right and the radio station was wrong. Peter was here, or at least in the general area, all the time. I am not exactly sure why the radio thing didn't happen, then. Obviously some lines of communication were crossed. And...as if to add insult to injury...it was around this time that it started to rain outside. (Hard!) I was beginning to get that old sinking feeling, again. Not only for myself, but for Joyce, too, who had come all this way on the insufferable Greyhound for this. And I couldn't even offer her the option of phoning into the radio station to at least speak with Peter that way. All I could do was look out the window and sigh. By 2:30-3:00, however, the rain started to let up and eventually stopped! Encouraged by this news, I hopped online to check out the latest weather radar, and sure enough it did appear as though the line of storms that had been threatening us was moving off to the east, and there didn't seem to be anything behind it to keep the evening's show from taking place. Perhaps Waterfest had been saved after all! After a call to Cindy to say "hello" a bit later, Joyce and I headed down to the concert park by quarter to five,
where already a small group of fans were waiting outside the park gate for the show. It was a good thing that we got there when we did too, as it was only a very short time later that people started lining up by the droves. In fact, I think the attendance for this particular show will most likely turn out to be the highest of the season. (Not surprising, considering the air show and the strength of the acts.) One of the nice things about Monkees concerts, (or at least the ones that I have been to), is that a person tends to see the same fans in the same general area whenever one of the guys performs within driving distance. This proved to be no exception. Among the familiar faces in the crowd was Karen Barnes, a good friend of Janet Litterio's. Not only is Karen a big Monkees fan, but she and her daughters are also big followers of the Grass Roots, who happened to be the headliners for this evening's show, so they were really in their element. (As a little side note, both the Grass Roots' keyboardist and guitar player were on the Monkees' 1986 tour. I bet that it was really something backstage, with everybody knowing just about everybody else.) It is always nice to see some familiar faces in the crowd and catch up on what everybody has been doing. By 6:00 the gates to the park opened up, and Joyce and I took our position in front of the stage pronto. It's always a good thing to claim those spots as soon
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Monkee Shines as possible, as people aren't allowed to set up lawn chairs or blankets and then just leave them in front of the stage. Stand you must, and stand we did. There were to be three acts this evening, with Peter and SSB being the second. The first was a local 80's and 90's cover band called Sonic Circus. They were pretty good; Joyce seemed to like them, anyway. I wasn't exactly "getting" the guy in the tight leather pants chucking cheapo stuffed carnivaltype animals into the audience, but hey, everybody must have a gimmick I guess. The kids seemed to like it. Shortly after Sonic Circus ended their set, Joyce nudged me and said that she had just spotted Peter standing behind the stage. And yup, there he was. I must admit that this was a bit of an exciting moment for me, too. After dealing with Jones getting rained out and not even seeing him once while he was here, it was great to know that at least nothing was going to stop this particular exMonkee from taking the stage. Peter and the rest of SSB were very busy getting things set up for their set while the first band was packing up, but that didn't stop Peter from clowning around a bit, either. When he took the stage for the first time to set up, and people started to applaud, he looked around with a goofy grin on his face that kind of said "Who are you guys cheering for ?" I could tell right away that Peter was in a really good mood, and I was very happy for that.
