The Monkees were an American pop band that found global fame in the mid-1960s through their own television show and a string of successful albums and singles. Sales were largely driven by the TV series, which blended slapstick humor and catchy music. Soon, however, the band's ability in the studio was being questioned after it became apparent that session musicians were providing the Monkees' sound rather than the band themselves.
Mired in controversy, the four Monkees, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, and Peter Tork, fought for more creative control over their music and eventually triumphed over powerful music executives.
This gallery revisits the Monkees' spectacular, albeit brief, time under the spotlight and explores how the band created their own music to become a legitimate music act. Click on for a replay.