Jay West/WireImageIn a move that likely caught Monkees fans off guard, the surviving band members, including Mike Nesmith, announced Wednesday that they will be mount a U.S. reunion tour in the fall.  The trek will mark the first time Nesmith will officially tour with group since 1969.  The planned outing comes just a few months after the unexpected death of Davy Jones, who **** of a heart attack at age 66 on February 29.

Nesmith discusses his decision to play again with his old musical mates in a new interview with RollingStone.com.

He explains that the tour took form after he reconnected with Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork at a private memorial for Jones that they all took part in organizing.

Nesmith says he was always open to playing again with The Monkees but claims that the timing of previous treks, such as the 45th anniversary tour Dolenz, Jones and Tork mounted in 2011, had never been right for him.

"It was…a question of schedules and timing and the focus of our individual work," he maintains.  "Had there been an opportunity to join them I would have -- but we were out of sync schedule wise."

Nesmith suggests that now is "the right time and the right place to reconnect and play," while pointing out that "getting together with old friends and acquaintances can be very stimulating and fun and even inspiring to me."

As for what fans can expect from the upcoming shows, the singer/guitarist says that the concerts will include a focus on The Monkees' 1967 Headquarters album, the first release on which the members played their own instruments.  Nesmith also notes that Jones will be given his due during the trek, explaining, "We will include some of the songs he sang, and do our best."

Nesmith adds that although he has no plans to record new material with The Monkees, he's open to playing more concerts with the band beyond the 12 dates already announced.

The Monkees' tour kicks off November 9 in Escondido, California, and runs through a December 2 show in New York City.

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