Once everything was set up, one of the deejays from our oldies station took the stage to introduce the band, and off they went for close to a 90 minute set. Almost the entire Saved By The Blues album was played, with Peter handling most of the lead vocals that Tadj Galleran had provided on the CD, as well as some more obscure jtems like "Get What You Pay For" from Peter's Stranger Things Have Happened album, "Mojo" and "Cross Cut Saw" from the first (Live) SSB album, "Lucille", and even a handful of Monkees hits, i.e. "A Little Bit Me...", "Daydream Believer", "I'm A Believer", "Steppin' Stone", "Auntie Grizelda" (complete with the talking parrot imitation during the song's bridge), and a completely (blues influenced) reworking of "Clarksville" that I thought was actually pretty neat. Joyce wasn't too big on it, but I kind of like hearing different arrangements of familiar material every now and again. Peter seemed to be having a really good time on stage, even when a minor snafu occurred. In the middle of performing a song, Peter managed to break a guitar string, and had to do a quick repair in between tunes. When Peter mentioned what he was doing on stage, a small group of fans applauded, to which Peter playfully quipped that they were cheering because he broke the string. I shouted out, (although I don't think anybody heard me), "tell them you tune because you care"! ;-) (I should mention that Peter was not 52
Monkee Shines the only person to have a guitar string break onstage. The same thing happened to Dusty Hanvey of the Grass Roots just a short while later. Must have been somethin' in the air.) At another point in the show, an older gentleman who was to the left of me in front of the stage shouted at Peter between songs that he had seen him before on TV. (I think the guy was a little tanked.) Peter took it all in stride and joked that it was a good thing that he had, because it would be alarming if he had seen him on his washing machine. While Richard Mikuls and Michael Sunday stuck to guitar and bass duties respectively, Peter and John Palmer doubled up on instruments whenever possible. Peter played both keyboards and guitar during the show, and John blew me away by handling a blues harp (harmonica) solo AND drum duties at the same time! Pretty amazing, if you ask me, since John was playing the drums with one hand and playing the harp with the other. While Tork and Mikuls shared lead vocal duties, I noticed that even Michael Sunday, who has had such a reputation for not wanting to sing, was even doing background vocals whenever it was necessary. Need-
less to say, I was impressed at how this band has matured and grown over the course of their history. They put out an amazing amount of sound for a four piece act. At the end of the show, Peter announced that he and the band would be selling CDs and signing autographs as the merchandise table to the left of the stage immediately following the show, so as soon as the band was finished, Joyce and I surrendered our front of the stage vantage point to go talk to the guys. Now, I have seen Peter solo a number of times, and while I can say that I've never seen him signing for people while in a foul mood, I've never exactly seen him in the kind of giddy mood he seemed to be in this night. In fact, he was downright chatty! Cracking jokes with people, graciously posing for photos, talking with everybody who said hello...that was Peter that night. In addition to my older copy of Saved By the Blues, which sports an earlier group shot of the band, and which all of the band members noted as being an "original", I had Peter sign my copy of the Headquarters Sessions CD set. Since this title is now out of print from Rhino, I figured that this item will have some value 53
Monkee Shines down the road, and the autograph can only help. Peter signed the back of the box, and told me to look at his signature because "it's a joke". And he asked me if I got it. Sure enough, I did. The back of the box shows a picture of the Monkees which is slightly distorted to give them the appearance of being stretched out. Peter signed his autograph in exactly the same way....elongated and "stretched out". He mentioned that this was the first time he had signed the set in that particular way, so I guess I have something of a collector's item after all! Thanks, Peter! :-) There was quite a crowd waiting for autographs, which I was really happy to see. That's a really good sign that we can look to have Shoe Suede Blues back again in future years. Peter and the guys patiently took their turn with everybody. I even saw them giving a little special attetion to a big music fan that I know a little bit who happens to be around my age, but is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair. I was happy to see him get his autograph and photo. I know that made him really happy. After the crowd wore down a little bit, Joyce asked if I would be willing to go back up to the merchandise table with her so she could get a photo with Peter. (She didn't want to bother him with that while he was so busy signing, which I totally understood.) So, after a quick photo with Peter, (which I have yet to see...what's up with that, Joyce?!), we made our way back to the stage for the Grass Roots, who were just
