[Description by contributor David Adams]

This gem was hidden away in a box marked “Specials”, and not only includes an aircheck of The Monkees taking over the Bob Shannon Show at KRUX, but it’s also an aircheck of the final episode of the Monkees very successful first season. The episode was titled “The Monkees on Tour”, and it begins with their arrival at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor to the screams of thousands of hysterical teens. On the following night the infamous Monkee mobile is seen racing across town to KRUX. They storm the control room before binding and gagging the city’s most popular DJ, Bob Shannon.

The aircheck is a (partially restored) 45-minute composite of the two and a half hours that Michael Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones actually ran the control board, spun the records and played all the commercials themselves. (Peter Tork wasn’t feeling well and stayed at the hotel.) On a more personal note, not only was my dad featured in this episode, but my mom was too. Strangely, neither of them knew each other at the time, but whatever it was that finally brought them together, I’ll be forever grateful!

It was also during this show that the Monkees invited the entire city of Phoenix to join them at the prestigious Mountain Shadows Hotel for an open party later that night. Panic-stricken executives from both the radio station and hotel quickly pressured the group to recant their invitation.

In an effort to avoid a disaster and bring some levity to the situation, Mike Nesmith is heard conducting
an interview with the hotel manager, played by Bob Shannon.

This aircheck may represent the first appearance of The Monkees performing collectively as Top Forty jocks. The concert, emceed by Shannon and the KRUX Good Guys, was held the following night at the Phoenix Coliseum on January 21, 1967. It marked the Monkees’ first concert appearance, and the final episode of their 1966 TV Season.