WOW The Grammy's

Their fans may have thought reunions were only true in fairytales, meant for someone else, but not for them. But those who have kept the faith will be delighted to hear that 1960s pop group the Monkees, spawned from the television programme of the same name, are back.




The band, originally created for the hit show the Monkees, which charted the experiences of four young men in their quest to become rock'n'roll stars, are reforming to celebrate their 45th anniversary.



For the first time in 12 years the TV band – whose hits include Daydream Believer, I'm a Believer and Last Train to Clarksville – will perform 10 gigs in Britain, kicking off on 12 May at the Liverpool Echo Arena and including a performance at the Royal Albert Hall, in London.



Three of the original Monkees, Americans Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork and Briton Davy Jones, will brave aching knees and dodgy backs for the performances, but Michael Nesmith – who went on to create his own business and became a producer and novelist – will not take part in the tour.



After originally being created in 1966 by writer and producer Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the television series, which aired from 1966 to 1968 before re-running extensively in the 1980s, the Monkees gained credibility by taking supervisory control over all their collective musical work.



The show won two Emmy awards in 1967 and propelled its four stars to pop stardom. John Lennon called them "the Marx brothers of rock", but in 1967, The Monkees outsold both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones combined, and went on to sell 50m records.

Feb. 13, 2011




By Kati Johnston



So, do you think Madonna's mad that Lady Gaga stole "Express Yourself" and "Vogue" for her latest megahit? Will more awards need to be created just for Lady Antebellum? Can Eminem make it through one measly rap song on live TV without an obscenity? And did Hollywood finally run out of double-sided tape once and for all?



Those were just a few of the burning questions (whoa! So many fires!) raised by Sunday's 53rd Grammy Awards, which were spilling over, as always, with celebrity excess. Which makes our job ever so much easier. (Hope that doesn't sound too snarky ... sorry -- we were born this way.) A few of the Grammys' most memorable highlights and lowlights:



Worst awards-to-minutes ratio in awards history: Fifty-nine minutes into the show, just one award had been given. Out of 109 categories.



Forget her, too:Cee-Lo Green, Gwynnie Paltrow and a bunch of trippy, potty-mouthed Muppets singing backup on the PG version of "F--- You" actually managed to out-Gaga Lady Gaga. Between Cee-Lo's kaleidoscopic peacock-robot costume, the feathery lapdog at his piano and the self-censoring puppets ... well, that was one Grammy spectacle that was truly spectacular. (Sorry, Gaga and Eggaga.)



Most shocking pyrotechnic effect: The critically beloved alt-rockers Arcade Fire's unexpected win for Album of the Year. The band members were as shocked as the audience to win over Ladies G & A and Eminem. "What the hell?" was, well, kind of an understatement.



No cheetah'n: What was with the outbreak of wildcat patterns on the red carpet? We love animal prints as much as the next kitten, but on formal gowns, this trend is spotty at best.



Very proper tribute to a queen: Soul sisters, including Jennifer Hudson and Florence Welch, teamed up to pay reverent homage to the ailing Aretha Franklin, on songs like "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and "Think."



Even more moving tribute to a queen: The short and absolutely stunning tribute to country goddess Dolly Parton (who won a lifetime Grammy), with John Mayer, Keith Urban and a Piaf-esque Norah Jones singing a simple, chilling "Jolene." Result: serious goose bumps.



Please allow me to introduce myself: Mick Jagger's tribute to the late Solomon Burke was one part Blues Brothers and two parts "Let's just show the people how it's done." With a groove, a beat and no special effects, there was rock and soul to spare.



Celebrity address most quickly removed from public listings: Best New Artist Esperanza Spalding, whom we hope went underground to hide from the furious masses of Beliebers outraged that their idol got dissed. Oh, baby!



Stylin': Beyond the gimmicky outfits, some stars really shined. Natasha Bedingfield rocked a cute little marceled 'do and fairy-tale floral dress; Selena Gomez looked striking and age-appropriate (the anti-Miley); Ciara wore revealing, stunning wisps of Grecian gown; and Jennifer Lopez, all legs and loose hair, was an absolute knockout in a super-short glitter getup.



Best channeling of the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines (which is a compliment): Rihanna, whose heartfelt vocal on "Love the Way You Lie," is one of the most soulful songs she's ever done. Even the forest-fire-flames special effects behind her and Em couldn't overshadow their thunderous showstopper. (Nice little kicker: "I need a doctor" summoned none other than ... Dr. Dre.)



Sweetest "Recovery": Eminem's wins for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Solo Performance -- a comeback cheered on by the whole music industry.



Who says there are no bad seats at the Grammys? Poor person who had to sit behind Nicki Minaj with that giant helping of cotton candy on her head.



Here comes the sun: Newly pregnant Jewel, in a flowing butter-yellow gown that splashed sunshine all around her.



Artist who milked the most out of his last night with a clean record: Bruno Mars, due to plead guilty on Monday in Las Vegas to a felony cocaine charge. Hope the judge likes him just the way he is.



Most transformed celebrity face: Kelly Osbourne, who looks sweet and svelte after her weight loss and rocked a darling springy frock to play up her new figure. But there's something a little different about her face that we can't quite put our finger on ... Lips? Nose?



Most underused instrument of the night: Bob Dylan's harmonica on the mega-jam of "Maggie's Farm." While the young'uns in the Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons played fluidly -- and fast -- behind him, he (sort of) sang his heart out, tried a dance step or two, and then brought up his harp to blow one note. (Three times, but still, just the one note.)



Xtina flub du jour: Christina Aguilera stumbled and nearly did a face-plant at the end of the group salute to Franklin -- but girlfriend at least remembered all the lyrics.



Best fashion redemption: Heidi Klum got spanked in the press a couple of weeks back for her way-too-casual sundress at the Golden Globes, so it was great to see her turn it around. Her golden-glam evening gown was one of the prettiest of the night.



Scariest new body part: Gaga's shoulder pads, which looked like knobby bones threatening to poke through her skin. Matching accessories: teeny little alien "horns" peeping out from her forehead.



Or did someone poke her face?