about to start their set. Of course, by the time we got back to the stage, the crowd standing in front certainly had not diminished in size, and we knew that it would be impossible to even try to get back where we were again. So, we spent about twenty minutes or so watching from the back of the crowd standing in front of the stage, which to be honest didn't provide the best view. In addition, we were right in front of the right speaker pointing into the crowd, and the sound coming out of that was absolutely deafening. After a short while of putting up with that, Joyce motioned to me that she would rather go back to my place and unwind, which was fine by me. I had an early 6 AM start time at work the next day, and we had gotten what we came for anyway. On the way out, I again
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Monkee Shines made a note of the size of the crowd. I was glad to know that Peter played for such a good audience that evening. Back at my place, we tried to unwind a bit, but the going was hard. At least it was for me. I really cannot communicate to you how surreal it has been for me this summer to have the Monkees here in my hometown, after all the years of travel to see their shows. To walk two blocks and see one of the Monkees live, for a fan like me, is a fairly mind-blowing experience, and to be honest, I am still kind of pinching myself that I've seen Peter, (and Micky, which you'll read about soon), here. It was a pretty tired day at work for me the next morning, but also a contented one. A few of my coworkers in the hotel dining room told me that they were glad that the show hadn't rained out, because they were going to call in sick the next morning if it had. (Okay, I guess I was a little bitter for a
while in June after all.) Joyce spent an extra day here in Oshkosh, so while I was at work, she and my Mom went out shopping! (Hope you had a good time, Joyce! My Mom says hello...) After I got off of work, we went over to my mom and step dad's house for a nice little evening cookout, where Joyce got to meet our family dog, Snickers, (who also says...or woofs...hello), as well. Saturday morning saw Joyce's return on the Greyhound, which I understand except for a pretty tight layover stop along the way went pretty smoothly. I was so glad that things went as well as they had. SSB's inaugural Wisconsin appearance was a total success, and I can only hope that they'll be back again for a return visit soon.... Thanks to the Waterfest folks for booking the show, SSB who got here and made it happen, and to Joyce, my partner in crime for the show. Waterfest has indeed been saved by the blues...
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Peter’s News
It appears as though Peter has been taking it easy over the past couple of months, as there is a substantial lack of news to report on the Tork front just lately. He did put in a solo appearance in Frederick, MD this past November 20th to help raise funds for the Elizabeth Glaser AIDS Foundation, but hasn't had any scheduled dates either with James Lee Stanley or Shoe Suede Blues since then. Fear not, Torkaholics, summer will come (eventually) and we are very sure there will be new dates added as it draws closer. The live Two Man Band album featuring Peter and James we mentioned last time is still in production, but should be out sometime this year. Keep checking www.petertork.com and www.jamesleestanley.com for updates on that project. And don't forget that Peter's previous work with 2MB is available through these sites as well!
Visit www.petertork.com for the latest news on Peter & Shoe Suede 56
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David’s News
Jones fans in the UK were in for a treat on November 30th when ITV1 aired a special that looked back at a number of "The Kids From Coronation Street". The press release for the show mentioned that David kicked off his television career on the program. Check out the PFG website at http://purpleflowergang.tripod.com for a link to a gallery of photographs from this special, which include recent as well as vintage pictures of David. U.S. fans also enjoyed a new television special that featured David on November 25th when the cable station VH-1 Classic aired "A Very Classic Thanksgiving". The special found Dee "Twisted Sister" Snider, MC Hammer, Davy "The Monkees" Jones, Lisa Lisa of "Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam," Eddie Money and Terri "Berlin" Nunn at the "grown ups' table" sharing a traditional holiday feast at the Hard Rock CafĂŠ in New York and a high-energy conversation on many topics. David also presented at the World Travel Awards that were held in Barbados on December 11th. The official Jones website at www.davyjones.net reports that this is "an event dedicated to the tremendous contributions and achievements of the travel industry and has been deemed the most spectacular so far by industry leaders." There are some photos of David from this event on his website. David's latest installment to his "Keeping Up With The Joneses" journal on his website details, in part, his thoughts on the recent Lockport, IL show, and includes some additional photos from this wonderful weekend that went way too fast. Keep checking back for more entries to this great addition to the website as Jones continues to write them. The winter's looking pretty slow in solo concert activity, but there are dates for the new year that are starting to come in, including an interesting show in March with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra. The latest dates are: Thu 03/10/05 Saint Charles, MO--Ameristar Casino Tue 03/15/05 Williamsport, PA--Williamsport Symphony Sat 04/02/05 Staten Island, NY--College Of Staten Island Fri 04/15/05 through Mon 04/18/05 Lake Buena Vista, FL--Epcot Center
Visit www.davyjones.net for the latest Davy news!
