Hey hey Cityscapers, it’s The Monkees! Ahead of OGs Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz hitting town to perform Monkees songs from more than five decades, we talk music and myths with Michael.

You’ve been in the music industry for over 50 years. How would you say it has evolved? It’s become more central to the culture of America since I started listening to it. When I started it was kind of the soundtrack to WWII and it was about staying alive and coming home. Even though those became hit songs in the ’70s, in the ’50s it was about making it home and avoiding those terrors of war. And when The Beatles arrived, it became revolutionary in pure joy and we’re living in that time now. I still feel like a child of The Beatles and find myself humming Lennon and McCartney as much as anything else.

What can Christchurch audiences expect from your June performance? I love working with Mick and I hope that shows. We have a good time on stage and we basically sing the great Monkees hits as best we can without our compatriots. Since Mick was the lead vocal on most of them, I think Micky’s fans will be satisfied. I will also do a few of my original tunes, which I never did on the show. That’s a little bit of an interlude but mostly the show is about Monkees music and the Monkees TV times.

If you were to choose one musician to do a cover of any of your songs, who would that be? Eric Clapton.

Favourite city that you’ve performed in? One never knows what the greatest show is – because while it might feel good to me, it doesn’t always feel good to the audience. So I’ve learned to keep my mind open and to let opinions pass. I can truthfully say that Australia and New Zealand are my favourite parts of the world, second only to my home towns of northern California and Texas.

Do you have anything on your to-do list for when you’re in Christchurch? I’d love to make contact with the reporter with whom I launched the great lie that The Monkees sold 35 million records. It astounds me that that still pops up in Google as a fact. Sadly I don’t remember the name of the reporter so I don’t get to share the accolades.

Words of advice for budding musicians? For me it has always been never mistake the idea that I’m making the music when in fact it’s divine mind. To be respectful and humble and grateful for every note that comes out and sails into a waiting audience.

What’s on high rotation on your playlist? Vaporwave (a sub-genre of electronic music).

What do you do to keep busy during long-haul flights? Sleep.

One song you wish you’d written? ‘Stardust’, ‘In the Still of the Night’, ‘Begin the Beguine’ – Johnny Mercer and Cole Porter respectively.

The Monkees, Isaac Theatre Royal, June 8
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