Few artists in pop music history have enjoyed a career as varied, enduring, and surprisingly introspective as Micky Dolenz. Best known for his role as the dynamic lead vocalist and drummer of The Monkees, Dolenz has spent over six decades performing, recording, and reinterpreting the music that made him an icon. Two songs that bookend very different phases of his musical journey—“(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” and “That Was Then, This Is Now”—offer compelling insights into how Dolenz evolved both as a performer and as a storyteller.
Originally released by The Monkees in 1966, “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” became one of the group’s earliest and most enduring hits. Though it was never a chart-topping single like “I’m a Believer” or “Last Train to Clarksville”, it quickly gained recognition for its gritty attitude and more aggressive tone. Written by the songwriting duo Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, the track was first recorded by Paul Revere & the Raiders, but it was Dolenz’s electrifying vocal delivery that ultimately turned it into a staple of The Monkees’ live shows and a fan favorite for generations.
What makes “Steppin’ Stone” particularly notable in Dolenz’s repertoire is the edge it carries—something that stood out in stark contrast to the more polished and romantic songs of the era. Dolenz’s voice, with its raw urgency and clarity, captured the frustration and defiance at the heart of the song. For a group often associated with bubblegum pop and television-friendly antics, this track added texture and toughness. It suggested that The Monkees, and Dolenz in particular, had more musical muscle than critics were initially willing to admit.
Fast forward two decades, and Dolenz—alongside fellow Monkee Peter Tork—found himself back in the spotlight with the 1986 comeback single “That Was Then, This Is Now.” Released as part of The Monkees’ 20th Anniversary reunion and featured on the compilation album “Then & Now… The Best of The Monkees,” the track served as both a nostalgic nod and a declaration of reinvention. It wasn’t just a comeback single—it was a statement.
“That Was Then, This Is Now” has a different energy altogether from “Steppin’ Stone.” Co-written by Vance Brescia, the song blends shimmering 1980s pop-rock production with lyrics that touch on personal growth and changing perspectives. It was the right song at the right time, reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, and introducing The Monkees to a new generation during the height of the 1980s nostalgia boom.
Here, Dolenz’s vocal performance is more polished, more controlled, yet still unmistakably him. His voice, matured and seasoned by years in and out of the spotlight, gives the song a grounded emotionality. There’s a reflective undercurrent in the delivery—perhaps a subtle awareness that time has passed, but that musical relevance and personal authenticity remain within reach.
Together, “Steppin’ Stone” and “That Was Then, This Is Now” form a fascinating musical dialogue. One is about refusing to be used, a defiant declaration of independence from manipulation; the other is about acknowledging change and choosing to move forward. In both, Dolenz proves not just his vocal range, but his ability to channel the emotion of an era while transcending it.
In revisiting these two songs—whether live on stage, in compilation reissues, or as part of his recent projects—Micky Dolenz demonstrates a rare continuity. He remains deeply connected to the spirit of his earlier work while gracefully embracing the perspective that comes with age and experience. For longtime fans and thoughtful listeners alike, these songs are not just relics of pop history—they are windows into an artist’s evolving soul.