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Micky’s News There's so much going on with both Micky and Coco that it's hard to know where to start! The really big news is that by the time you read this, Micky will have started his new position as the weekday morning (610 AM) on-air personality at New York City's WCBS-FM (101.1). Micky was quoted in a recent article that "the people who really know me well, when I told them I was taking this radio job, all said, 'What took you so long?' This is not a disc jockey position. This is a personality position. In my own mind, I'm thinking of it as an arts and culture and current affairs and lifestyle program. The only thing old about the show is the music." Subscribers to broadband AOL can listen to the station live on the their website at www.wcbsfm.com Initially it was reported that Micky was to soon direct an Australian independent film entitled "G'Day LA". The movie centers on two brothers living in the outback who dream of going to California and meeting their pin-up gal. The recent acquisition of Micky's new radio position has reduced his input into the project, although it has been reported that he still plans to contribute a cameo appearance to the film. In even more exciting news, Coco Dolenz was kind enough to send us a wonderful email over the Christmas holiday which, in part, detailed information on a BRAND NEW live album that she is about to make available. The album is a recording of a Coco solo show entitled "Songs >From My Music Stand" that was recorded at the Espresso Garden Cafe in San Jose, CA on November 19th. Coco reports that "the CD from the show is in production and yes you can obtain a copy. It should be ready in a few weeks. Just send $20 (covers handling etc....) to me c/o CSA 400 Reed St Suite D Santa Clara, CA 95050." Coco also shared with us that she and Micky were spending the holidays in the Caribbean, "doing some shows and taking it easy!!!" And there will still be more Micky and Coco shows coming up in the new year. This is the current schedule as of press time: Fri 02/25/05 Uncasville, CT--Mohegan Sun Casino Thu 03/24/05 Chester, WV--Mountaineer Race Track & Resort Fri 06/24/05 Homestead, IL--Marie Irwin Center Sat 07/16/05 Woodstock, GA--City Park
Visit www.mickydolenz.com for all the latest news on Micky! 58
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Mike’s News
On November 20th, Nez put in a rare public appearance via the radio waves on NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me!" The comedic bit that Mike appeared in, entitled "You're The Nation's Pre-eminent Conservative Columnist" had Mike answering three questions about the life and times of William Safire as he retires from The New York Times. You can find a link to listen to an archive of this show on our webpage at http:// purpleflowergang.tripod.com New to the store at Videoranch is The Best of Michael Nesmith songbook. Videoranch reports that "this is the first ever sheet music collection of songs written by Nez and was well worth the wait. It also contains a CD of the 20 songs from the book, perfect for playing along or just listening to." The price is $24.95. Check out Mike's website for all the ordering information. Videoranch has been adding more downloadable Nesmith albums to their site. Both the "Newer Stuff" and "Older Stuff" albums are available for download at $9.99 each. Keep checking back for additions as they become available!
Visit www.videoranch.com for the latest on Mike! 59
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Viva Las Vegas By Pat Smith
I had a great road trip going to Las Vegas to see Davy. My friend, Kathleen, flew from Washington to San Francisco, California to hook up with me. On our way to Los Angeles, we made a couple of stops before heading south on the “5” freeway. I asked Kathleen what tape she wanted to start our trip with. She picked Peter Tork’s Stranger Things Have Happened. Just as it started, we crossed the street “Clarksville. The next street was “Nesmith”. This was on our way to see Davy!
I figured all 4 Monkees were covered right there! We met up with Liesl at Henry Diltz’ house. We left for Vegas from there. Davy’s show was excellent! The best of his I’d ever seen. He was “ON” the whole evening. He did everything from “Oliver” to Monkees and more. All “Excellent!”
