Former Monkees member Micky Dolenz got a special treat during his first lobbying trip to Capitol Hill Wednesday: Members of Congress as his backup band.
Dolenz sang “I’m a Believer” and “Steppin’ Stone” with Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y, on guitar, Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., on keyboard and Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., on drums.
“I was very, very pleasantly surprised considering that they don’t have much time to ever rehearse or play,” Dolenz told Yeas & Nays.
Rooney told us he was nervous because Dolenz played drums for the Monkees.
“I was a little intimidated that he was going to be looking at me like I stunk or something,” he said.
Dolenz was advocating for passage of the Performance Rights Act. The act would give royalties to performing artists and record labels when their songs are played on the radio. Current law only gives royalties to the composers and their publishers.
