Hey, Hey We're The Monkees! Quiz | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Hey there mates, before me and the rest of the group start our concert, we decided to tell you a bit about ourselves. Okay...looks as if they are sticking me out front since this was all my magnificent idea. Well, enough rambling from me...onwards mates. Time for you to guess who I am. I was born on 30 December 1945 with the middle name of Thomas. Another musician had to change his surname because of me! Impressive, eh? Oh, and to make sure that you know exactly who I am, my number one fan is none other than "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia". Now that should tell you exactly who I am?

Answer: Davy Jones

Davy Jones was born David Thomas Jones. His father was a railway fitter and his mother was a homemaker. After his mum passed way in 1960, Davy left home to pursue his dream of becoming a jockey. Due to his size, he quickly found a work as an apprentice jockey, however, his coworkers soon realised that Davy was cut out more for acting than for riding horses. They encouraged him to go into acting.

Davy was very lucky and scored a part in "Peter Pan" and then he hit "Coronation Street". But his big break in acting came when he landed the part of Artful Dodger in "Oliver!".

"Oliver!" was such a smash hit that it landed in New York on Broadway. Luckily for Davy, Ward Sylvestor was in the audience. Sylvestor enjoyed Jones so much, that he brought him to Los Angeles, California.

Davy was fortunate enough to appear on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and was so amazing, that he was signed to a contract with Colpix Records/Columbia Pictures. By the time Davy was twenty years old he had his very first album simply titled "David Jones" released.

While the album "David Jones" was not an overnight hit, Jones was known around Hollywood and in the music industry, so it just seemed natural that when the producers of the television show "The Monkees", were looking for a comical and talented singer to be part of a television only music group called none other than "The Monkees", they looked to Davy Jones.

"The Monkees" were on the air from 1966 until 1968, and because of Davy's popularity, another immensely popular and talented singer, who was born with the name David Robert Hayward-Jones, was more or less forced to change his surname from Jones to Bowie so as not to be confused with the popular singer from "The Monkees".

2. Oh geesh..What?! It is my turn! How dare they, uh? Okay, here goes...I was born on 30 December 1942, in Dallas, Texas with the first name of Robert. Okay, let's see what else I can tell you about myself...hmm...well, I was the only Monkee to answer the producers call through a classified advertisement! You say that still isn't enough for you to guess who I am?! I know that this will do it for you...ready? My mother invented a product that can erase mistakes that are either typed or written...now do you know who I am?

Answer: Mike Nesmith

All anyone has to do is mention something like "Hey do you know the real name of the Monkee who wore a green wool hat?" and no doubt you will get the name of Mike Nesmith.

After the Monkees split in March of 1968, Mike released "Elephant Parts", which was the first video record. It was awarded a Grammy in 1982. The incredibly talented Nesmith launched his own label, Pacific Arts Studio, in 1992.

In December of 1998, Nesmith's novel "The Long Sandy Hair Of Neftoon Zamora" was released by St. Martins Press.

Mike went on tour in Australia and while he was there he took particular note of Top 40 television shows that played video clips of performing artists. When Nesmith went back to the states he put together a prototype of what he noted in the Land Down Under and titled it "Popclips". Eventually, he sold the concept and idea to Warner Amex, and "Popclips" became MTV.

3. All righty...all righty! We know you want to hear one of our more popular songs...so here goes..."I thought love was more or less a given thing, seems the more I gave the less I got...What's the use in tryin'? All you get is pain. When I needed sunshine I got rain..." You all liked that one, eh? Only thing is for some reason all of our fans think we wrote this song?! But, we didn't! We know who wrote the lyrics, but do you?

Answer: Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond and various other musicians were hired to write the songs that "The Monkees" performed on the television show. Eventually, Davy, Peter, Mike and Micky decided that they wanted a say in what they were to perform on the program, a stance which eventually led to the show being canceled in March of 1968.

Diamond wrote "I'm a Believer". "Believer" entered the American Music Billboard Charts at number one. On the flipside of the 45 rpm single was "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone", which sat on the Music Billboard charts at number 20.

4. Hey there! Ah, it looks like they have you all warmed up for me...So tell me, are you ready to guess who I am? Ah, you are now, are you? Okay, let's see what I can muster up for you in the form of clues...well if I you told that my last name is not spelt how you think it is, and gave you the correct spelling well then you would have the answer for this question, but I am smarter than that...Oh what? What was that? My mates are laughing at me now! Do you believe that! Oh, okay, I know I am putting off giving you clues, but guess I can't put it off much longer, eh? Well, I was born on 13 February 1942 with the odd middle name of Halsten...Do you believe that! My mother did that to me! Oh, and I was born in Washington, DC. Now tell me who I am so I can come out from behind this silly curtain!

Answer: Peter Tork

Steven Stills was originally asked join "The Monkees", but once the producers saw that he was losing his hair and his teeth were bad they decided he wasn't what they wanted. Stills did however recommend a local folk singer who resembled him a great deal, a young talented man by the name of Peter Tork.

Born Peter Halsten Thorkelson in February 1942, he started taking piano lessons when he was nine years old. But Tork just didn't start and stop with the piano. Of all "The Monkees" Tork is the most accomplished musician of them and can play numerous instruments including the banjo, various bass and acoustic guitars.

Tork has his own band called The Peter Tork Project and Shoe Suede Blues. He also does solo performances and tours with partner James Lee Stanley.

5. Okay...three of us are going to sing a bit of one our songs for you...Well, after all this is a concert, right?! Okay so here goes..."With the music of life, my soul is out of tune and I feel like I'm growing old much too soon...My love I just couldn't compare, and the key to my happiness, I let slip away..." Not one of our more popular songs, but a song nevertheless, eh? Okay, so do you know which one our songs we just performed for you?

