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It’s hard to even consider what was going on in everyone’s minds when they thought it would be a good idea for Jimi Hendrix to open for the clean-cut pop group The Monkees, but it happened in 1967.
That was until the day Hendrix walked away from the tour and never looked back. That happened on July 17, 1967, after just eight shows.
It still goes down in history as one of the most bizarre music pairings to ever happen. Hendrix was known for his legendary guitar solos, while the band formed initially for TV was a bubble gum pop group that was thought would rival The Beatles. Both had their fan bases, but anyone going to see The Monkees in concert were unlikely to enjoy Hendrix’s music.
Who possibly thought it up? Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork of The Monkees! After watching Hendrix perform at the Monterey Pop Festival earlier that year (and Dolenz has seen him the year before), they knew they needed to have him on their tour. The idea was that it would expose the newly-formed band to the American audience, exposing them to more fans. Plus, Dolenz said in a 2021 interview, “His claim to fame was he’s the guy who plays guitar with his teeth,” and that definitely helped seal the idea that he would be perfect.
Hendrix agreed to do it, and he certainly tried. For eight shows, he put up with the screaming fans who would drown out his solos with “We want Davy,” noting the adoration and love for Davy Jones. After the eighth show, he had had enough.
The good news is that the band and Hendrix became friends after this. While the on-stage nightmare was always going to be there, it didn’t create a rift between them, and it seems they were able to laugh about it in the future.
In fact, the decision to part ways on the stage was mutual. Hendrix confirmed, “Then some parents who brought their young kids complained that our act was vulgar. We decided it was just the wrong audience. I think they’re replacing me with Mickey Mouse.”
The two would go their separate ways and find their own fame. It was simply a case of what seemed like a fun idea at the time being something made of nightmares, but everyone respected the business.
