<P> Dolenz described the Monkees as initially being "a TV show about an imaginary band...that wanted to be the Beatles that was never successful". Ironically, the actor - musicians became one of the most successful bands of the 1960s . The Monkees have sold more than 75 million records worldwide making them one of the biggest selling groups of all time with international hits, including "Last Train to Clarksville", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "Daydream Believer", and "I'm a Believer". Newspapers and magazines reported that the Monkees outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones combined in 1967, but Nesmith claims in his autobiography Infinite Tuesday that it was a lie that he told an Australian reporter . </P> <P> Aspiring filmmaker Bob Rafelson developed the initial idea for The Monkees in 1962, but was unsuccessful in selling the series . He had tried selling it to Revue, the television division of Universal Pictures . In May 1964, while working at Screen Gems, Rafelson teamed up with Bert Schneider, whose father, Abraham Schneider, headed the Colpix Records and Screen Gems Television units of Columbia Pictures . Rafelson and Schneider ultimately formed Raybert Productions . </P> <P> The Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night inspired Rafelson and Schneider to revive Rafelson's idea for The Monkees . As "The Raybert Producers", they sold the show to Screen Gems Television on April 16, 1965 . Rafelson and Schneider's original idea was to cast an existing New York folk rock group, the Lovin' Spoonful, who were not widely known at the time . However, John Sebastian had already signed the band to a record contract, which would have denied Screen Gems the right to market music from the show . </P> <P> On July 14, 1965, The Hollywood Reporter stated that future band member Davy Jones was expected to return to the United States in September 1965 after a trip to England "to prepare for (a) TV pilot for Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson". Jones had previously starred as the Artful Dodger in the Broadway theatre show Oliver!, which debuted on December 17, 1962, and his performance was later seen on The Ed Sullivan Show the same night as the Beatles' first appearance on that show, February 9, 1964 . He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 1963 . In September 1964 he was signed to a long - term contract to appear in TV programs for Screen Gems, make feature films for Columbia Pictures and to record music for the Colpix label . Rafelson and Schneider already had him in mind for their project after their plans for the Lovin' Spoonful fell through; when they chose him, he was essentially a proto - star looking for his lucky break . </P>

Who came first the monkees or the beatles