Why Micky Dolenz Dumped Ice On Their Supervisor

Micky Dolenz, a member of The Monkees, revealed that the band had a habit of improvising during their TV appearances. One day, while recording in the studio, Dolenz playfully dumped a cup of ice on Don Kirshner, who was the band’s music supervisor. Kirshner then conveyed to Dolenz that he expected to be treated with respect.

He explained that Donnie Kirshner, who oversaw Screen Gems Columbia Music in New York’s renowned Brill Building, had some influence on the selection of The Monkees tunes. He said:

“He was the Brill Building during that period, along with those incredible writers like Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Neil Diamond, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, David Gates, Paul Williams, Diane Hildebrand, etc. We were surrounded by the best of the best. Donnie would come out to the studio once in a while.
“I didn’t really know who he was. I didn’t pay too much attention to the suits, as we called them.”

He continued:

“There was this one recording session when I was drinking a Coca-Cola, and it was down to a cup of ice. Donnie made some comment that I thought was silly. So I dumped the cup of ice on his head as a riff. It’s now become an urban myth.”

Inside The Monkees’ TV Show

Dolenz claimed that Kirshner then instructed him to treat him with respect. The Monkee said that because the band members were permitted to improvise while they were filming their show, the event took place. He claimed he couldn’t leave the stage and suddenly stop being humorous.

Many of the band’s spontaneous moments, according to Dolenz, were included in the show’s final version. He believes that contributed to The Monkees’ allure. He compared the intensity of the band’s improvisation to nuclear fusion. Dolenz believed that authority ought to be restrained.

The Monkees’ relationship with Kirshner was covered in Bobby Hart’s 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem into Miracles. Bobby Hart co-wrote several Monkees songs, including “Last Train to Clarksville,” “Valleri,” and “I Wanna Be Free.” He remembered how Bert Schneider, the band’s co-founder, concurred with the Prefab Four’s need for more creative authority over their songs. He argued that The Monkees ought to be permitted to create their own B-sides.

Kirshner then released “A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You” in its place. Neil Diamond, not one of The Monkees, is credited as the song’s author. As a result of this choice, Kirshner was fired as the band’s manager.

Kirshner didn’t stay with The Monkees for very long, but he and Dolenz shared a special experience.