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Monkees Swing Back Into Action on the Road, in Studio
 

 



Jay Silverman

The Monkees are back in action with their first tour in five years and a collaboration with a 21st-century version of themselves.

The '60s hit-makers will head into a Florida studio next week to record new versions of their hits accompanied


by up-and-comers Natural, the latest from boy-band mogul Lou Pearlman, the man who helped kick-start the careers of 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys.

The super-boy-band is expected to record three songs, "Daydream Believer," "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," and "Valleri," Natural's publicist said. Like the Monkees, Natural play their own instruments.

The songs will be packaged along with live tracks to be recorded during the Monkees' upcoming joint tour with Natural on an album due later this year via Pearlman's EMG label. The tour's Atlantic City, N.J., stops on March 16 and 17 will be filmed for a planned concert video and DVD.

The Monkees will kick off the five-week trek on March 1 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Fla., with Natural opening the show. Dates run through a seven-night stand at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

Original members Davy Jones (vocals), Peter Tork (bass), and Mickey Dolenz (drums) are aboard for the tour and recording sessions; guitarist/songwriter Michael Nesmith is sitting out.

"We are honored to be working with such legends of pop history. The Monkees have served as a model and an inspiration for all our Trans Continental artists," Pearlman, who runs the Trans Continental management company and label, said in a statement.

Rhino will release the four-CD boxed set The Monkees Music Box on February 13. The set will include some previously unreleased alternate versions of Monkees tunes.

The Monkees last reunited for a tour in 1996. The group members continue to tour solo between reunion treks.

Following are the Monkees/Natural tour dates:

March 1
Clearwater, Fla. - Ruth Eckerd Hall

March 2
Orlando - House of Blues

March 3
Pompano Beach, Fla. - Pompano Beach Amphitheatre

March 4
Jacksonville, Fla. - Florida Theater

March 6
Atlanta - Center Stage Theatre

March 8
Easton, Pa. - State Theatre

March 9
Lowell, Mass. - Lowell Memorial Auditorium

March 10
Wallingford, Conn. - Oakdale Theater

March 11
Westbury, N.Y. - Westbury Music Fair

March 14
Washington, D.C. - 9:30 Club

March 16-17
Atlantic City, N.J. - Trump Taj Mahal Casino

March 18
Uncasville, Conn. - Mohegan Sun Casino

March 21
Verona, N.Y. - Turning Stone Casino

March 22
Chester, W.Va. - Mountaineer Gaming Resort

March 23
Columbus, Ohio - Palace Theatre

March 24
Tunica, Miss. - Sam's Town Casino

March 25
Merrillville, Ind. - Star Plaza Theater

March 29-April 4
Las Vegas - MGM Grand Hollywood Theater




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