They became good musicians by the end, but did any of them know how to play when this video was made?
Mike Nesmith was able to play, and he wrote “Tapioca Tundra” before there were Monkees.
Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork were talented musicians who absolutely could plan, but control freak Don Kirshner who oversaw their music would not allow them to. Finally he relented and gave Nesmith a couple of tracks on each LP.
Also note that Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Del Shannon was asked about them in a late ‘60s interview, and he had nothing but good to say about them, despite the fact that they buried one of his single releases (”She”) when they released the same song. They were both on the same label (Liberty) at the time. In the same interview he was asked about the Beatles, and he said “they have it for as long as they want it”. He was correct.
I did always wonder who backed up Davy Jones when he performed at Marsha Brady’s school dance, the Jefferson High Band?
Davy Jones was a singer who sang on stage,Peter was a piano player who took up the bass,Mickey was a guitar player who took up the drums and Mike was and stayed a guitar player.
“They became good musicians by the end, but did any of them know how to play when this video was made?“
Yes. They (the four of them + Chip Douglas) played and sang everything on the “Headquarters” album prior to this.
Of course, Pleasant Valley Sunday utilizes’Wrecking Crew’ musicians who also played played on a LOT of American made top hits of the time.