Gary James' Interview With Monkees Touring Drummer
Rich Dart



Rich Dart met Mickey Dolenz in 2006. He joined his band in 2010 and became a Monkee in 2012. Rich Dart spoke with us recently about The Monkees, his background and what he's doing these days.

Q - Rich, since you're fresh off an Australian tour with The Monkees, just how popular are The Monkees in Australia these days?

A - Pretty popular. We sold out the Sydney Opera House. So, I'd say pretty popular. (laughs)

Q - That's a big venue.

A - Yes.

Q - Is that the type of venue you were performing in, in Australia?

A - Yeah. We were playing big theatres over there. Over here in the States I would say we play mid-size theatres, maybe 4,000, 5,000 seaters. Over there we were playing really big theatres.

Q - You started working with Mickey Dolenz in 2006. How did you get that job? What were you doing before that?

A - Before that I was doing what I'm still doing now. I'm a freelance percussionist in the New England area. I was working at a place called the Goodspeed Opera House. I was what they call a sub. So, I was the second call drummer. So, when the main house guy couldn't play a show, I got the call to go in and play or fill in if he needed a day off or something. I had gotten a call to actually split the show that was coming. There was a production of Pippin coming in. The main house drummer was a guy named Sal Ranniellow, who I've known for years. Sal said, "Hey, I need more than a sub. I need somebody to actually split the show with me." They run for about a month. Each show runs for about a month there. I said okay. We didn't really split the show. I played a majority of the shows. In the cast as King Charlemagne was Mickey Dolenz. So, after its run at the Goodspeed, it actually went on the road for four months and I got hired to be the drummer on the road production of that.

Q - So, having seen you in this production of King Charlemagne, Mickey offered you the gig as The Monkees' drummer? Is that how it worked?

A - Yeah. Mickey fell in love with my playing through Pippin. We did a benefit show in Toronto the same time a touring production of Wicked was there. Normally, in general, shows are dark on Monday night, so you have Monday night off. That's your one night off whether you're on the road or playing down on Broadway. Monday night is usually your night off. We were in Toronto for six weeks. I think they were in Toronto for six weeks and we chose this one Monday night where both casts got together and we performed a benefit show for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. What it was was members of each cast gets up and performs stuff. Obviously not from the show you're in. Any other type of music you want to perform. Mickey got up and we played some Monkees songs. So our band, the band from Pippen, was the backing band. When he came into rehearsal with us; I'll tell you his story and then I'll tell you my story. (laughs) He elaborates a little bit. So, the way he tells it is: He asked the piano player, "Do you know any Monkees songs?" The piano player says, "Yeah, I know 'I'm A Believer' and 'Daydream Believer'." He asked the guitar player, "Do you know any Monkees songs?" He said, "Yeah, I know 'Last Train To Clarksville' and 'Steppin' Stone'." He asks me, "Do you know any Monkees songs?" I said, "Yes. I know all of them." That's pretty much all true. So then in his version of the story he goes, "Okay, play this song." And I played that. He said, "Okay, play this song," and I played that. And that part didn't happen. (laughs) So, we ran through the songs he was going to sing. He did "I'm A Believer" and a non-Monkees tune. He did it all the time. "Since I Fell For You". When we went to sound check, he started playing the riff to "Circle Sky" and I joined him on it. He turned to me and said, "How do you know that?" I said, "I told you I know all of your songs." So after that we did a benefit in New York together. It was a similar thing. It was called Rockers On Broadway. It was a benefit for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. But at the time I was playing on Broadway in Avenue Q. I was the drummer for Avenue Q. I went on the road with that for two years. During those two years Mickey would call me and say, "Hey, are you still touring with Avenue Q?" I'd say, "Yeah." "Okay, let me know when you get back." Then when we were in L.A. he said, "How much longer are you on this tour?" I said, "I've got a contract for two years." So literally the day I came home from Avenue Q, Mickey called me and hired me for his band.

Q - I'm just guessing here that you're too young to remember what The Monkees were in the 1960s. How much did you really know about Mickey Dolenz?

A - I knew a lot. I was an uber fan as a kid. I was born in '71. When I was a kid they were re-running them like on afternoon TV. Channel 56 out of Boston was running it. I heard the music. My uncle is a record collector. He would pass down records to my cousins and me. One of them that I had, and I don't even remember when I had it, and I had it forever, was "More Of The Monkees". I was a gigantic Monkees fan from being a kid on. When the whole resurgence came in the '80s, I was in Heaven! So, I know a lot about The Monkees and Mickey Dolenz.

Q - It it true that over time you've worked with all four Monkees?

A - No. The only one I did not work with was Davy (Jones). I knew him, but I did not work with him.

Q - Would Mickey, Mike or Peter sit down and tell you stories about their tour with Jimi Hendrix or what it was like to meet The Beatles? Did you ever hear them talk about that?

A - Yeah. What happened was, when I was on the road with Pippin, Mickey and I got to be really, really good friends. We were the ones that went out every night after the show to catch live music. We would go eat together. We would just talk. I've always been very careful to not be an uber fan when I'm with these guys, but I have talked to Mickey extensively about those days and what was going on. Nes (Mike Nesmith) I've talked to a little about things, but he's not as easy to sit down with as Mickey is. Peter and I were very close. I actually was his tour manager. He did a solo tour. I don't even remember when it was. Five years ago maybe (2014). It was just him and an acoustic guitar. I was his tour manager for the East Coast leg of that, so we drove up and down the East Coast together and we talked a lot.

Q - He didn't talk every much to the press. He didn't give that many interviews.

A - He was a very private person. He loved the fans and he loved giving to the fans, but he was also very shy and private. So, a lot of times he wasn't as outgoing. I think the two most outgoing guys were Davy and Mickey without a doubt. Mickey is always ready to do an interview at the drop of a hat. Peter kept to himself. His feeling was, "I'm giving the music. I'm performing," and that's what the take away would be. A lot of times people misinterpreted that, that he was being rude, but he wasn't. He was just very private, very shy.

Q - Mickey is out on the road doing this Celebration Of The Beatles' White Album tour. And you're waiting for what? I don't want to say you're waiting for the phone to ring, but you're now probably waiting for him to get off the road so you can resume the Monkees gigs, right?

A - Sort of. I'm not sitting home, twiddling my thumbs. I work constantly. I played last night. I'll play tonight. I'll play this weekend. I play next weekend 'cause I'm a freelance guy. Basically anyone who calls, I do the gig.

Q - In your own area or do you have to step on a plane and fly out?

A - Most of the stuff is in my own area. Occasionally I have to fly places. Most of the flying I do is for Mickey or The Monkees.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/richdart/

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