Active: 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000's Formed: 1965 in Hollywood, CA
The Beatles, The Animals, The Zombies, The Troggs, The Seeds, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Gerry & the Pacemakers, The Dave Clark Five, Tim Buckley, The Beau Brummels, The Beach Boys, Wayne Fontana The Turtles, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Youngbloods, Keith, The Archies, The Mamas & the Papas, Tommy James & the Shondells, The Grass Roots, The Beau Brummels, The Byrds, The Cowsills, Neil Diamond, Everpresent Fullness, Andy Kim, Equals, The Count Five, Nancy Sinatra, 1910 Fruitgum Company The JetSet, The Bicycles, Glenn Tilbrook, Bay City Rollers, The Cavedogs, Outlets, Atkinson, Danko and Ford, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, Bent Black Tulips, Ross, Great Lakes, Spinner Dolphins, Kiko Veneno, Gary Pig Gold, The Osmonds, The Real People, EMF, McFly, Menswear |  |
Formed primarily for the purpose of starring in a television series, the Monkees were on one hand a cynically manufactured group, devised to cash in on the early Beatles' success by applying the most superficial aspects of the British Invasion formula to capture a preteen audience. On the other hand, they weren't devoid of musical talent, and at their best managed to craft some enduring pop/rock hits. "I'm a Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville," "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You," "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "Stepping Stone," "Take a Giant Step," "Valleri," "Words" -- all were pleasantly jangling, harmony rock numbers with hooks big enough for a meat locker, and all were huge hits in 1966-1968. Scorned at their peak by hipsters for not playing on many of their own records, the group gained some belated critical respect for their catchy, good-time brand of pop. It would be foolish to pretend, however, that they were a band of serious significance, despite the occasional genuinely serious artistic aspirations of the members.
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