The Monkees are an American rock and pop band originally active between 1966 and 1971, with reunion albums and tours in the decades that followed. They were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider specifically for the American television series The Monkees which aired from 1966 to 1968.
Dolenz described The Monkees as initially being "a TV show about an imaginary band… that wanted to be the Beatles that was never successful". Ironically, the success of the show led to the actor-musicians became one of the most successful bands of
the 1960s.
The Monkees have sold more than 75 million records worldwide making them one of the biggest selling groups of all time with international hits, including "Last Train to Clarksville" ,"Pleasant Valley Sunday", "Daydream Believer",
and "I'm a Believer". Newspapers and magazines reported that the Monkees outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones combined in 1967, but Nesmith claims in his autobiography Infinite Tuesday that it was a lie that he told a reporter.
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