The Monkees 20th anniversary tour

• Posted By: Scott Harrison
• Posted On: 10:21 p.m. | February 29, 2012

Sep. 4, 1986: Monkees Peter Tork, left, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz perform during their 20th anniversary tour at the Pacific Amphitheatre.

In a Saturday, Sep. 6, 1986, Calendar Section article, Times Staff Writer Randy Lewis reported:

Let’s get down to business–and deal with the two burning questions about the Monkees’ 20th anniversary reunion tour, which arrived Thursday night at the Pacific Amphitheatre.

No–Mike Nesmith, a holdout on the lengthy tour, didn’t finally give in and join Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork on stage, although rumors continue to circulate that Nesmith may capitulate when his former cohorts wind up a three-night stand at the Greek Theatre on Sunday.

But on the second hot issue: Yes–Dolenz, Jones and Tork did resurrect the famous cross-legged “Monkee walk” from their old TV show as they strolled off stage at the end of the evening.

Actually, speculating about Nesmith’s return and – especially – the Monkee walk makes more sense than a formal review when dealing with this reunion. As Nesmith–the “smart” Monkee–once observed, “The Monkees was not a band–it was a TV show.”

That said, even adamant nostalgia haters would have to be unremitting grumps to complain about the trio’s brisk and good-natured 55-minute performance. Attitude is everything when exhuming the musical past, and even though they are now in their 40s, Dolenz, Jones and Tork mustered a beguiling innocence that made their show work…

Unlike many revived 60′s acts that robotically churn out old hits, the three Monkees exhibited genuine affection and care toward their music and an unpretentious attitude in their performance. And playing to a crowd of more than 11,000 screaming fans that spanned two generations undoubtedly boosted the exuberance level of the band members.

The photo above by former staff photographer Ken Hively accompanied Lewis’ article in the Saturday, Sep. 6, 1986, Times Calendar section.

Lewis’ full Good-Natured Monkees story is online.

Davy Jones passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at the age of 66. Here is his Times obituary.

Sep. 4, 1986: Three members of the original group, The Monkees, perform at the Pacific Amphitheatre during a 20th anniversary tour. Proof Sheet from one role of film shot by staff photographer Ken Hively at the concert. Two frames are marked for additional prints to be made by the Times photo lab staff. Credit: Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times