I loved to Monkee around with Pete
A Paisley guitarist paid warm tribute to Monkees star Peter Tork who died on Thursday.
Accomplished musician Frankie Hepburn, 57, who performed and travelled with the Monkees on a world tour in 1989, described Peter as a “part of an era of giants.”
Frankie, who hails from Glenburn, but now stays on the Ayrshire coast south of Girvan, said he was saddened by the loss of the Monkee famed for his trademark pudding bowl hairstyle.
He said: “You get to know someone better when you travel with them. I joined the Monkees on their world tour and got to know Peter and David Jones quite well.
“Peter was a very gifted musician. He was part of era of giants. He was a product of his time, when you look back at when the Monkees reached global fame and stardom.
“He was great fun and a really talented pianist.
“He played keyboards, bass and electric guitar skilfully but he couldn’t sing to save himself, even though he was always trying to sing, and others were trying to stop him.”
Frankie added the Monkees achieved worldwide fame despite being a “manufactured sound.”
He said: “I was sad when Davie died and now Peter too has gone. They achieved great things even though they were clearly a manufactured sound.
“But the Monkees were great performers and achieved popularity with many fans around the world.”
Peter died in Mansfield, Connecticut, US, on Thursday aged 77.
Frankie also recorded with Sinead O’Connor, Gary Numan and the late Steve Strange.
He still remains attached to music scene in Paisley and is involved in the rock and pop school run by promoter and Express columnist Tommy McGrory.
And music runs in the family, as Frankie’s son Jay performs with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.