DAVY JONES
(Q)-Your songs with the Monkees are constantly played on radio stations around the world. How do you feel about that?
(A)-I went somewhere yesterday and someone said to me, ‘Do you have a share in this local radio station?’ I said ,’No. Why?’ And they said,’ Because they play the Monkees songs all the time.’ I said, ‘Well, I guess that’s a ’60’s station because we’re all a part of that. You wouldn’t find any of my music on a contemporary radio station. But what can I say. It’s one of those haunting things that sort of like create a lot of difficulty for me. I’m always in people’s minds as a Monkee. It’s a shame, because we don’t get a penny for it. I mean the Monkees songs are played all over the radio and we don’t get paid for it. So it’s really a shame, but people like to keep me in their memories and minds as a Monkee. People like to put you in these little back pocket kind of things. I was thinking about it last night, all my conversations with the press or radio in last couple of years in regards to what I’ve been doing have always been Monkees related. So it’s a bit difficult to break that with the songs being played continually and the TV show being rerun all around the world and the association that comes with that, because it’s a shame really because we don’t get paid for it.
(Q)- Yet, the vocal group and TV series did open some doors for you. Correct?
(A)- Yes. Certainly. However, I has always held me back as an actor and a performer.
(Q)- At home in Pennsylvania (USA) when you’re not working on the road, how does your average day begin?
(A)- I get up at 5:30 every morning because I’ve got a stable and race horses. I’m a racing enthusiast. I’ve got race horses here in the State (outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) and in England and I’ve got a jockey’s licensee so I ride. I do go out of the entertainment business and go off and race horses in that business you know.
(Q)- What is the experience of riding horses professionally, like for you?
(A)- There’s times when I’m reluctant to start. It’s a dangerous game and I’ve been hurt before. I race thoroughbred horses. Right now I’ve got three race horses in training and I’ve got a couple of race horse here. Mine are not such expensive horses, I train them to be winners. We have the facilities in England and here to train the horses to be the best. It keeps me out of the bar late you know?
(Q)-Why?
(A)-There’s nothing worse then waking up with an bad head and going to the stable and leaning over and looking at a horses legs and thinking that you’re making the right decision that day about how to run them. It’s very difficult when you’re dealing with animals. It’s like you’ve got to keep in training because you’re training them. The horses keep you honest. It’s one of those games once you’re in you’re in. It’s like the Mafia, once you’re in you’re in. I can’t get out of racing, I’ve always been involved in it and I’ve always owned horses. It’s my pleasure.
(Q)-I seems as if you are brutally honest during interviews. Why are you the way you are?
(A)- There are times when the whole thing makes me sick. I’m honest during interviews because that’s the way I am. I mean if I’m going to get my ass kicked, then I’m going to get my ass kicked. I mean what’s the point? I’ve got nothing to hide. There’s not a question I won’t answer. If I’m going to say something about somebody then I’m going to say something about them. I’d rather get my ass kicked by someone for something I’ve said instead of getting my teeth blown out by me not wanting to say something. I mean I’ll go into a supermarket and I’ll see some 6 foot two inch tall guy who is pushing a kid around and I’ll tell him, ‘Hey man don’t do that. Leave that kid alone.’
(Q)- Why are you like that?
(A)- Part of it is growing up in Manchester. Manchester was interesting 30, 40 years ago when we had industry happening and the cotton mills happening in the outlying areas. The steam trains were running and we had full employment. But you know now, it’s much easier for most people to tend to sit back and take 50 dollars less a month and go unemployed. This happens in most cities around the world.
(Q)- What are your feelings about being typecast as a Monkee even though you’ve had success in other fields of endeavor?
(A)- I find that to be very difficult, because I’m a. I work constantly but I’m forever being labeled as a Monkee. I mean now the (TV) show is airing in France and Germany, I’m getting letters from fans who are 12 and 14 from France and Germany and I will pick out the letters in the mail, because I do sit down and read the mail every day, and I will write a little letter to those fans in France and Germany.
(Q)- That is wonderful.
(A)- But, you can’t imagine the Rolling Stones doing anything like that. Or maybe they do. I really don’t know though. You don’t get to that particular place with an artist, you don’t really get to know the artists personal life now do you?
(Q)- Currently Oasis is very popular in the UK. The two brothers who are the center of Oasis, Liam and Noel Gallagher, are in the newspapers in London nearly every day. It seems as if each time they do something, they get national publicity over there. What is your opinion of the two Gallagher brothers?
(A)-Oasis? It all sounds too much like the sounds from the ’60’s. Their attitude I hate. They’re from Manchester and they’re totally unprofessional. I can’t stand that. You know I hate bad behaviors among professionals. Maybe that’s the Manchester in me.
(Q)-How about other veteran British rock stars from the ’60’s who remain active and continue to be successful? What are your feelings in those regards?
(A)-I have never been envious and I am never envious. I’m not envious of the fact that Mick Jagger made 87 millions dollars last year when the Stones toured and that Mickey, Peter and I, made just a few millions between us. I’ll admit that at times that is still bit hard to take though. I mean I’m still a major Stones fan.
(Q)- You live in America. What has living in America taught you?
(A)-I love success and that’s what America has taught me.
(Q)- What about in the UK?
(A)-In England as soon as you get successful they want to kick you in the balls and throw you in the back yard and wait for you to make a mistake. They want you to be famous and then go away.
(Q)-Are you more an entertainer then a recording artist?
(A)-I’m a vaudevillian. If I have to I’ll do anything for a laugh.