Behind The Music Season 3 Episode 36 The Monkees

Behind The Music is a documentary series that chronicles the rise and fall of iconic musicians. Each episode offers an in-depth look at the personal and professional lives of the artists, featuring interviews with family members, friends, and music industry insiders.

Season 3, episode 36 of Behind The Music focuses on the story of one of the most beloved bands of the 1960s: The Monkees. The band, created for a television show, became a cultural phenomenon and a worldwide sensation in a matter of months.

The episode begins by introducing the four members of The Monkees: Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith. The audience is taken on a journey through the group's formation and how they quickly became one of the most successful and influential bands of the decade.

The show delves into the Monkees' early years, exploring the creation of the band and the selection process for its members. The episode features interviews with the show's creators, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, who discuss the concept behind the show and why they wanted to create a band specifically for it.

As the Monkees' popularity began to soar, the episode takes a closer look at the group's music and its impact on the music industry. The band’s undeniable talent and catchy songs allowed them to outsell The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined, which was no small feat. The documentary offers a deep dive into the production of some of the band's most iconic hits, including “Last Train to Clarksville, “I’m a Believer”, and “Daydream Believer”. The episode features commentary from music industry legends such as Andy Partridge of XTC, who explains how The Monkees changed the game of pop music.

The episode also discusses the challenges the band faced as they began to grow in popularity. The media treated them with skepticism and accused them of being a manufactured group without real musicianship. The Monkees became frustrated with being perceived as a “fake” band and longed for recognition as a legitimate musical act.

Behind The Music's segment on The Monkees doesn't shy away from the group's internal conflict. The members had strong personalities and often struggled to find common ground when it came to creative direction. The audience learns about the different personalities within the band, with Dolenz being portrayed as the go-to person for comedy relief and Tork as the group's peacemaker. The band’s interpersonal dynamics eventually led to Tork’s departure from the group, which the show details.

The episode also covers the band’s dissolution in the late 1960s and their eventual reunion in the 1980s. The disbandment of the Monkees was due in part to shifts in the musical landscape of the late 1960s, and also because the group was looking to pursue their solo careers. Nesmith’s exit was particularly notable, as he went on to have notable success as a solo artist.

In conclusion, Behind The Music's episode on The Monkees is a compelling and emotional look at one of the 60s’ most iconic bands. The episode offers an interesting insight into the lives of the group members and their impact on the music industry, whilst also exploring the interpersonal problems that ultimately led to the group’s end. If you’re a fan of behind-the-scenes stories and the history of rock and roll, this is definitely an episode worth watching.