Clarksville Road and Nesmith Court in Folsom, California
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Photos by Pat Smith
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Micky and Coco at Waterfest--Oshkosh, WI 8/19/04 Story and Photos By Shane Worden Alright, boys and girls, you've come this far. Might as well come all the way now. It's Micky and Coco's turn up to bat now at Waterfest and the weather looked pretty good. As Cindy mentioned in the last newsletter, this past summer has been particularly weird in the weather department. It rained to death in the early part of the summer, and then got downright chilly in the later weeks. Felix Cavaliere got the worst of our cold August temps on the 12th, and the Dolenz kids got it almost as bad on the 19th. But the good news is that we can deal with the chilly temps...and I don't really think that it affected attendance all that badly. After a couple of failed attempts at meeting up at Waterfest this past summer, (the last being
for Paul Revere & The Raiders a few weeks prior, and to be fair she did have a good excuse), PFG member and longtime friend Ronda Russell and I finally got a chance to visit at this show. As an added bonus, Ronda brought her friend Kris with her. The two of them had actually been around for the Jones show in June, but hightailed it out of town when the weather started becoming uncooperative. And I really can't say that I blamed them much there. This day, Kris needed to drop her kids off with relatives in Appleton, (a short distance north of Oshkosh), and then the two of them were going to drive back, check in at my humble place of employment and meet me at the concert grounds. As for myself, I decided to head down to the concert grounds early, not just because I wanted to try and save some spots for Ronda and Kris if I could, but also because I knew some other acquaintances of mine would be showing up sooner as opposed to later, and thought it would be nice to hang out with them for a while, as well. So, around 3:00, I made the short two block journey down to the park. As I was crossing the last street to actually get to the grounds I was about ten paces behind a guy in a floral shirt and a panama hat. It was right around this time that the same little feeling I got when I recognized Aviva checking in at the hotel in Lockport last year 62
Monkee Shines crept back into me. The feeling that said that this can't possibly be who I think it is, but yet...it was! Sure enough, I was walking directly behind Micky, who diverted his course toward the direction of the stage. My timing couldn't have been better if I had tried. Sound check was about to start! The friends that I had been expecting early at the park had just arrived themselves, and duly noticed the main attraction as well. After a couple minutes of setting up, both Micky AND Coco came out for the sound check. As Bonnie and Cindy can also attest, the old chestnut about the star never coming out to do sound check does not always hold true. We didn't exactly have a bird,s eye view of the proceedings, (we had to watch from the entrance gate to the park about 20 feet or so away from the front of the stage), but we still had a pretty good side view of what was going on. It kind of felt like the ten to fifteen of us who had gathered by the end of sound check were getting our own little private concert. Micky, Coco and the band went through the entire show, sometimes doing parts of songs twice to make sure they got it right. Whenever they would finish a song, our little group would applaud and cheer for them. It took a little while for her to catch on to exactly where we were, but when Coco spotted our group, she really played it up for us; waving and gesturing us to cheer enthusiastically every time they ended something. It was really kind of funny,
as well as a lot of fun. The greatest part about that whole experience, though, was that both Micky and Coco made their way over to the entrance gate after they were through and stuck around for pictures and autographs for a few minutes. That, I thought, was a very nice gesture on both their parts. Since Micky was right there in front of me, I had him sign my Headquarters Sessions set, (now sporting three of the four Monkees' autographs, thank you very much!), and figured that would be one less item to deal with in the madhouse that always constitutes autograph lines following most concerts. One particular teenage fan was caught completely off guard by Micky and Coco's surprise greeting, and scrambled for a slip of paper for Micky to sign. Later we learned that it was her back to school list. (But not anymore!) Micky pretty much signed and 63
