“Open auditions were held for the four Monkees in order to attract ‘real’ people for the sake of verisimilitude on the level of personae—the Beatles weren’t actors; the Monkees had to be ‘real’ also. The ad in Variety specified that what was sought was a type known to congregate at a particular after-hours hipster hangout in LA: ‘MADNESS!! Auditions—folk & roll musicians-singers for acting roles in new TV series. Running parts for 4 insane boys, age 17-21. Want spirited Ben Frank’s types. Have courage to work. Must come down [from your ‘drug trip’?] for interview’” (Matthew Stahl, Popular Music, Oct. 2002).
The Monkees “Last Train to Clarksville”
The Monkees “Last Train to Clarksville”
This post first appeared on Rock My Soul: An Audio History Of Rock & Roll, please read the originial post: here
