Only last week I posted a Monkees vid in the Musical Connections game (and got chastised by Chairman Bill).

It may have been pure manufactured pop, but as a pre-teen in the 1960s, I loved The Monkees tv series.

Paul wrote::sad:

Only last week I posted a Monkees vid in the Musical Connections game (and got chastised by Chairman Bill).

It may have been pure manufactured pop, but as a pre-teen in the 1960s, I loved The Monkees tv series.

Was it not the first "boy" band which started well but has going down hill ever since.

Scot Dutchy wrote:

Paul wrote::sad:

Only last week I posted a Monkees vid in the Musical Connections game (and got chastised by Chairman Bill).

It may have been pure manufactured pop, but as a pre-teen in the 1960s, I loved The Monkees tv series.

Was it not the first "boy" band which started well but has going down hill ever since.

Well first of all - The Beatles were the first boy band. But let's not derail.

Very sad news.

Here's to Davy!

Don't boy bands just do vocals?

John

Not in their Hamburg days.

I always liked Last Train to Clarksville. I have a cover of it by the Four Topps around here somwhere.

Animavore wrote:

Scot Dutchy wrote:

Paul wrote::sad:

Only last week I posted a Monkees vid in the Musical Connections game (and got chastised by Chairman Bill).

It may have been pure manufactured pop, but as a pre-teen in the 1960s, I loved The Monkees tv series.

Was it not the first "boy" band which started well but has going down hill ever since.

Well first of all - The Beatles were the first boy band. But let's not derail.

The Monkees was a created band. Beatles was created naturally.

z8000783 wrote:Don't boy bands just do vocals?

John

Gary Barlow used to play piano, so no. A boy-band is simply a band put out there to sell wet dreams to screaming teen girls by enticing them with a bunch of likely lads and some love songs.

Like The Beatles

... so Led Zeppelin?

John

Yeah Animavore, that definition seems so broad as to cover just about every pop and rock band (with members under 30) that ever existed. To me, just singing and not playing instruments is important to the boy band formula, but there are exceptions. Mmmm-bop.

Sad news indeed.

Yes, the Monkees were a created band, but they were pretty good. And 66 is way too young.

Animavore wrote:

z8000783 wrote:Don't boy bands just do vocals?

John

Gary Barlow used to play piano, so no. A boy-band is simply a band put out there to sell wet dreams to screaming teen girls by enticing them with a bunch of likely lads and some love songs.

Like The Beatles

Not defending the Beatles, who I consider bizarrely overrated, but I don't think your definition accords with general understanding. "Boy band" suggests that the selling of the male personae of the band is, from the very get-go, the reason for the band's formation and existence.

The first thing the term usually suggests is that the band was artificially put together by a producer, salesman or similar, auditioning candidates according to how they look and how they can act the part, rather than forming organically out of like-minded musicians playing and writing together. In this respect the monkees were most definitely a boy band, but the Beatles certainly not. Lennon and McCartney had been working together focusing on what they wanted to do musically for a decade before Beatlemania took off.

Secondly, "boy band" usually suggests that the people in it have limited musical skills and creativity, since their material is usually supplied for them, according to a formula, and whatever support provided as necessary to make the musical product. In the old days they had to at least be able to sing, but rarely had any substantial instrumental skills. (My understanding is that the Monkees were singer-actors who were taught to play "a bit" after they got the gig, and always reliant on backing musicians). These days they don't even need to do that, thanks to autotune and miming. The Beatles' music may be simple (pre-George Martin at least), but they could play, sing and write, no question.

The Beatles weren't a boy band. They were a pretty good rock and roll band that had some good material, made some attention-grabbing creative decisions and were massively overhyped (IMO).

Great music. Sad day.

How many "boy bands" produced songs that are considered rock classics? Yes, originally they were manufactured but they fought to bring some depth to their music.
Mike Nesmith bailed when he inherited $25 million, which I really don't blame him for but it was a great blow to the creativity of the band. Mickey Dolenz started his career as Circus Boy of all things yet worked hard to become a driving force behind the band.
I was never a hard core fan but they will always hold a special place in my heart. And their TV show is still entertaining.

I was saddened to hear this news; I loved the Monkees as a youngster and I still listen to some of their output on YouTube regularly. And, as Orpheus remarks, 66 is far too young.