Monkee Shines and did my best to keep some spots open for the two of them when they showed up. In the interim, a few of the younger fans who found had procured some front row spots proceeded to do a little undercover cosmetic surgery to the banner hanging off the front of the stage proclaiming that "Mickey Dolenz" would be performing that evening. While I don't necessarily agree on tampering with property that isn't yours, I do admire the effort to try and correct this spelling error that's been plaguing both Micky and Davy since time out of mind. Nobody's going to know it's wrong if nobody does anything about it, right? Shortly before the first band of the evening, a local group called Spicy Tie, was about to take the stage, Ronda and Kris showed up and we were able to talk for just a few minutes before things got started. It had been quite a while-a few years in fact--since I had last seen Ronda, (at a different Micky and Coco show as chance would have it), and this was my first meeting with Kris. Just like with Joyce at the SSB show, this was the first Monkees-related show that either of them had been at in some time. (How can one survive without their annual requirement of Monkees?) After some initial "howdys", the show was underway. Spicy Tie was pretty good, but the second act, another local group called The Friends kind of put me off. These guys have something of a cult following in the area. They had, in fact, recorded a couple of
ran, but Coco stayed around for a while and spent a good fifteen minutes or so talking with anybody who happened to say hello. I had a brief, but very nice conversation with her about everything in general and nothing in particular. Coco said that everybody had got into town rather late the evening before, so they really didn't have much of a chance to take a large look around town, but was particularly interested in hearing about Oshkosh, and the Waterfest concert series that she and Micky were a part of that evening. After a few minutes of chatting, she made her way back to the hotel as well in order to get ready for the show By the time the gates opened up at 6 PM, there was the usual long line of locals and concert regulars, including Karen Barnes and her clan who I've talked about a little in the previous Peter review, waiting to get in. Still no Ronda and Kris yet, though. So as soon as security started letting us in, I hightailed it over to the bandstand 64
Monkee Shines singles in the late 60's/early 70's. But it seemed to me that their following consisted of little more than their rowdy bar buddies who would periodically worm their way to our own rightfully earned places in front of the stage to hand them free beer and yell their drunken approval at them. Charming. I will say that the lead guitarist's use of an old beer bottle to play slide guitar was somewhat entertaining. That's about all I have to say there. Then at long last, having already spent a number of hours on our feet, it was time for the main event. I noticed a lot of familiar faces--Wayne Avers and Jerry Renino among them--setting up the stage just before they got started. Since I was front and center by the stage, I had a pretty good look at the set list that was taped down by the front monitors. I considered taking a photo, but determined that it probably wouldn't turn out very well.... Once was all was ready to go, Micky was introduced to a large cheer, and off he and Coco went with a ninety minute set that didn't slow down one bit. The set list included: Last Train, Steppin' Stone, That Was Then This Is Now, The Girl I knew Somewhere, Randy Scouse Git, For Pete's Sake, A Little Bit Me, Too Much Monkey Business, Since I Fell For You, Circle Sky, Goin' Down, Daydream Believer, Pleasant Valley Sunday and I'm A Believer. Micky interwove stories about his family, his start in show business and the Monkees in between most of his songs. He covered
everything from the Monkees' audition process, (mentioning that he played Johnny B Goode on guitar for the producers--this was his introduction to Too Much Monkey Business), to meeting the Beatles, and talking about the kind of music that he grew up on, which was a nice segue into some of Coco's material and Micky's Since I Fell For You. Coco did have opportunities for some solo songs as well which included: Different Drum, (which Micky introduced as a song that Mike Nesmith didn't write for the Monkees--that jerk, added with a well-meaning laugh), the down and dirty blues interpretation of Del Shannon's Runaway, Route 66, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and a "unplanned" duet between she and Micky called "Blackbird". This song was done acapella, (or Acapulco as Micky puts it). I've seen this song done live a number of times now, and it still remains my favorite in their shows. It's got some complex rhythms and harmonies that really showcase what great voices Micky and Coco have. It's really something to hear, and I'm so glad that Coco has included a live recording on her CD reissue of "In The Silence". Just like Peter and David, Micky has also got his usual funny bits that he puts into his solo shows, and this one wasn't any exception. He introduced Since I Fell with his PMS, (pre-Monkee singing) comment, and did the ceremonial lowering of his microphone in honor of David before he sang his own version of Daydream 65
