Michael Nesmith, singer/guitarist for the famously famous 60s group The Monkees, has died.
His family said, "With infinite Love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully of natural causes."
Nesmith was part of the quartet that was manufactured for a TV show about a rock 'n roll group ... and the group exploded with hit after hit ... at one point even rivaling The Beatles.
Among the hits ... "Last Train to Clarksville," "Daydream Believer," "I'm a Believer," "Valerie," and many more.
Damn, and now MIckey is the only one left. They were before my time, but Nickelodeon introduced me to The Monkees in the 80's and they instantly became one of my favorite bands... in a decade whose music I already loved.
lb13
Re: RIP Michael Nesmith
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2021 6:35 pm
by Vandal
Thankfully, all of the New Monkees are still us:
Re: RIP Michael Nesmith
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2021 9:29 pm
by a1mamacat
Well damn!
I was just a tad too young to be excited by the Beatles, so the Monkees was my group.
Re: RIP Michael Nesmith
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2021 10:51 pm
by silverscreenselect
I read recently that "Last Train to Clarksville" was a Vietnam War protest song. (The singer is going off to the war and doesn't know if he's ever coming home.) I never knew that and considering the Monkees squeaky clean apolitical image, I was very surprised.
I did think that the Monkees TV show was one of the dumbest comedies in a decade filled with dumb comedies (I was in junior high school at the time). But their music was catchy.
The Monkees TV show was must-see for the kids I hung out with. The best part was the fast-forward anything-goes sequence near the end of the show where everything turns into chaos and then gets tied up.
My favorite Monkees song was Take a Giant Step, B side to Last Train to Clarksville. I thought it should have been the hit. Oh well.
The Monkees TV show was must-see for the kids I hung out with. The best part was the fast-forward anything-goes sequence near the end of the show where everything turns into chaos and then gets tied up.
My favorite Monkees song was Take a Giant Step, B side to Last Train to Clarksville. I thought it should have been the hit. Oh well.
Speaking of B-sides, here is a rarity I discovered a couple of years ago, released as a bonus track on a deluxe reissue of "Headquarters". The version of this song that was released commercially wound up as the B-side of "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You", with Micky singing lead. The version below has Mike singing lead. He had every right to, as he WROTE the song. Micky did a fine job, don't get me wrong, but Mike's vocal seems to fit the song even better, imo.
Re: RIP Michael Nesmith
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2021 9:20 pm
by frogman042
Mike Nesmith also wrote the hit Linda Ronstadt/Stone Poneys song 'Different Drum' and Jack Nicholson was the screenwriter for the Monkess film - Head.
