In the ’90s, Nick at Night began airing The Monkees. My sisters and I got hooked on the absurdity pretty quickly right before I started high school. (What can I say? We were the target audience, 30 years too late.) Over the next couple years, I met and saw two members of the Monkees in concerts (three different events)—Peter Tork and Davy Jones.
Two weeks ago, I got a text message from two of my sisters within seconds, basically saying the same thing:
I’m so sorry about Davy Jones!
That was how I found out he’d died. He had a heart attack at 66. For some odd reason, the youngest of the Monkees was the first to go.
It was a sad surprise, even if it’s not completely unheard of (I mean, Peter Tork, the oldest of the Monkees, hit 70 just two weeks before). It hit me that night as I saw a clip from the old TV show that he was really gone. But let’s be serious here: he wasn’t a close personal friend, and I’m not going to mourn him like one. His death didn’t make me face my own mortality, or give me a sobering wake up call, or anything else. It was a sad note.
One of my favorite songs actually sung by Davy
But then over the last weekend, I remembered what I owe to Davy Jones.
When my sisters and I started watching The Monkees, I liked the show so much, I had to write about it. Yes, it’s true—I came to writing through fanfiction. Monkees fanfic. (Is this as shameful as I think it sounds?) And though Davy himself wasn’t the biggest reason for my doing that, he was part of the ensemble. He was part of the reason I started to write.
From left to right: my sister (holding one of my favorite photos of Davy from the 60s), my friend, my sister,cropped to just Davy and me (holding records?), in 1998. And yes, that extra hand on my waist is Davy’s. I’m 15, he’s 52. Is that skeevy? Oh well. (Don’t know where my other sister was 🙁 .)
So thank you, Davy Jones.
How did you get started writing?
When I heard about Davy Jones I had no idea who he was until someone finally said of The Monkees. And then I said, “Oh no! I wonder if Jordan knows!” I don’t think I knew The Monkees started you on the road to writing. Very cool.
(And yes — that hand/waist thing is skeevy!!!)
WHY???????????????????? No, not why did he have to go, WHY did you have to post this picture? I know why, but really, WHY?
*cringe!* Sorry! I thought you’d be more upset to be cropped out. (Do you want me to crop you out?)
About that same time, I was first introduced to Davey Jones by my best friend and a trip to the Oldies Fest. It was great. I bought my first monkey’s CD and we sang the songs all the time. Again, target audience, a little late. I love that he inspired you to write. Its sad he’s gone.
That’s cool you came to writing through Davy Jones. English was always my favorite subject, especially in the 9th grade. I loved my teacher and she was always encouraging. After that, journaling became a big thing for me. : )