The Duel With Peter Noone

HOW I MET DAVY JONES

submitted by PETER NOONE,

peter@peternoone.com

on 11/1/98 at 06:19 PM.

I have been asked how I first met Davy, so here is how I recall it.

I was at the BBC in London, and the Monkees were scheduled to appear on the same TV show as my band Herman's Hermits, The Beatles, and everyone else who was in the Top 20 in the UK that week.

I was interested in seeing the Monkees, because a few years earlier I had met with one of the producers of the show, and incredibly Bobby Darin (who was at the meeting...Wow my hero), and they had told me how they were going to put this bunch of zany and wonderful characters together, and do a TV series called The Monkees.

I heard their first record "Last train to Clarksville" and knew even without even seeing the TV show, that they were going to be big. Remember at the time that it was of no consequence who played on records or why they played, and the Mamas and the Papas didn't and I have bought all their recordings too.

I went over to their dressing room with a bloke who worked for the Beatles called Tony Bamwell, and George Harrison's chauffeur Terry Doran. We only got to say hello to Davy and Micky, who were great fun people, and we invited them to join us that night at the Speakeasy, which was our fave club and the Fab 4 were always there, and I could sit and look at them, and hope they would invite me for a drink, and therefore get to meet them, and all the better looking girls who were in London that night.

They didn't show up.
Neither did the Beatles.
Next time I saw Davy was in the late 60's and he told me he lived in Santa Barbara, which I thought was in Peru somewhere.

Then we met again in Chicago for the Oprah Winfrey show. he was an absolute sensational guest. I almost wet my trousers, and we discussed for the first time the Teen Idols idea!

Next, I met his two California daughters in 1986, and talked to them frequently about what a fan I was of their Dad's work, especially a song called Rainy Jane, and I told them how much respect I had for the whole Monkee thing, and how it must be stressful for the 4 blokes having to go through all that "who played what and when and why" nonsense.

Let me make my position on this issue clear right now. Any real musician does not care who played on the Monkees records. You either like the records or you don't. Just like Bruce Springsteen.
Do you love him?
Why not? Are you a fool?

See what I mean? It has no logic. Bruce just probably wants you to buy a CD! I am a bit of a Davy fan now, as I have watched him from the side of the stage almost 50 times this last year.He works as hard as Bruce Springsteen, and has the required amount of commitment.
100%!

He is finally going to escape the Monkee thing! I know the Monkee fans will want to see them grow old together, but I personally think HE is far better onstage by himself. He was already a very respected entertainer BEFORE he joined the Monkees, and they have diverted all the attention away from Davy Jones. So be it. I hope he becomes proud of his work with the Monkees, and gets to look back in joy instead of anger.

I too am working on a similar career. Sometimes you just have to let go of the past and start all over again. When he tries to do new stuff onstage he is chastised by the very people who call themselves "his fans".
I think not!

I am a real Davy fan, so he can do whatever he wants and I will give him my full support. If he wants to try out any new ideas, I am always willing to participate. Some work, and some stink.
Just like a DAY IN THE LIFE!

If he wants to do a show without doing Daydream Believer, fine. I wish I could sing it one night. He can do Henry the 8th.
That's the scoop, and the poop.

Peter Noone
I sang on all my records.
I never sang on any of Bruce Springsteen's.