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TL;DR:

  • Micky Dolenz always played “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” and “I’m a Believer” at his concerts.
  • Dolenz discussed the way Monkees fans reacted to both of the songs.
  • He said the decision to always play the song “a long, long time ago.”
The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork near the water
The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Micky Dolenz felt The Monkees‘ “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” was an integral part of every Prefab Four concert. He subsequently discussed the fan reaction to the track. Notably, the tune was a hit in the United States but not the United Kingdom.

Micky Dolenz said The Monkees’ ‘(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone’ is part of his ‘bottom line’

During a 2020 interview with Goldmine, Dolenz discussed his time with The Monkees. “Come to think of it, I sang the majority of album cuts, too,” he said. “And Mike [Nesmith] wrote some great songs. He’d sing some of ’em for The Monkees.

Dolenz discussed one of his tours. “Truthfully, the bottom line is that people who would buy a ticket for The Mike & Micky Show come to see me sing ‘I’m a Believer.’ And ‘(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone.'”

The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz revealed why he made the decision to play the song over and over

Dolenz discussed why he always plays “I’m a Believer” and “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone.” “So once they know they’re gonna get that, they come,” he said. “And I know that’s why they’re there, so I always give it to ’em. Every single show I do. I made that decision to do that a long, long time ago.

“I’ll never forget when I was living in England and working in London as a television producer/writer,” he added. “I had stopped singing completely. I wasn’t doing any performing whatsoever, be it comedy, recording or otherwise. In fact, people knew me by my real name of George Michael Dolenz, Jr., the television producer.”

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How ‘(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone’ performed on the pop charts in the United States and the United Kingdom

“(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” became a modest hit in the United States. The tune reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for eight weeks. The tune appeared on the album More of the Monkees. The album topped No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for 18 weeks, remaining on the chart for 96 weeks.

According to The Official Charts Company, “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” never charted in the United Kingdom. On the other hand, More of the Monkees reached No. 1 for two weeks and lasted on the chart for a total of 25 weeks.

“(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” was not one of the Fab Four’s biggest hits but Dolenz felt it was an integral part of any Monkees concert.

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