The Monkees have denied reports that drummer Micky Dolenz‘s alleged substance abuse is to blame for the cancellation of their North American tour.
The ’60s band, who reunited earlier this year to celebrate their 45th anniversary, cited “business” issues as they scrapped the final ten dates of the North American leg of the jaunt, which visited the UK last May.
However, Albany Palace Theatre, one of the venues due to feature on the tour, suggested that “internal issues and conflicts” were to blame for the cancellation.
A statement put out on behalf of Dolenz denied that drugs were involved in the decision and instead claimed the gigs were booked without the band’s consent. It said:
Management booked dates with venues without running them by the group so we had to cancel the remaining dates. It has nothing to do with any sort of substance abuse whatsoever.
Meanwhile, in a message later posted on his Facebook page, Dolenz said that the tour had been cancelled for “reasons I cannot discuss at this time”.
The sticksman has apparently admitted to experimenting with drugs “a lot” early in the band’s career.
The Monkees scored hits with the likes of ‘I’m A Believer’ and ‘Daydream Believer’ after being put together for a TV show that shared their name in 1966.