The Monkees: Made in Hollywood (Reverb)

Praise for The Monkees: Made in Hollywood (Reverb)

"What a difference a half-century can make: The Monkees were one of the most successful pop acts of the 1960s but were viciously maligned as a prefabricated Beatles knockoff created purely to populate a weekly sitcom — all of which was true. But in the process the group made some of the most memorable pop songs of a vibrant era . . . Now, in an era where such qualities are an unequivocal benefit if not a virtue, it’s hard to imagine the extent of puritanism the group faced, but Kemper places it all in refreshingly contemporary and judgment-free context, viewing the group’s history through a clear-eyed artistic angle as well as a business one."
— Variety | Best Music Books of the Year

"Kemper helps us understand what it is that continues to make the Monkees phenomenon ‘compelling, fascinating and divisive’ . . . Kemper distinguishes himself in demonstrating how the group represented the spirit both of their time and place.”
— Spectator (UK)

“Belittled at the time of their creation in the mid-Sixties, as made-for-TV Help-era Beatles clones, The Monkees’ music has stood the test of time, and then some. Tom Kemper suggests, in his excellent book, that the initial snobbery surrounding the group, at least in elevated critical circles, came about because of the rise of a new rock culture based on authenticity, individual expression and idealism.”
— Choice Magazine (UK)

“Kemper, in this absorbing new book, offers an intelligent, insightful look at the many factors that melded to create The Monkees phenomenon and the band's lasting impact.”
— Pop Culture Classics

"I spent the entire summer of 1987 on the road opening up for The Monkees, and I didn’t learn 1% as much about them as I learned from this thorough and remarkable book by Tom Kemper."
— "Weird Al" Yankovic

"The Monkees gets into the vast machinery that goes on behind the scenes of producing perfect pop – still relevant today even if the names and corporations have changed – and does it with a lot of fun."
— Chris Shiflett, Foo Fighters

"Kemper's book clarifies so much that is misunderstood in the Monkees story."
— Susanna Hoffs, The Bangles

"A knowledgeable and incisive portrait of the popular music industry."
— Paul Hirsch, Northwestern University

"The book is full of interesting insights . . . [and] Kemper is impressive in unpacking particular songs . . . a fresh and engaging take on an oft-told story."
— Shindig!