Michael Nesmith (1942-2021)

[johncorrigan]

Michael Nesmith, guitarist and bobble hat wearer in the Monkees has died aged 78. I loved the Monkees in my teens - the TV programme was a must-see Saturday night attraction for me and my pal. Afterwards we would try to re-enact some of their stunts...not very well, I should say.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/dec/10/mike-nesmith-singer-and-guitarist-with-the-monkees-dies-aged-78

I still love some of those old tunes. Thanks for the laughs, Mike. RIP.

[TBuckley]

Sad news indeed.

Stone Poneys - Different Drum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9qsDgA1q8Y

Mike Nesmith wrote this great song and generously conceded that Linda Rondstadt's performance gave the song
a depth which he could never have achieved.

[jayne lee wilson]

Was The Monkees on weekdays sometimes in the late 1960s? I remember watching it in the 17.25 slot after school......

I loved the show and the songs.....but the Nesmith track that is always with me "somewhere in the back of my mind" is "Rio...":

....for its slinky, suave melody, gently swaying latinate rhythms and the subtly funny lyrics, which seem so human in their insouciant uncertainty...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnpcTsy10dE

[duncan]

.....but the Nesmith track that is always with me "somewhere in the back of my mind" is "Rio...":

....for its slinky, suave melody, gently swaying latinate rhythms and the subtly funny lyrics, which seem so human in their insouciant uncertainty...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnpcTsy10dE

Beautifully put, it's a gem of a song. Nesmith had quite a hinterland didn't he?

[Katzelmacher]

Without a doubt the biggest talent in that prefabricated band (who made many excellent records).

Dolenz is now the sole Simian survivor.

[Bryn]

Fond memories of a group that went beyond its origins as a 'manufactured' band to become fine musical comedians.

[johncorrigan]

Always enjoyed this wee bit from 'The Monkees' when Zappa joined Mike for a spot of zany jocularity.

https://youtu.be/dLXVz5fms10

[richardfinegold]

I have a friend whose day job is cutting hair but his passion is his band (one is his band mates used to be a personal photographer for Paul McCartney, and he has a lot of cool backstage pictures of Macca and Linda in his shop). At some point he became acquainted with Nesmith and his band actually opened for the Monkees on a brief tour some time before Davy Jones demise. Nesmith apparently devoted a lot of his time to mentoring bands like this. My friend refers to him as “Nez” and I am sure is greatly saddened at present