Michael Nesmith, 'the Quiet Monkee' Is Dead at 78

[Betty P]

Michael Nesmith, the ‘Quiet Monkee,’ Is Dead at 78

"Michael Nesmith, who rocketed to fame as the contemplative, wool-cap-wearing member of the Monkees in 1966, then went on to a diverse career that included making one of the rock era’s earliest music videos and winning the first Grammy Award for video, died on Friday at his home in Carmel Valley, Calif. He was 78.

"Jason Elzy, the head of public relations for Rhino Records, the label that represents the Monkees, said the cause was heart failure."
​

RIP, Mike. He was a very talented man. So sorry to hear this news. Sympathies to his family and friends, especially to his former bandmate and surviving Monkee, Micky Dolenz.

Michael Nesmith Dead: Monkees Singer-Guitarist Was 78 - Variety

 

[Catmommy]

"Her name was Joanne
And she lived in a meadow by a pond" <singing>

Godspeed, Michael, godspeed

 

[MsMarple]

Michael Nesmith, the ‘Quiet Monkee,’ Is Dead at 78

"Michael Nesmith, who rocketed to fame as the contemplative, wool-cap-wearing member of the Monkees in 1966, then went on to a diverse career that included making one of the rock era’s earliest music videos and winning the first Grammy Award for video, died on Friday at his home in Carmel Valley, Calif. He was 78.

"Jason Elzy, the head of public relations for Rhino Records, the label that represents the Monkees, said the cause was heart failure."
​

RIP, Mike. He was a very talented man. So sorry to hear this news. Sympathies to his family and friends, especially to his former bandmate and surviving Monkee, Micky Dolenz.

Michael Nesmith Dead: Monkees Singer-Guitarist Was 78 - Variety

RIP Mike

One of the advantages of getting old is that childhood memories remain crystal clear even as we forget what we had for breakfast. I saw the Monkees at Olympia Stadium in Detroit in 1967. The first show in July was cancelled due to the Detroit Riots but to our joy they returned a month later. I still have some black and white photos from the concert tucked away.

Unfortunately Jimi Hendrix, who had been opening for them dropped out of the tour just before the Detroit show. I did get to see Hendrix later but wow, that would have been quite an evening!
Clipping from The Detroit Free Press:
https://www.monkeeslivealmanac.com/uploads/7/8/9/5/7895731/monkeesdetroitclipping67.jpg

 

[anonypotomous]

RIP Mike

One of the advantages of getting old is that childhood memories remain crystal clear even as we forget what we had for breakfast. I saw the Monkees at Olympia Stadium in Detroit in 1967. The first show in July was cancelled due to the Detroit Riots but to our joy they returned a month later. I still have some black and white photos from the concert tucked away.

Unfortunately Jimi Hendrix, who had been opening for them dropped out of the tour just before the Detroit show. I did get to see Hendrix later but wow, that would have been quite an evening!
Clipping from The Detroit Free Press:
https://www.monkeeslivealmanac.com/uploads/7/8/9/5/7895731/monkeesdetroitclipping67.jpg

Oh what wonderful memories!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michael Nesmith, Monkees singer-songwriter, dies at 78 (nbcnews.com)

The Monkees exploded in popularity in the 1960s with hits such as "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" and "Valleri."

Monkees singer and guitarist Michael Nesmith, whose band exploded in popularity in the 1960s, has died, his manager said Friday.

He died at his home in Carmel Valley, Calif. Nesmith was 78.

"It is with deep sadness that I mark the passing of Michael Nesmith. We shared many travels and projects together over the course of 30 years, which culminated in a Monkees farewell tour that wrapped up only a few weeks ago," Andrew Sandoval said on Twitter...

 

[Betty P]

RIP Mike

One of the advantages of getting old is that childhood memories remain crystal clear even as we forget what we had for breakfast. I saw the Monkees at Olympia Stadium in Detroit in 1967. The first show in July was cancelled due to the Detroit Riots but to our joy they returned a month later. I still have some black and white photos from the concert tucked away.

Unfortunately Jimi Hendrix, who had been opening for them dropped out of the tour just before the Detroit show. I did get to see Hendrix later but wow, that would have been quite an evening!
Clipping from The Detroit Free Press:
https://www.monkeeslivealmanac.com/uploads/7/8/9/5/7895731/monkeesdetroitclipping67.jpg

Oh, wow! Lucky you! I wanted to see them in concert back then, but parents said my sister and I were too young. They didn't feel like driving us there. Same with the Beatles in 1966.

You must have had a great time at the concert, sorry you missed seeing Hendrix. He came to St. Louis as a solo act around 67 or 68. His career took off quickly. Fun times, great memories.

