Davy Jones Blew It

I got to the Grand Sierra Resort about two hours before Davy Jones (formerly of the Monkees), 62, was to appear. It was a good thing I got there early, for it was not too long before thousands jammed the parking lot. I was able to get a great view just off to the left of the stage. Naturally I stood up the whole time.

I hadn't seen Jones in years, so his appearance rather shocked me. It wasn't that he looked bad; it's that he looks so much different than he did years ago. I wouldn't have recognized him if I saw him on the street.

He gave a great performance. People like myself were singing along with him, and he seemed to enjoy himself. The audience certainly loved him. This was the first time in years he had been to Reno.

It could well be his last, to hear people afterwards. It has ALWAYS been the case with Hot August Nights performers at the free concerts to stay after the show and sign autographs and meet with fans. Almost ALL of them have done this over the years, to the best of my knowledge. Peter Noone, for example, stayed until everybody left last night. A veteran of many years of this event , he knows how important it is to meet and greet with people, many of them having traveled from all over the country to attend HAN. Noone apparently never told Jones about this important aspect because Jones REFUSED to come out of his dressing room after the show to sign autographs. Security told the long line of fans that they could buy CDs, pictures, and other items at the table (and many did BEFORE the concert expecting Jones to sign the items) but that he wasn't coming out. At first people thought Jones was kidding, and that he would come out eventually. Well, he never did. I, like a few people, hung around for 15 or 20 minutes, and still no Jones. He probably went back to his hotel room by that time.

People were FURIOUS. He might have lost a good chunk of his fan base right then and there. It is simply NOT done to stiff fans at Hot August Nights.

It was a MAJOR faux pas which unfortunately will be remembered long after Jones has left the area.