RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL CELEBRATES THE HISTORY OF THE MONKEES

This episode spotlights a rock and roll act composed of actors who were hired for a television series about a make-believe band. But they became real-life pop icons.

Their 45s and LPs sold millions, thanks to songs written just for them by some of the top songwriters of the late 1960s. And leading studio musicians were instrumental to their initial success because this group wasn’t allowed to play on their own songs. At least not at first. Then this foursome banded together as one to take control of its own destiny so the group could produce and play on its own platters. Together they made memorable music, even while their personal differences about how to make music were driving them apart.

Hear about their connections to the Beatles, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Harry Nilsson, Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, Neil Diamond, Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Jack Nicholson, Annette Funicello, and Frank Zappa...and a whole lot more (did you expect less?).

Fifty years after its founding, this group still has a loyal world-wide following.

Hey, hey, they’re the Monkees.

And we’re "monkee-ing" around with all their hit singles, choice album cuts, and their solo successes, too.