The Monkees End Their Pre-Fab Four Persona With The Movie Head

The Monkees were never meant to be more than a fictional band in a tv show of the same name. But they became the a ‘real’ deal, performing live to thousands of screaming fans throughout the world. Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork soon grew frustrated with their teenybopper, pre-fab image and the pop songs they were forced to sing on the show and, eventually, on several hit albums and singles. By late 1967 the four had assumed some creative control over their songs but it wasn’t enough and by March of 1968 the tv series was done.

In an attempt to destroy The Monkees image once and for all Davy, Mike, Mickey and Peter agreed to star in a satirical musical film called Head. Written by Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson (who also directed) the movie basically blew up the bands image with the help of some well-known stars of the day such as Frank Zappa, Annette Funicello and Dennis Hopper.

In this 1968 interview from the Hy Lit Show the guys talk about Head, their frustration with the music they were forced to make on the TV show and how they hope this movie will open a new chapter in the bands career. Enjoy!

You can listen to music from The Monkees and other musicians from the 1960s on Dusty Discs Radio.