Three members of the Monkees - the 60s made-for-TV pop quartet - will reunite next year for their first tour in more than four years.

Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork will begin their 15-city tour of the US - called Monkee Mania Returns 2001 - in March.

They also hope to extend the tour around the world, producer David Fishof said.

After chart success both in the US and UK with top 10 hits such as I'm a Believer and Daydream Believer, the Monkees split up in 1969.

They have reunited several times during the past 15 years, despite acrimonious relationships.

The original quartet, including Mike Nesmith, last got together in 1996 to record a new album, Justus, and for a short tour. But Nesmith eventually dropped out.

Fishof, who produced the group's successful reunion tours in 1986 and 1987, said: "I went back with it because I really feel there's a market for them. The time's right."

Hits

He said a recent cable TV special on the group had refuelled interest and even pushed sales of their most recent Greatest Hits album to more than 500,000 copies.

The Monkees were hired in 1966 by a US businessman for a comedy/music TV series and were an instant hit worldwide.

Last Train to Clarksville, Daydream Believer and I'm A Believer all went to number one in the US and the latter hit the top of the charts in Britain in January 1967.

The TV series finished in 1968 as the group strove for musical independence.

But shortly after making the poorly received feature film Head, starring Frank Zappa and Victor Mature, the group fell apart at the end of 1969.