love is understanding...

A PETER TORK TRIBUTE
BORN: FEBRUARY 13,1942
BIRTHPLACE: WASHINGTON,DC
THE "AQUARIUS" IN PISCES, AQUARIUS, CAPRICORN AND JONES

Peter Tork, the dimpled, blonde, musically gifted, true "Hippie" of the Monkees, played the role of the "dummy" in the 1960's television show about four young and unconventional guys who lived in a groovy beachouse. An example of the typical Monkee dialog that was common to Peter's character is  as follows: SPY WOMAN: "I GROW IMPATIENT!" PETER: "I GROW DAFFODILS!" Playing the role of the dummy was quite a stretch for Peter, who as anyone who knows him will testify, is an incredibly intellectual man. Of all the Monkees, Peter is, quite arguably, the most well rounded and accomplished musician. Playing proficiently on bass, keyboards, guitar, banjo and drums, Peter alone discredits any of the Monkees detractors who claim that the Monkees "can't play their own instruments." Peter Tork has more then proven himself as a gifted comic, actor, and above all, musician. BACKGROUND Peter grew up as the oldest son of a college professor who settled in Connecticut. He learned at an early age how to play the banjo and guitar,  and when he was old enough to seek his fortune, Peter moved  to Greenwich Village, New York, an area peopled with Bohemians and musicians, at the time. Peter was heavily into the whole Folk music scene, and  played at  the coffee houses  that attracted young  (usually poor) and gifted musicians. Perhaps it was fate, perhaps restlessness that brought a young Tork to Los Angeles where he met up with fellow musician, Stephen Stills. Stills had heard about auditions for musicians to perform in a weekly television show, and auditioned himself. Rumor has it that Stills was turned away by the shows producers because of "cosmetic reasons." Stills suggested Peter try out for the part, and Peter won the role with the made for TV band that was to define the rest of his life... Like it or not. Hey, Hey, He's a Monkee... The Monkees took the world by storm, and in 1967, they even outsold more records than the Beatles and the Rolling Stones combined!  The critics and the Hip Elite condemned them for not playing all their own music, and this particularly affected Peter. "At the time, I thought we were fake." said Tork in 1997,  an admission made on the Disney channels' "Hey Hey they're the Monkees special." Although they started out as a tv show about a band.. the Monkees soon did the unthinkable- they became a band!  It took alot of negotiations, but  the Monkees finally gained artistic control on all their records, and their third album, Headquarters, was released. Headquarters was 99%  all Monkees, with only the occasional musician stepping in when needed. In 1967 Headquarters shot up the charts to the number one position, but was soon dethroned by the Beatles' Sgt. Peppers Loney Hearts club band.  After the Monkees went off the air in 1968 the boys completed the movie Head and the television special 33 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee. Soon after, Peter left the group. He formed the band Release and mostly kicked around a few years, spending his Monkee money on hippy causes and needy people.  In the early eighties, he formed a new band, the New Monks, but little came of that.  During these years, Peter enjoyed a rather normal life. He taught math, social studies and music at a high school, coached little league baseball, and became your typical All American dad. But Peter's life was to once again take a major turn. In 1986, MTV began airing the Monkees television show. The MTV Monkee Marathon sparked a new generation of fans, and a demand for the Monkees to tour. Once again, the Monkees were an overnight sensation! Monkees posters were everywhere! Their twenty year old albums were all rereleased, and people were clamboring for a reunion tour! So, Peter joined up with Micky Dolenz and David Jones for the Monkees  20th Anniversary reunion, and the boys made history yet again as being the only band to make a comeback without having a comeback album first! To date, no other band in history has enjoyed this type of success. Indeed, the Monkees 20th Anniversary tour was the top grossing tour of 1986. LINKS Read the Peter Tork FAQ's by Zan and Torka from Peter's offical page. Pictures of Peter For the most up to date information on Peter, check out: WWW.PETERTORK.COM TORK TALK THE MONKEES HOME PAGE To write to Peter: Peter Tork 524 Anselmo Ave, #102, San Anselmo CA 94960 BACK Email Me Le bonheur de vivre (The Joy of Life) by Henri Matisse