I was ahead of the curve: I had mine just before the 2006 World Cup. (Um, yeah, men's soccer.)

I grew up on them, and now have the Rhino complete collection. I hope you do too, King.

Hey King -- I have no quibble with Madonna or The Monkees being in the hall. Not that I care a shit about that riduculous, overblown institution ... except that you see/hear about something freakish every year. And this year, it was wonderfully freakish -- the combination of hearing about Iggy doing two Madonna songs, and seeing the photo op of Ig, Madge and Justin. (insert gravel-voiced classic rock announcer voice here) Together, at last, for the first time!

And I definitely have no qualm with your hot-stove argument that "Stepping Stone" is one of the great rock'n'roll songs of all time, be it The Monkees, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Sex Pistols ... or the original. That's right -- the original. It wasn't The Monkees' song to start with (which will probably work against them if the Veterans' Commitee has its say). It was first cut in 1966 by an L.A. group called The W.C. Fields Memorial Electric String Band. You can hear it on the CD "Pebbles Vol. 9: Southern California, Part 2." Gawd, it's great when my sports and music wonkiness intersect; thanks for indulging ...

Relatively speaking, The Monkees were far more successful than Vince Coleman. Jack Clark feels about right.

Too bad King doesn't like hockey. The Sharks might let him suit up for an exhibition game, after all, he's their good luck charm. They haven't lost a game during the last couple of weeks that he's been ignoring them.

What do you think those guys will do with the frozen peas after they've been used for their post-op therapy? Right.

Started out as a fake band, members then learned to play their intruments & ended up as a nice pop band with a few excellent songs. Had a top-rated TV show for a couple of years. One of the band's members is heir to the 'white out' fortune. To me, if the Monkees go in, then you've got to put The Blues Brothers in as well.

If the Monkees were a baseball player, I'd say: Willie Wilson of the KC Royals. Madonna (who I think belongs in the Hall, maybe not 1st ballot though), would be Robin Yount.

Started out as a fake band, members then learned to play their instruments

Actually, no. While they did start out as a "fake" band, Mike Nesmith already knew how to play guitar when the band started and Peter Tork could play piano, guitar and a few other instruments. Mickey Dolenz did learn to play the drums after the show started, but they did all have some musical talent, even if it was just singing ability.

The Monkees were the first pre-fab band, preceding others like the Meneudo or the Sex Pistols or the Spice Girls. And without the Monkees, there's no MTV. They made the first music videos that anyone actually watched.

Heck, Mike Nesmith put out a video album in 1981 that essentially pre-dated MTV.

Hayseed Dixie is gonna make the hall. It's a banjo pickin' bluegrass band that plays AC-DC songs.

In addition to all the "pre-fab" stuff, the Monkees' biggest musical legacy is that Mike Nesmith was a big originator of country rock, even before the Byrds had really gotten into it. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any country rock songs that predate "Papa Gene's Blues." Nesmith's best songs really are a great fusion of country and Texas psychedelia.

One advantage I'd give them over Madonna is that their albums -- not just the hit singles -- hold up a lot better as a whole. In fact, the best of them are better listens than a lot of their "legitimate" competition. A big reason for that is they had access to some of the best songwriters money could buy (Goffin/King, Boyce/Hart, Neil Diamond, Harry Nilsson), so there's less chaff than some bands who relied on one or two songwriters. "Headquarters" and "Pisces etc." really are great albums.

Just to make this Billy Crystal stunt even more meaningful, bring back Sal (The Barbar) Maglie from beyond the grave in order to give Billy the "Chin Music"he so richly deserves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sal_Maglie

Didn't your Stray Cats cover band play 'Stepping Stone'?

for your info. My bad on the incorrect assertions I made regarding the band member's musical ability.

King, I'm honored you would take my letter and use it to kickstart a column. I've been a salon faithful for yeas and that was my first lettter. Also, your suspicions are correct, mynamehere is not my real name, but Mach Shooty Babbitt was already taken.

I'm impressed with the caliber of knowledge of The Monkees by a lot of the readers here. Chillman especially. I think he nailed it best as far as including musical legacy elements like Nesmith's country rock songs. Also, The Monkees were the first to use the Moog synthesizer in rock (Daily Nightly). Also,for what it's worth, The Beatles themselves were fans, and not just of the tv show. George Harrison recruited Peter Tork to play on his soundtrack for Wonderwall. I could give a ton more facts about their musical conributions, but the facts are out there for those who want to know them.

As far as comparing Madonna vs The Monkees. It's just not a fair comparison for a variety of reasons. While I agree that Madonna has had a vast influence in fashion, porn, and pop culture in general way beyond The Monkees, it's doubtful she's inspired to many in the rock genre.

The Monkees paradox as I like to think of it, is that they are as genuinely rock and roll as anyone in the hall now even though they were "prefabricated." Rock at it's finest is supposed to represent integrity, soul and joy. To link it to a sports metaphor, The guys who made up The Monkees were brought in from the minors to play as the New York Yankees, but fought for their right to be an expansion team. They fought the powers that be and gave up millions to do what they all thought was the right thing. I mean how cool is that?They gave up the steroids and played the game as it was meant to be played. The result of that move are a few albums that I think are indisputably great and as genuine as they come. Lastly for my money, Sunny Girlfriend is three minutes of pure pop joy that can't be beat.