The Monkees are making a new album and touring in 2016

America's favorite television pop band of the 1960s has a big 50th anniversary planned with Blu-Ray box set, new record and summer tour.

In the fall of 1966, America produced its answer to the Beatles. The Monkees released their debut album and premiered their television sitcom. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, half of the original foursome are getting the band back together for a new album, titled Good Times!

Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork will record and tour as a pair, though some notable names are helping out with the record. The twelfth Monkees platter promises songwriting contributions from Neil Diamond, Carole King, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer. The title track is a tune by the late Harry Nilsson. Manning the production is power-pop ace and Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger, who is perhaps best known for crafting the faux-'60s tunes in Tom Hanks' That Thing You Do.

Good Times!, due for release on June 10th, will be the first Monkees release following the death of singer Davy Jones in 2012. Michael Nesmith is not expected to participate in the album, according to Rolling Stone. "He's writing a book, which was the specific reason he gave me for not wanting to leave town again for any particular length of time," Dolenz explained for Nesmith's absence.

The songwriting process is not entirely smooth, as Dolenz sent Cuomo back to the drawing board: "[The song he wrote] sounds like it's about a little girl and I'm 70 years old, so Rivers is re-writing the lyrics."

Monkees fans will be happy to learn the group is hitting the road. Check out the dates below.

In addition, the Monkees are releasing a Blu-Ray box set of their complete television series. It's out April 29 for $199.98.

The Monkees 2016 Tour Dates:
May 18 – Fort Meyers, FL @ Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
May 19 – Melbourne, FL @ King Center for the Performing Arts
May 20 – Tampa, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
May 21 – Atlanta, GA @ Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater
May 24 – Charlotte, NC @ Blumenthal PAC – Belk Theater
May 26 – Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre
May 27 – Boston, MA @ The Wilbur Theatre
May 28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Keswick Theatre
May 29 – Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Theatre
June 01 – New York, NY @ Town Hall
June 03 – Toronto, ON @ Casino Rama
June 04 – Windsor, ON @ The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
June 05 – Cleveland, OH @ Hard Rock Live Northfield Park
June 07 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Foellinger Theatre
June 10 – Louisville, KY @ Louisville Palace Theatre
June 12 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
June 14 – Dayton, OH @ Rose Music Center at The Heights
June 28 – Dallas, TX @ AT&T PAC – Winspear Opera House
June 30 – Tulsa, OK @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
July 01 – Mayetta, KS @ Prairie Band Casino & Resort
July 16 – Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
July 22 – Hot Springs, AR @ Oaklawn Racing and Gaming
Sept 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center
Sept 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Pantages Theatre
Sept 17 – Las Vegas, NV @ Primm Valley Casino Resorts
Sept 20 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
Sept 21 – Modesto, CA @ Gallo Center For The Arts
Sept 25 – Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre
Oct 01 – Biloxi, MS @ Hard Rock Live
Oct 22 – Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Oct 29 – Shippensburg, PA @ H. Ric Luhrs PAC

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