1968 AUSTRALIAN / JAPANESE TOUR

1968 AUSTRALIAN / JAPANESE TOUR

(September – October 1968)

For updated information on this article, see the web site: monkeesconcerts.com

“Not even their new physical appearance seemed to phase their fans.  A bearded Peter was resplendent in kaftan and beads, Micky was sporting an untamed afro, and Mike was somber in dark glasses and suit and tie.  Only Davy seemed prepared to acknowledge his popularity, with bright simple garb.”
-Glenn A. Baker, author of Monkeemania: The True Story of the Monkees

• Last Train To Clarksville
• I Wanna Be Free
• D.W. Washburn
• Daydream Believer
• Cuddly Toy
• Salesman
• It’s Nice To Be With You
• Mary, Mary
• Cindy  (Peter solo)
• Peter Percival Patterson’s Pet Pig Porky  (Peter solo)
• Johnny B. Goode  (Mike solo)
• Gonna Build A Mountain  (Davy solo)
• I Got A Woman  (Micky solo)
• I’m A Believer
• (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone

Marcie and the Cookies opened up for the Monkees on the Australian portion of the tour, as did the Cherokees, who also provided instrumental support during the solo segments. In Japan, The Floral was the opening act and provided backup during each Monkees solo spot.

The Far East tour of 1968 was extremely successful for the Monkees. Even though their popularity was beginning to calm in other countries, the concerts here were a critical and commercial triumph. In Japan, one of two concerts at Festival Hall in Osaka on October 7 and 8, 1968 was filmed and later broadcasted on Japanese television. This recording, however, has never been officially released. The audio of it (straight from the video) does exist as a bootleg, but the video footage is presumed lost.  After these concerts were completed, the original quartet would not perform together again in concert until 1986.

The Monkees Talk Downunder, originally released as a picture disc vinyl album in 1988, chronicles the Monkees’ visit to Australia.  The album features the Sydney and Melbourne press conferences, radio interviews, and comments from the individual Monkees.  It was made available on compact disc in 1997.

Glenn A. Baker, author of Monkeemania: The True Story of the Monkees:
“Throughout the ensuing six days of riots, hotel mobbings and crowded press conferences, the four endeared themselves to the ultra-cynical Australian press corp. as witty and intelligent entertainers.  Go-Set magazine was impressed enough to dub them ‘Pop Personalities of 1968.’  Death and bomb threats forced them into hotel captivity and the tour, though successful on every other level,
ended on a tragic note with the death of a 13 year old. In Japan, the reaction was similar, though no deaths were reported.”