Should The Monkees Be Included In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?

The Monkees were an American pop-rock band formed as an answer to the Beatles in Los Angeles, US, in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork—some in part by the success of the television show of the same name. The stats prove that the Monkees were one of the most successful bands of the late 1960s.

Some say the Monkees should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because of their many hits, including "I'm a Believer," "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville," "The Porpoise Song," "Listen to the Band," and "Pleasant Valley Sunday". These songs are still played on the radio and streaming services today, and the Monkees were one of the best-selling acts of the 1960s. However, others have criticized the band for not playing their instruments on their first two albums.

Every year, no one is surprised that the Monkees are not included in the list of nominees. I'm pretty sure the Monkees have never appeared on this list, but artists like Bon Jovi, Joan Jett, and KISS now share space in Cleveland with Elvis, the Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix. They are not even coming close to the numbers the Monkees put up.

Three No. 1 singles, six Top 10s, 12 Top 40s — 10 of which made it into the Top 20 — and in total, 20 Hot 100 singles. 

On the album charts, the Monkees were equally impressive, with four No. 1 LPs, including a self-titled debut whose 13 weeks at No. 1 

The Monkees did not outsell the Beatles overall — but the Monkees did outsell the Beatles in 1967.

The Monkees released four (!) albums in 1967: The Beatles released two

Beatles

At the beginning of 1968, like the Beatles, the Monkees made their first stops in Detroit, MI, at the historic Red Barn, which the Detroit Red Wings called home, Olympia Stadium. Two sold-out concerts in 1968 with the same screaming fans equaled any Beatles show.

According to CNN, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees is suing the FBI:  "The Monkees were investigated by the FBI for alleged anti-Vietnam war activities in 1967 related to a concert in which they flashed pictures and messages in protest against the conflict, according to the complaint filed by Dolenz."   The FBI sent a representative to a 1967 Monkees concert who reported back that "subliminal messages" were being shared at the concert.

Dolenz's filed complaint says that the FBI also investigated all four members of The Monkees (Davey Jones, Peter Tork, Mike Nessmith, and Micky Dolenz) on a separate matter.  The files were redacted and Dolenz wants to see the files.  An excerpt from the lawsuit states, "This lawsuit is designed to obtain any records the FBI created and/or possesses on the Monkees as well as its individual members... Mr. Dolenz has exhausted all necessary required administrative remedies with respect to his [Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act] request."  A portion of the FBI's Monkees' files were released a decade ago but much of the files are blacked out.  My favorite part of the file is this, "During the concert, subliminal messages were displayed on the screen which, in the opinion of _redacted name_, constituted 'left-wing' innovations of a political nature."  You can check out the Monkees' released FBI file HERE.

Micky Dolenz (the lone surviving member of The Monkees) wants to see the WHOLE file.  In June, Dolenz filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the FBI pertaining to the files.  His complaint states that he did not receive a response.  As of now, the FBI has not commented on this case.

I LOVED The Monkees TV show when I was little.  If the reruns were on, I was THRILLED! My parents weren't big into listening to music at home, so The Monkees were one of the first bands I was exposed to.  To this day, "Daydream Believer" is one of my favorite songs to butcher in Karaoke (you don't have to sing well, you just have to sing.).  The Monkees had FOUR number one albums in 1967.  They had 20 songs hit the Hot 100 and three number one songs. Their TV show lasted just two sweet years, 1966-1968.

(written by Neil Diamond)