LOS ANGELES \u2014 When Micky Dolenz returns to the Philadelphia area to perform on Sunday, April 12 at the newly restored Lansdowne Theater in Delaware County, it won\u2019t feel like a stop on the road, it will feel like coming home.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife is from Philly,\u201d Dolenz said with a laugh, during an exclusive interview this week. \u201cI\u2019ve been going back and forth for about 30 years \u2026 I love the area.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now 81, the lead singer and last member of the iconic band, The Monkees, is once again hitting the stage in the \u201c60 Years Of The Monkees Tour,\u201d bringing with him not only decades of music but a renewed appreciation for a career that continues to resonate across generations.<\/p>\n
TV show became a phenomenon<\/p>\n
More than a half century after its debut, Dolenz is still clarifying what many fans misunderstand about The Monkees.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest misconception,\u201d he explained in an interview this week, \u201cis that The Monkees started as a band. The truth is that it began as a television show about a band.\u201d<\/p>\n
Created in the 1960s as a musical comedy series, the show followed four young men chasing fame. Unlike traditional bands that formed organically, Dolenz emphasized that the group was cast for television, though musical ability was still essential.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou had to sing and play to get the part,\u201d he said, when reflecting back on how he originally landed his role on the show. \u201cMy audition piece was \u2018Johnny B. Goode\u2019 on guitar.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Micky](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DTD-L-ADFORMONKEES-0320.jpg\")
Micky Dolenz, of The Monkees, saved many pieces of memorabilia from the band’s heyday, including the original ad that advertised auditions for the show. Dolenz answered the ad, auditioned, and the rest is history. He is still rocking the house with his performances at 81-years-old. (COURTESY OF DIS COMPANY)<\/p>\n
Long before The Monkees, Dolenz was already a familiar face on television. As a child actor, he starred in the NBC series \u201cCircus Boy,\u201d giving him a decade of experience in the industry before landing his breakout role.<\/p>\n
Over the years, he has also worked behind the camera, directing and producing television, particularly in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
Dolenz began taking classical guitar lessons at age 12 and played in cover bands as a teenager and young adult. He was studying to be an architect in college when he landed the now-famous role on \u201cThe Monkees\u201d show.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe audition was heavy on improvisation,\u201d Dolenz remembered. \u201cThey were looking for four different types of guys for the characters, but they needed to see chemistry between them, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
From there, something unexpected happened. What began as a scripted show evolved into a real-life musical success story. Fans began to realize early on that the four comical young men on the show had true musical and vocal talents.<\/p>\n
\u201cMike Nesmith once said that when we first played live, that\u2019s when Pinocchio became a real boy,\u201d Dolenz recalled.<\/p>\n
Teen idol to enduring influence<\/p>\n
At the height of their popularity, The Monkees achieved a feat that still stands: four albums reaching No. 1 on the charts over a single year: \u201cThe Monkees\u201d (1966); \u201cMore of The Monkees\u201d (1967); \u201cHeadquarters\u201d (1967); and \u201cPisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, LTD.\u201d (1967). The albums launched three No. 1 singles: \u201cLast Train to Clarksville,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m a Believer,\u201d both with lead vocals by Dolenz, and \u201cDaydream Believer.\u201d Dolenz credits that success largely to the legendary songwriters behind their music.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had Carole King, Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, Boyce and Hart \u2026 incredible writers,\u201d he said. \u201cThose people don\u2019t write many bad songs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group\u2019s influence extended far beyond their own era. Dolenz pointed to praise from icons like John Lennon, who once compared The Monkees to the Marx Brothers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe got it,\u201d Dolenz said. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what it was: a half-hour Marx Brothers episode on television.\u201d<\/p>\n
That blend of humor and music is part of what keeps the show and songs relevant today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe show wasn\u2019t topical,\u201d Dolenz explained. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to know what was going on in the world at the time to enjoy it. It\u2019s just funny, and the music is timeless.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"When](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DTD-L-MIKYDOLENZ-0320.jpg\")
When asked during a recent interview, what legacy he hopes to leave behind, Micky Dolenz answered, \u201cMemories of great music and a lot of fun.” (COURTESY OF DIS COMPANY)
