GLEEB> essays
ARE YOU JUST UNHAPPY TO SEE ME?
The relationship between a "star" and his public has always been a romanticized one. From the moment you become a fan of an actor, singer, or writer, you hear great stories about how they came to the deathbed of a ailing longtime fan, or signed an old lunchbox for a mentally retarded girl, or did something as simple as gave an autograph to an obsessive kleptomaniac. But sometimes even good stars go bad. Everyone has their bad day, week, month, year, or life. Everyone's entitled to get pissed off sometimes. What most people don't take into consideration is that, no matter how superhuman they are to you, celebrities are people, too. Or in this case, Monkees.
Over a week ago, the Monkees made a routine tour stop in Merrilville, Indiana. I don't want to describe every minute action that went on in the bar adjacent to the Merrilville venue, because I don't want to bore you, nor do I want to put down Joe or Abby Alterio, regular amm posters who brought these events to everyone's attention. The truth of it all is that the Monkees, mainly Peter and Davy, acted in a way that was quite indifferent to their adoring fans and unsettling to us posters.
Peter told some guy to f-off. He was groping young women. Now let me just say that I'm a huge Peter Tork fan. Hell, next to Mike, he's probably my favorite Monkee. I took more pictures of him at the concert than anyone else. But Peter's always been very romanticized in his view with fans. Time and time again (no pun intended) we hear about Peter signing autographs. He's held meet-and-greet parties for his fans. But Peter's problem is that he doesn't want to be Peter Monkee anymore. He wants to be just Peter.
Davy wasn't much better, either. Abby, who runs one of his official fan clubs and has for the past six years, was brutally rebuffed by him during his meal. Now, Davy's been the quintessential wonderful celebrity since 1966. He always wanted to stop limosuines to greet fans, he always wanted to sign autographs, and was the one he seemed immensely grateful for his popularity. But it seems that something was lurking in Mr. Jones' persona that came out in the 1980s. Davy became a bit egotistical, seemed to think he was better than everyone else, etc. Even Micky pointed this out in his book. Some of it was probably due to drinking, but he seems to be no better in the new millennium.
Micky can't be commented on. He was the best of the three, at least at this time, and I can't comment on him objectively. When some guy hugs you, you're usually a bit humbled and unwilling to say anything bad about him. If a guest writer wants to talk about Micky, be my guest.
The guys are all sick of being Monkees. They've said on more than one occasion they're just doing this for the money. If I were Mike Nesmith, I'd be rejoicing that I sat this one out. As my friend Lindsay said "he's married, he has has a successful (*truly* successful) career in music, is a businessman, is rich," and has more than any of the other guys could dream of, monetarily, spiritually, and every other -ally.
If Micky, Davy, and Peter don't want to be Monkees anymore, they shouldn't do it. Just get them the hell out of our faces before they become so damn obnoxious the we, the fans, don't even want to see them or buy their records anymore. Then they won't be getting any money.
-- Valleri
4.03.01

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