Getting Davy Jones Grand Finale (from Television Collector Magazine- Fall 1997)

In conclusion, Davy talks about the regrets he had about making the movie, Head. I thought the movie was awful and sent the wrong message to fans (especially since in one scene the guys were seen running off a bridge, almost like they were committing suicide). Davy thanked me for bringing this up and we then wrapped it up by discussing upcoming projects which at the time included the 30th anniversary tour, horse racing and a couple of other projects including writing of a novel and adapting a book into a show, never came to fruition. He was amazingly open about everything especially since he did not know me personally. Even though it's been nearly fifteen years since our chat, it was a dream come true having one of my heroes open up in what I think is an insightful conversation. Hope you all agree and enjoy!

The beginning of the end of the Monkees: the disastrous 1968 theatrical release, Head.

Before our phone conversation ended, Davy and I discussed the movie, Head. The war scenes were not too graphic; people were used to seeing far worse images on the evening newscasts. But the suicide scenes disturbed me. Considering the Monkees' popularity with kids, I thought the scene when Micky jumped off the bridge at the film's beginning and the guys floating lifelessly underwater at the conclusion were most inappropriate.

"It was totally against my wishes to do the Head movie," he notes. "The suicide scene was like the Houdini thing where we are escaping from the water tank. The idea was, you never really escape life. There's not any particular way out. The message of that and the Monkees' movie was totally wrong for what our audiences were at the time. It totally buried us.

"I'm glad you've spoken with me about it. That's bothered me for 30 years and I've never spoken to anyone about it," he continues. "I was totally against the suicide thing. We were being chased. It was the beginning and end (of the film) and they wanted to tie it together. We ran through the tape at the bridge and jumped because we were running away. We were escaping. I still have flying dreams. It would have been better if we would have flown away and done the Superman thing."

It seems that only  a man of steel could keep up with Davy's schedule. In addition to the 30th anniversary tour, and new album, Just Us, Davy plans to return to England shortly to continue horse racing. There's a Monkees movie in the works. He's adapting a book, Mr. God, This is Anna, into a musical, and writing a novel, which he describes as Jackie Collins-like with an espionage twist.

And Davy reports that he and Micky are getting along quite well and plan to return to the stage together and collaborate on a television series.

"We understand each other," says Davy. "We've had our fist fights. We know how to hurt each other and don't do it anymore. Micky never had a brother. Neither did I. Micky had his problems too. He was lost. He was alone. He was getting divorced. He felt worthless.

"He felt all he was ever going to be known as was Circus Boy and the Monkees. But he picked himself up and realized he's got talent and has responsibility to himself, his children, me and everybody around us. And we both stopped thinking about ourselves and more about the overall picture and everybody else.

"We talk family and girlfriends. We're always hugging each other. It's wonderful. Peter, too. Peter's opened up and mellowed out. He's not so frantic and so scared of fame. He was a singing waiter in a Santa Monica hotel five years ago because he didn't want the fame. He just can't handle it. We're traveling in $500,000 tour buses. Micky and I. And Peter's in a Winnebago. There are certain things he can't let go of. He's paying for the tour bus because that's part of the deal. He's also paying for the bloody Winnebago. But that's Peter. He just keeps holding on to this eight track image he has and an 'I don't deserve it' attitude. But he does deserve it."

And even though the captain of Marcia Brady's heart is not perfect, he too, deserves the fame and adulation. The Prince Charming of pop rock is just too special to too many people and has been for too long to ever have that crown taken away.

This is how most of us will forever remember Davy, the prince charming of pop rock and captain of Marcia Brady's heart.