Anyone who spent the Saturday mornings of their childhood squinting at a portable while The Monkees ran around a large garden at warp speed while flinging guitars at each other are likely to feel more than a twinge at the news of Davy Jones' passing. He was only 66.
The lead singer of the Daydream Believer group - who were created to appear in their own TV show in the 60s (the ones we used to watch on those hazy Saturday mornings) - passed away from a heart attack yesterday, a representative confirmed to TMZ.
An official from the medical examiner's office for Martin County, Florida, told the website they received a phone call from the Martin Memorial Hospital informing them that Davy had died. Davy leaves behind four daughters from previous marriages - Talia Elizabeth, 43, and Sarah Lee, 40 from his marriage to Linda Haines, and Jessica Lillian, 30, and 23-year-old Annabel Charlotte from his marriage to Anita Pollinger.
The pop icon - who was born in Manchester - married 33-year-old TV presenter Jessica Pacheo - who he met in 2006 - in August 2009.
In May 2011, the singer - who also appeared in Corrie in the early 60s - said he was having some of the happiest times he's ever had in his life with Jessica, what with him saying: "We have love. We have friendship. She's also aware of what I've done in music, and the fact that I no longer really need to prove anything." Especially since he was wed to someone half his age.
Davy joined The Monkees in J in 1965 along with Micky Dolenz, 66, 70-year-old Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith - who did not rejoin the group for their shows last year - and they went on to record a number of hit records including 'Daydream Believer', 'Last Train to Clarksville' and 'I'm a Believer'.
The Guardian has this to add: "The Monkees aired for 58 episodes from 1966 to 1968. At first, their music was written and recorded for them, the four members of the Monkees adding only their own voices. Gradually, however, the group asserted their own personalities. Though their 1966 debut album contained none of their own compostions, they were able to steer their music away from the bubblegum pop of the TV series towards the self-mocking psychedelia of thier sixth album, Head, the soundtrack to their 1968 movie. Head proved to be the demise of the Monkees as a commercial force. The film was scripted by Rafelson and Jack Nicholson, and deliberately undercut the Monkees' wholesome image. In it, the group sang: "Hey, hey, we are the Monkees/ You know we love to please/ A manufactured image/ With no philosophies."
