LOS ANGELES – The Monkees were dealt a blow earlier this year when the band’s lead singer, Davy Jones, died of a heart attack.

Now the surviving members are moving forward and will reunite for a U.S. tour. The band — Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and historically reclusive member Mike Nesmith — have announced that they will hit the road for an Evening with the Monkees, a 12-date trek this fall. It will be the first shows the three have performed together in 15 years.

Additional Photos

Members of the manufactured pop group the Monkees are seen in this 1967 photo. Peter Tork, left, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019. Davy Jones, second from right, died in February, leaving Mike Nesmith, second from left, and Micky Dolenz the two surviving members. 1967 Associated Press File

Popular singer Lady Gaga is featured in the September issue of Vogue, the magazine’s 120th anniversary issue and its largest yet. The Associated Press

Ann Curry

The tour kicks off Nov. 8 in Escondido, Calif., and wraps Dec. 2 in New York.

The Monkees soared to fame as America’s original boy band after successfully launching their own NBC television show in 1966. The made-for-TV band looked to capitalize on the infectious wave of Beatlemania following the Fab Four’s “A Hard Day’s Night” film, and it worked. Despite the Monkees’ origins, Monkeemania soon swept listeners, and at the group’s height they were able to outsell the Beatles.

The shows will mark their first concerts together since 1997 and the first U.S. Monkees tour to feature Nesmith since 1969.

Pegged as the “Missing Monkee” (a sly nod to a 1967 episode of their series), Nesmith has largely been absent from the group since that ’69 tour. The other members have toured without him, though Nesmith has reunited with the group for on-off appearances over the years; his last stateside concert with the band was a private show in support of 1996’s “Justus,” the band’s 11th and final album.

Nesmith announced the news in a playful statement, part of which read: “So the big news from here is that I made the most amazing gazpacho tonight — miracle gazpacho. A miracle because I have no idea how I did it and could never do it again. …

“And Micky and Peter and I are going to do twelve concerts in November here in the States. That’s really all I’ve got. Going to bed now.”

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

Lady Gaga can duck spotlight when she wants

NEW YORK – One of the most visible celebrities in the world says she sometimes flies under the radar.

In the September issue of Vogue magazine, which goes on sale Aug. 21, Lady Gaga says she likes to “feel a little irresponsible and act like I’m 19” sometimes. She goes on to admit she even manages to “roll into a bar” and dance topless, or have sex on the beach without getting recognized.

The singer credits her friends for helping her avoid the paparazzi.

Curry returns to ‘Today’ set, minus warmth

LONDON – Ann Curry, replaced as a “Today” show co-host in June, returned to the NBC show’s set Thursday, appearing in London to introduce a filmed report on a photographer.

Curry lost her job as Matt Lauer’s co-anchor in June and was replaced by Savannah Guthrie. Her story appeared in the show’s second hour. She introduced it while sitting on the set next to Lauer, and had no on-air interactions with others on the “Today” team.

Curry’s banter with Lauer seemed polite but distant. Lauer said “nice to see you” at the outset and “good to see you” at the end. Curry returned neither sentiment.

Singer Springfield pleads no contest

LOS ANGELES – Rick Springfield has pleaded no contest to reckless driving and will serve probation to end a drunken driving case.

The singer’s attorney, Philip Cohen, entered the misdemeanor plea Thursday in Malibu. The final charge doesn’t include any allegation of alcohol impairment.

The “Jessie’s Girl” singer was arrested in May 2011 after being stopped for speeding in his Corvette.

– From news service reports

Related Stories