Micky Dolenz Talks New Monkees Reunion Tour, Relationship with Michael Nesmith

Ron Thal/Globe Photos Inc.Last week, the surviving Monkees blindsided fans when they announced that they'll be mounting a fall tour that will feature Michael Nesmith, who hadn't performed live with his old band mates since he dropped off a 1997 U.K. reunion trek. Monkees singer-drummer Micky Dolenz tells RollingStone.com that he and Peter Tork also were surprised about Nesmith's apparent change of heart.

"It's shocking to us, too," he admits. "It wasn't this massive plan that people had been concocting for years or months or anything. It sort of happened organically."

The impetus for the new trek grew out of the band members' desire to organize a tribute to Monkees singer Davy Jones, who **** of a heart attack in February.

"We started talking about doing some sort of memorial show," explains Dolenz. "It just sort of escalated from there."

Dolenz, Tork and Nesmith at first considered doing two U.S. concerts, one on each coast, but decided to expand their plans when they saw how much interest there was in the reunion.

Dolenz reports that, not surprisingly, the upcoming shows will feature a tribute to Jones that will include a performance of his signature tune, "Daydream Believer." In addition, Micky says the concerts will offer segments that focus on The Monkees' 1967 album Headquarters and the soundtrack to their 1968 film, Head.

Dolenz says he's "really looking forward to" playing material from Head. "There are great Mike songs on that," he adds. "'Circle Sky' is one of my favorites."

Regarding the assumed longstanding rift between Nesmith and his band mates, Dolenz maintains, "There wasn't any strained relations as far as I was concerned," while noting that "it's impossible to go through [an experience like being in The Monkees] and get totally disconnected."

He adds, "We may not see each other for literally years, and as soon as we get back together we're immediately back into the same dynamic."

The Monkees' fall tour includes 12 dates, kicking off November 9 in Escondido, California, and running through a December 2 show in New York City.