Monkee Shines Believer. There was even an actual alarm clock used as a prop for this song. I caught Coco out of the corner of my eye winding it up to set it off just as Micky was starting the song. (I like acts that bring their own props!) During the show, one audience member standing near us held up an old teen magazine that had a picture of both Micky and Coco as youngsters in it. Coco spotted it right away, nudged Micky as he was about to introduce a song, and pointed it out. The two of them had a fun time talking about those days for a moment, with Coco mentioning that she was the *natural* blonde. (Micky had his hair dyed for his role on Circus Boy.) As always, I couldn't believe how quickly the time just flew by. Traditionally, an encore is in order as a concert is ending, but this one got so close to ending at 10:30, (the cut-off time for live outdoor performances by way of city ordinance), that Micky and Coco weren't able to do that. That's the bad news. The good news is that while everybody else waited in front of the stage for an encore that didn't happen, (and Jerry Renino did come out to say why), Ronda, Kris and I had already managed to sneak our way over to the merchandise table to the right of the stage in order to get in and out of the autograph line as soon as possible. I noticed that much of Micky's usual merchandise from his website was for sale at the table, but was a little dismayed that he didn't have any copies of his newly up-
dated autobiography for offer. I did, however, pick up a new Tshirt that they were selling, as well as Coco's CD. Got my autograph on the CD, as well as the poster that I had David sign (finally) at the Lockport show last year with Cindy and got the heck out of there. Once Ronda and Kris had their opportunity to get through the line, we headed over to the Park Plaza across the street for a little post-concert relaxation. By this time, we had all been on our feet for over 4 hours, and we needed to sit! As per my previous experiences with the Waterfest acts this past summer, I knew that most of Micky and Coco's band, and maybe the two of them as well, would turn up at the lounge, and I wasn't disappointed. Surprisingly enough, however, nobody really bothered the Dolenz siblings at all. They kind of stayed in their own little corner of the room, not bothering anybody, and nobody bothering them. In fact, most of the people who were in the lounge but not at the show didn't even have any idea of who they were until one of us told them. Besides, Ronda and Kris were having WAY too much fun without them. (Who can forget JoJo, right gals?) At one point in the lounge, somebody asked for a few Monkees songs from the guy who was running the music that night, (the same one, in fact, who was there when the Jones contingent had their Wasted Day and Wasted Night here in Oshkosh), and while he got Last Train off without a problem, the lounge 66
Monkee Shines manager put a quick kibosh on anything else, saying that he didn't want to make Micky uncomfortable. Oh, well..... After a while, the Dolenz siblings left for the night, and so did we. It was getting to be WAAAY late for me, but I understand that Ronda and Kris hightailed it back to the Pioneer and played in the pool all night! I hope you enjoyed that. The pool's off limits now! Until renovations are done next season, anyway. I met the two of them for breakfast in the morning in the restaurant which I call my base of operations most of the time at work, and saw them on their way. With the exception of Joyce and the SSB show, it seems that everybody who has come to visit with me during Waterfest this year has had a devil of a time trying to get back out! The Litterios', Kimmi and Bonnie had flood problems back in June, and Ronda and Kris had to deal with an accident on Hwy. 41 out of town that detoured traffic significantly. What's up with that? I think they all just should have stayed in Oshkosh and
took up permanent residence. And to make matters worse, once Ronda and Kris got back on the right track on their way home, they got into their OWN accident on the road! Thankfully, nobody was hurt, and it wasn't THEIR fault, but man! What a price to pay! I am thankful, though, that the two of them were able to come in for the Dolenz show. As I said above, it had been way too long since I had seen Ronda, and it was a real pleasure to meet Kris, too. I am especially thankful to Micky and Coco, and their band, for putting on a great show, and for being so accommodating to all the fans who came to see them. (Your graciousness after sound check by the entrance gate will never be forgotten. Thank you!) Also, I want to acknowledge one last time the good folks who put the Waterfest concert series together here in Oshkosh. They do a marvelous job every year, and it just keeps getting better. Hopefully the addition of the now "underconstruction" community bandshell will be a draw to get David, Peter and Micky to come back in future years. Keep watching the concert schedules, and look for us down at the park the next time they "may be comin' to my town"!
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Christmas Greetings from Hazel, Ken & Robert
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