\nLife on stage in 2026<\/p>\n
Dolenz continues to tour extensively, with more than 50 cities on his current \u201c60 Years Of The Monkees Tour,\u201d marking roughly six decades since The Monkees first captured audiences.<\/p>\n
His current show offers something unique: A chronological journey through the band\u2019s catalog, as well as some contemporary music.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing the hits in chronological order,\u201d he said. \u201cIt has turned out to be really interesting. The audience kind of comes along with us on the journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fans can also expect a multimedia experience, with vintage clips, photos and video montages woven throughout the performance.<\/p>\n
Dolenz\u2019s genre spans pop and rock, ensuring fans will enjoy a night filled with beloved classics and new interpretations. His seven-piece band includes his sister, Coco, who joins him on stage for duets and harmonies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like they never left,\u201d Dolenz said of his late bandmates: Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith. \u201cI\u2019m still singing the songs, and they\u2019re still there in the show.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although he has been performing solo for many years now, Dolenz said that going on stage without the other Monkees still carries an emotional weight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always difficult,\u201d he admitted. \u201cBut in a funny way, they\u2019re still with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\""The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DTD-L-THEMONKEES-0321.jpg\")
“The Monkees” television show featured, clockwise from top left, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Davy Jones. Dolenz, who will perform at the newly restored Lansdowne Theater on April 12, is the last remaining member of the iconic 1960\u2019s quartet. (COURTESY OF DIS COMPANY)
\nMusic, family and moving forward<\/p>\n
Offstage, Dolenz, who lives in Los Angeles, leads a relatively private life, with wife, Donna, four children and four grandchildren.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tend to keep that side a bit private,\u201d Dolenz said, noting that while he appreciates social media, he prefers not to share too much personal detail.<\/p>\n
On tour, he focuses on staying healthy and maintaining the energy needed to perform.<\/p>\n
\u201cI pace myself,\u201d he shared. \u201cI don\u2019t usually do two shows in a row. I take care of myself, go to the gym, eat as well as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
A legacy of joy<\/p>\n
Asked what legacy he hopes to leave behind, Dolenz didn\u2019t hesitate.<\/p>\n
\u201cMemories of great music and a lot of fun,\u201d he said. \u201cThe music is the most lasting thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
And for fans, both those who grew up during the Monkees\u2019 heyday and younger generations discovering the songs for the first time, that legacy continues to strike a chord.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe music still works today,\u201d Dolenz said. \u201cThat\u2019s the key.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he prepares to return once again to the Philadelphia area, one thing is clear: the songs, the laughter and the spirit of The Monkees are still very much alive.<\/p>\n
About the show<\/p>\n
Lansdowne Theater, 7 p.m. Sunday, April 12<\/p>\n
Contact BRE Presents at 856-429-6100 to purchase by phone, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit http:\/\/brepresents.com<\/a> or http:\/\/thelansdownetheater.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n The doors will open on the evening of the concert at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n The Lansdowne Theater is at 31 N. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LOS ANGELES \u2014 When Micky Dolenz returns to the Philadelphia area to perform on Sunday, April 12 at…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":144642,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[349,197,1557,916,212,1681,182,200,1213,915,139,28,69,1212,71,70,289],"class_list":["post-144641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-berks-county","tag-bucks-county","tag-chester-county","tag-delaware","tag-delaware-county","tag-entertainment","tag-local-news","tag-montgomery-county","tag-music-and-concerts","tag-new-jersey","tag-news","tag-pennsylvania","tag-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-county","tag-philadelphia-headlines","tag-philadelphia-news","tag-things-to-do"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144641"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144641\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Entertainer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DTD-L-MICKYDOLENZONSTAGE-0321.jpg\")
Entertainer Micky Dolenz will grace the stage of the Lansdowne Theater on Sunday evening, April 12, performing a captivating set that celebrates his rich musical legacy. Known for being the lead singer of the iconic band The Monkees, Dolenz’s genre spans pop and rock, ensuring fans will enjoy a night filled with beloved classics of The Monkees and new interpretations. (COURTESY OF DIS COMPANY)<\/p>\n