Friday, October 1, 2010

The Happy Together Again Tour, 2010

The Happy Together Again tour has just ended ... and we want to extend our thanks and congratulations again to all of the artists for putting together a GREAT show this year ... and for staying in touch with us via Forgotten Hits in order to be able to pass along some of your "Fun From The Road" Comments to some of the fans who weren't able to see the show this time around or live in cities where there wasn't a scheduled stop!

We heard some VERY positive things from our readers over the summer and (with the possible exception of some disappointed fans who experienced a Rob Grill "no show" situation at some of the later concerts), it sounds like a wonderful time was had by all ... including the artists themselves.

All of the acts are back out on their own again now ... please check their respective websites to see when they might be headed out to your area.

Click here: The Buckinghams - Home Page
Click here: RobGrill.com - Rock Vocalist, Songwriter & Bass Guitar Legend - Rob Grill - The Grass Roots!
Click here: Mark Lindsay, Former Lead Singer of Paul Revere & the Raiders
Click here: MickyDolenz.Com
Click here: http://theturtles.com/

Meanwhile, here are a few final comments:

re: TRUTH IN ADVERTISING:
I just returned form the final show of the Happy Together tour and indeed Rob Grill did not appear and was instead replaced, with no mention of such. They were still announcing his name at the beginning of the show. I was disappointed. If Rob Grill was not going to perform due to illness, etc., an announcement was in order. Having said that, overall the show was great ...
Rahod
Agreed! But I can't believe they announced the act as "The Grass Roots, featuring Rob Grill", knowing that he really wasn't there to perform ... now that's just WRONG!!! (kk)

re: AND, SPEAKING OF THE HAPPY TOGETHER TOUR ... :
The tour is over ... some of your all-time favorite '60's artists ... The Buckinghams, Rob Grill and the Grass Roots, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, Mark Lindsay (former lead singer of Paul Revere and the Raiders) and The Turtles (aka Flo And Eddie ... and, occassionally, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman!) ... entertained thousands across the country as enthusiastic, sell-out crowds flocked to see their teen idols live in concert. By all accounts, the tour was a rousing success ... and plans are already in the works for The Happy Together Tour, 2011!

If there WAS a sour note, it was the absence of Grill on the last leg of the tour. (The thing about a tour like this is you've got all top-of-the-line, name act performers on the bill ... yet each artist also attracts their own legion of loyal fans, making the OTHER acts on the bill "sugar on top"! Truthfully, you can't go wrong with a line-up like this ... between these artists, they had over a hundred hits in the '60's and early '70's!)

That being said, for the fans who came specifically to see Rob Grill perform, I wondered if something should be said regarding any new health issues he may be facing. (Rob's had a rough go of it these past few years, especially after a couple of hip-replacement surgeries that went wrong.) I had hoped that we might receive SOME kind of note from Rob directed to his fans, if only to let them know that he's doing all-right and will be back out there entertaining them again real soon ... but so far, we haven't heard anything. (Maybe after he sees today's posting we'll get a response.)

Meanwhile, I asked ALL of the artists if, now that the tour has wound down for the year, they might like to say something to all the fans who came out to see them ... and here's what I got:

It was one of the best tours I was ever part of. Everyone was a consummate performer and we were excited to share each others fans. Each group brought their own energy to the tour and we hope that next summer to do it again.
Rob Grill was missed and for all that know him, they should know he is doing well. The Grassroots sounded great on the tour and people loved hearing their great songs and we all hope that Rob will be able to rejoin them for Happy Together 2011.
Most every review spoke only positively about the show and that is a testament to everyone doing their part to make it a great time. It was a professional tour and we did not have to cancel one date for any reason.
See you next year!
Mark Volman / The Turtles

The HAPPY TOGETHER tour was very happy and VERY together!
I LOVED it!
Micky Dolenz

The tour was great and it's because of the fans ... without them, there is no tour. We are hoping to do this again next year, so if the fans want to see this again, they need to let the producer know how much they enjoyed the show.
Flower Power Concerts
853 Broadway, Suite 1711
New York, NY 10003
Nick Fortuna / The Buckinghams

Regular FH Readers know that we were getting tour reports from Howard Kaylan of The Turtles and Carl Giammarese of The Buckinghams from the road ... how exceptionally cool to hear from Mark Volman, Micky Dolenz and Nick Fortuna this time around!!!
Thanks, Guys! (kk)

Hiya Kent;
Things were really wonderful this summer for the Happy Together Tour's 25th Anniversary Celebration. We had Mickey Dolenz out with the Turtles this year as well as Mark Lindsay, The Grass Roots and the Buckinghams ... Wonderful crowds, beautiful theaters, and the best summer tour ever!
If you're sixties music fans, or just want to turn your children on to the great hits that you experienced while growing up, I guarantee you'll always get a lot of bang for your buck with a show like this. Thanks to all our fans for their continued support!
Oh, and let us know who you'd like to see on NEXT year's Happy Together Tour at:
www.theturtles.com
Thanks, everyone.
Howard Kaylan

Hi Kent,
The Happy Together 25th anniversary tour was fabulous! Sellout shows! The show has been so well received. We played to packed houses and that's fabulous considering they are big venues ... outdoor amphitheaters along with some very nice old theatres, too.The fans came out in strong numbers. We are so fortunate to have the wonderful support they give us ... our audience has been so receptive.
I think everyone on the tour performed their hits with authenticity, but what was really great to see was the wonderful audience response. It's so much more than just performing the songs. It's the way we relate to our fans and bring back the experience of the late 60's.
It has been a pleasure getting to know Mark Lindsay and Micky Dolenz, too ... what great, talented people they are.
It wouldn't surprise me if there we a Happy Together Tour 2011!
Also The Buckinghams, Turtles, Grass Roots, Mark Lindsay and Micky Dolenz want to extend our thanks to Forgotten Hits for all your support. You've done some great write ups and we really appreciate it.

Best regards,
Carl Giammarese / The Buckinghams