Answer: A Man Without A Dream

"A Man Without A Dream" was released in March of 1969 from the Monkees' album "Instant Replay".

6. Okay...we still have one more band mate to introduce, but before we do that we want to see just how much of a fan you really are! If you love us as much as you say you do, then this should be so easy for you! Are you ready? Okay..which one of us was the featured vocalist for our song "Last Train to Clarksville"?

Answer: Micky Dolenz

The inspiration for "The Monkees" came from the Beatles film "A Hard Day's Night".

The producers held auditions in the autumn of 1965, and Dolenz was chosen from four hundred applicants to play in the weekly series about a music band that is trying to make it big.

"Last Train to Clarksville" was released on September 10, 1966, with Dolenz singing lead. Two days later "The Monkees" aired on NBC (National Broadcasting Network) to rave reviews and the "new" fab four were born!

7. Ah, okay folks he's ready...finally! Amazing, eh? All this time he has made you wait...Now this should be good, right? Well, at least we all hope so! Okay here goes...I was born with the first name of George on 8 March 1945 in Los Angeles, California. What?! You say that is not enough for you to guess who I am? Well, I am the only one of the four left behind this zany looking curtain! Oh come on! Oh, all right, I'll give you a few more clues...hmm...this is going to be a bit more difficult than I thought, hehe..I auditioned for the part of Fonzie in the hit series "Happy Days"..yeah I know a shocker, eh? Oh, and I had to learn to play the drums for real when we started touring outside of our television show...Come on now everyone shout out real my name!

Answer: Micky Dolenz

Before becoming a "Monkee", Micky, the son of actor George Dolenz, had a huge success in 1956 with "Circus Boy". When Micky auditioned for "The Monkees" he performed Johnny B. Goode.

In 1977, eleven years after "The Monkees" disbanded, Dolenz flew to London to appear in Harry Nilsson's West End musical "The Point". What started out being only a three month stay in London eventually turned into twelve years! It was in London that Micky perfected his directing skills, he first learned this while working on "The Monkees" from 1966 to 1968.

Dolenz eventually made his way back to the USA,where he directed and produced a hit for Disney/ABC with Michael Jacobs Production, the show "Boy Meets World" starring Ben Savage was a Friday night line-up hit for ABC and Disney.

8. Ah, here we go...now that you know which band member is which, and before we start up another song, we have an interesting tidbit for you. Ready? Okay, here goes...In 1983, one of us produced the music video for Lionel Richie's hit song "All Night Long". We know which one of us produced it, but do you our ever loving fans know?

Answer: Mike Nesmith

After leaving "The Monkees", Nesmith began to spend his time in the recording studio and film studios, but behind the scenes rather than up front. He is the originator of "Video" Music. In 1983, Mike was offered an opportunity to work with Lionel Richie, when he turned Richie's hit song "All Night Long" into a music video..

9. All righty then! Before our grand finale, one more tidbit that you will enjoy! Oh what! you want us to hurry, eh? You really want to hear us all sing a song?! Awww isn't that so sweet! Our fans really do love us! Okay, we'll hurry this question up then...Our 1967 album "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones LTD" was supposed to be released with a different title! I see some of you shaking your heads! You don't know it! Oh my goodness fellas do you believe it! They are not sure?! Think we should make it really easy for them and give them a multiple choice answer? Yeah, I think we should too! Okay, out of the four titles, which one is what the album was supposed to be titled?

Answer: Monkees 4 U

"Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones LTD", was originally set to be released with the title of "Monkees 4 U", but even that was not set in stone. Once the "Monkees 4 U" title was disregarded, the producers decided to title it "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Capricorn LTD", but Davy, Micky, Mike and Peter said that if they released it with that title they would not participate in any of tour dates that were set for them.

10. And now for the moment you have all been waiting for...Our grand finale! Here goes...One, two, three...ready guys! "I love you, girl, now that's the truth...I need you, don't be cruel, don't be cruel. Give me just a little help and to show how much I care...." Well, we can't make it that easy and give you the rest of the lyric, because then we would be giving you the song title if we did that! Hehe..You really like that song, eh? Okay, humour us and tell us which song those lyrics come from!

Answer: Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears

"Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears" was released in 1967, and is from the Monkees pre-Headquarters anthology album "Missing Link Volume I". This album is what many Monkee fans believe to be a final attempt by Don Kirshner to have complete control over the group. The "Missing Link Volume I" is a combination of what Krishner wanted and what Davy, Micky, Mike and Peter wanted.

"Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears" was recorded on October 28, 1966, and released in 1967 and showcases Micky singing lead.

All information can be found at the following:
http://frontpage.execulink.com/sunnygirlfriend/Lyrics/12_Apples_Peaches_Bananas.htm
http://music.channel.aol.com/artist/artistbio.adp?artistid=24474
http://members.aol.com/Aphrodte21/nez/nezbio.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~cas_4/peterbio.html
http://www.psycho-jello.com/monkees/moregossip.html
http://www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/m/monkees.html

Also, many thanks and appreciation are given to Ozzz2002 for his generous contributions to the biography information found in this quiz for Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz. I am very grateful that he is a Monkee fan.

Hope you enjoyed the concert and thanks for being a "Believer" in the Monkees!

Source: Author JuniorTheJaws

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Dalgleish before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Hey, Hey We're The Monkees! Trivia Quiz

And now appearing for the first time in concert on Funtrivia...Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork! You say you are a "Day Dream Believer", then click "play now" to hear The Monkees in concert!

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