 

[MsMarple]

Oh, wow! Lucky you! I wanted to see them in concert back then, but parents said my sister and I were too young. They didn't feel like driving us there. Same with the Beatles in 1966.

You must have had a great time at the concert, sorry you missed seeing Hendrix. He came to St. Louis as a solo act around 67 or 68. His career took off quickly. Fun times, great memories.

I was lucky - I was 12 or so and my mom was the only parent willing to drive us 40 miles to all the Detroit concerts. Back then parents had waiting areas to hang out while we were in the auditorium, busy screaming ourselves hoarse, lol!

Double lucky actually as SE Michigan was a hotbed of concerts and clubs and garage bands. It was an era of music large and small. I have a folder of all the adverts for Olympia, Cobo Hall and the Grande Ballroom and more.

Anyway, I had respect for Nesmith and Tork, musically speaking. And if any of y'all ever saw their movie Head you'd know that they, along with Davey Jones and Micky Dolenz had a sense of humor - enough to poke fun at themselves.

Michael Nesmith continued his career beyond the Monkees and went on to produce quality film and television projects and had a hand in the early days of the then new genre of country rock. IIRC he also helped produce albums for other musicians and wrote original songs. He even appeared in an episode of Portlandia, lol!

Farewell to a talented, kind fellow musician and all around nice guy.

 

[Friday Fan]

RIP Mike

One of the advantages of getting old is that childhood memories remain crystal clear even as we forget what we had for breakfast. I saw the Monkees at Olympia Stadium in Detroit in 1967. The first show in July was cancelled due to the Detroit Riots but to our joy they returned a month later. I still have some black and white photos from the concert tucked away.

Unfortunately Jimi Hendrix, who had been opening for them dropped out of the tour just before the Detroit show. I did get to see Hendrix later but wow, that would have been quite an evening!
Clipping from The Detroit Free Press:
https://www.monkeeslivealmanac.com/uploads/7/8/9/5/7895731/monkeesdetroitclipping67.jpg

I read about Jimi Hendrix in 16 and Tiger Beat.
I wanted to see the Monkees so bad, but mom my said, "No".

If I would have been in the audience and saw Jimi, I would have freaked out.

I would not have thought of the "making history" aspect of the whole thing...

I was 10...LOL

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

i

RIP Mike

One of the advantages of getting old is that childhood memories remain crystal clear even as we forget what we had for breakfast. I saw the Monkees at Olympia Stadium in Detroit in 1967. The first show in July was cancelled due to the Detroit Riots but to our joy they returned a month later. I still have some black and white photos from the concert tucked away.

Unfortunately Jimi Hendrix, who had been opening for them dropped out of the tour just before the Detroit show. I did get to see Hendrix later but wow, that would have been quite an evening!
Clipping from The Detroit Free Press:
https://www.monkeeslivealmanac.com/uploads/7/8/9/5/7895731/monkeesdetroitclipping67.jpg

Didn't see the Monkees, but I saw the Beatles at Olympia in 1964. Met DH during the summer of 1967 when we both worked for Detroit Parks & Rec.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

The Monkees - Opening Theme (H.Q) - YouTube

 

[La Louve]

RIP Mike Nesmith. :rose:

In 1967 my family moved from San Diego to Costa Mesa, in Orange County, CA. My 9th grade friends were all jealous because I was going to be living 80 miles closer to the Monkees. Lol

Until the Monkees came along most of us had to be satisfied with hearing the Beatles and the Beach Boys on the radio and seeing them occasionally on variety shows like Ed Sullivan's. Part of the Monkees huge popularity was directly attributable to their weekly TV show, making them much more accessible to us squealing pubescent girls.

I hope I never forget those days and those feelings.

 

[Betty P]

RIP Mike Nesmith. :rose:

In 1967 my family moved from San Diego to Costa Mesa, in Orange County, CA. My 9th grade friends were all jealous because I was going to be living 80 miles closer to the Monkees. Lol

Until the Monkees came along most of us had to be satisfied with hearing the Beatles and the Beach Boys on the radio and seeing them occasionally on variety shows like Ed Sullivan's. Part of the Monkees huge popularity was directly attributable to their weekly TV show, making them much more accessible to us squealing pubescent girls.

I hope I never forget those days and those feelings.

Fun times. I remember writing an essay in 7th grade about how I planned to spend my summer hitchhiking to the west coast and hanging out with the Monkees. By the 8th grade, the story had changed to living in Laurel Canyon and hanging out with Jim Morrison and the Doors. I'm sooo glad I never made that hitchhiking trip!

I definitely would have envied any of my friends who moved to anywhere within 100 miles of them.