It's an honor just to be denigrated...errr...nominated.

I recently stumbled across an online article: http://www.petitiononline.com/Kretch07/petition.html regarding a petition for getting the Monkees into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. It got me to thinking. Dangerous...to be sure.

But I gotta say...What's the hold up?

Now granted, The Hall of Fame is a guilded dog & pony show. A chance for a board room of wannabes to sit around and pat themselves on the back for "rewarding" bands that they deem worthy. What's the criteria? How are bands or acts chosen over others? Is there lottery system or, perhaps, a huge hat? I'd like to think that there's a giant roulette wheel. But...I digress....

The Monkees have always been a particular favorite of mine. The group had many hits that are as recognizable today as they were in the 60s. Sure, there's the oft-printed "they didn't play their own instruments" diatribe which has a sliver of truth to it. When initially hired to be on the TV show, Micky, Davy, Mike & Peter were not given the opportunity to play on the groups' first two albums. Understandable since, not only were they recording tracks for albums, making personal appearances and promoting an uncharted marketing territory, they were also starring in a weekly TV show. Kinda time consuming dontcha think? They also didn't have the luxury of calling the shots. They were originally hired to do a job. It could easily have failed. But, the right elements were put into place and it succeeded.

Many music snobs & pundits derided the "manufactured" element of the bands origins to detract from their success. Yet, Steve Stills, Danny Hutton (of Three Dog Night) and countless as yet undiscovered musicians auditioned for the show. There is also the cries of "foul' with the group having a weekly venue to promote it's next single. However, it's ignored that the first single "Last Train To Clarksville" found itself at #1 on the charts before the show even debuted. How about some of the acts found worthy for Hall induction: Del Shannon? Gene Pitney? Patti Smith? Sure, each of these acts certainly have merit and accolades. But what makes them more worthy than the Monkees? Certainly none of those have had the number of hits the Monkees have. But perhaps chart success is irrelevant. Let's try & play devil's advocate:

• Didn't play on their first two albums. Session musicians were used on albums by The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys and The Byrds. A number of those same musicians worked on the Monkees first two albums.

• They were hired as actors and didn't "pay their dues". Nesmith & Tork both worked the folk circuit. The same one traveled by The Lovin Spoonful, Mama Cass and other Hall-approved artists.



• They didn't write their songs. Nesmith penned songs for both albums including Mary Mary which was covered years later by Run DMC. Other songs on the albums were written by Brill Building writing teams like Mann/Weil, Goffin/King and up and coming songwriters Boyce & Hart and Neil Diamond. Songs by these writers were also recorded by The Byrds, The Animals & the aforementioned Gene Pitney. From the Monkees' Third album on, the band members included more self penned content.



• They were fake Beatles. So were a number of other acts of the period. Every band copied what was successful. But, eventually, the Monkees branched off and experimented with their own ideas. The Beatles even viewed the Monkees as contemporaries. Nesmith was an in-studio guest of John Lennon's during the recording of Sgt. Pepper.
  


• They have no legacy. You mean other than songs that are still played 40 plus years later? Songs covered by Hall darlings like the Sex Pistols. How their contributions to the video music medium is still felt today? Nesmith, years later, was integral in the creation of MTV. This was a direct result of his experience creating promo clips for songs on the Monkees TV show. How about the marriage and expansion of music business and mass marketing? The use of video screens at a concert venue? The Monkees were one of the pioneers of the practice. And, there's also credit for being one of the first bands to use the Moog.

I'm sure there's more but I have the feeling that the group could have cured the plague but, since they didn't play on two of their nine 60s albums, they are banished by the "Rock Gods". As I said...a guilded Dog & Pony show. So, who cares? I'm sure Paul McCartney doesn't start each day by staring lovingly at the Hall induction bauble (what is it? a trophy? Plaque? Kazoo?). Plus, if by some miracle they did get inducted, Nesmith would bollocks it up by rambling on about the insanity of their induction. Then, Dolenz can make his over-used analogy to Star Trek actors becoming astronauts. Sigh. Hmmm...perhaps, things ARE just fine without their induction.

All the hullaballoo aside, For those out there who have discounted this band as "manufactured"or the 60s version of Backstreet Boys/N'Sync/American Idol, pick up their third album Headquarters (quite possibly one of the best garage band albums ever) or their fourth, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd. (a more polished and produced effort). You may have to re-evaluate your opinion.

And, for those who seek to engage in fruitless pursuits, sign the online petition for the Monkees induction: httpp://www.petitiononline.com/monkees1/petition.html. Hey...Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys signed it!

Who knows...Maybe a boardroom filled with self important wannabes can be swayed.

I'm just not holding my breath.