December 1986: Watch The Monkees Sing Christmas Favorites on MTV

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Monday, December 5, 2022
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The Monkees pose for their Christmas Card at the Athletic & Convocation Center in South Bend, Indiana, November 11, 1986. Left to right, Peter Tork, Davy Jones, and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

In 1986, The Monkees were back and bigger than ever. The legendary '60s TV band had staged a big-time comeback, rocking across the country on a massive 20th anniversary tour. The tour was so successful that Mike Nesmith eventually had to bow out from the workload. Still, the original Monkee fully supported the rest of the gang--Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz and Davey Jones--to carry out the run of shows.

"When the whole thing [the Monkees reunion] first started off, there were 10 or 12 dates and I was on them and looking forward to it," Nesmith told Goldmine magazine in 1991. "Well, because it was the 20th Anniversary and nobody knew it was going to get as big as it did, it went from 20 dates to 200 in just a matter of weeks."

Despite rumors that he dropped off the tour due to bad blood, Nesmith stressed that was hardly the case: "Then, for some reason, the perception got out that, well, he never did like this whole thing, and the fact of the matter is that Nesmith does just fine with it. I like it a lot, it's perfectly fine,"

Once the tour--which was among the highest-grossing jaunts of 1986--came to a close, the band got together with MTV for a little on-air Christmas cheer. The band, their family and members of the group's touring entourage joined the MTV VJ crew to some caroling. Watch it below, and stay tuned for the big reveal when Santa Claus removes his beard at the end.

Among the songs the gang tackle include "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", "Winter Wonderland", "Jingle Bell Rock", "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" & "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)".