Famed Monkee Davy Jones unexpectedly passed away last week, touching off a media frenzy for bandmates like Micky Dolenz. “Micky was in New York to rehearse for a projected new play Garage Band,” when he heard the news, according to spokesman David Salidor.

In the next 24 hours, Dolenz appeared on CNN’s Piers Morgan, followed up by The Today Show, Access Hollywood, ABC’s “Good Morning America” and Good Day New York, with Roseanne Scotto and Greg Kelly.

Over the weekend he spoke to People, The L.A. Times and The Detroit Free Press. It’s always a delicate maneuver handling the media after such an incident, but from what I witnessed, Dolenz handled it with true class.

You want to properly memorialize your friend. I heard him say in one interview that the two had known each other for 47 years. Personally, I liked the interview he did with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos–succinct, concise and spot-on perfect.

I actually met Jones for the first time last summer when the band performed on “The View,” during their 45th reunion tour. I found him exceptionally charming. I tell you one thing; the media coverage was very impressive. No doubt his passing touched many.

The Monkees, comprised of Jones, Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith, were actually created for a television comedy show based on the antics of The Beatles. But the group went on to produce some serious, chart-topping music.

Although the show only ran for two seasons in the 1960s, the band played on into the 1970s and also did several reunion tours.

Rest easy Davy.

Further Reflection on Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball

I caught Bruce’s second and final appearance on NBC’s Jimmy Fallon Show Friday night and it was even better than his shot on Monday. He sat for a rather lengthy interview with Jimmy and told some great stories.

He also performed with the band two additional cuts from the new album: “Death of my Hometown” and “Jack Of All Trades.” The former was a rocking (Bruce-style) of all the changes in everyone’s hometown; with the invasion of strip malls and the decline of traditional downtowns.

Chilling and touching, it’s got to rank as one of the strongest tracks on the album. The second one, was almost dirge-like, features Springsteen backed with just the slightest instrumentation. Say what you will, his voice has never been more expressive or more urgent.

Again, I believe this newest album, Wrecking Ball, ranks among his finest works. Fallon had alluded to a special treat from Bruce and as the last segment started, Bruce, with the band, and The Roots joined in a sensational version of “E Street Shuffle,” from his 1973 epic album, The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle.

It still retains the immediacy of a Bruce-song. He doesn’t really sound like that anymore, but from the smiles on his face, you could just tell he loved performing it.

For all three songs, Bruce was joined by Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, and, I must say that his presence lends a terrific edge to the band. His guitar style seems almost as revolutionary as Eddie Van Halen’s.

Names in the News

David Kline, Monica Escobedo, Bobbi Dahl, Anthony Noto, Coatimundi, Donald Berman, Jonathan Cohen, Anthony Pomes, Scott Mendel, Michelle Grant, Jane Blunkell, CFS