Michael Nesmith, Monkees Singer-Songwriter, Dead at 78

Monkees singer and guitarist Michael Nesmith, a pop visionary who penned many of the group’s most enduring songs before laying the groundwork for country-rock with the First National Band in the early Seventies, died Friday from natural causes. He was 78.

That reminds me. I was watching a rerun recently, and Micky and Mike were in a haunted house or something. They were looking for Davy and couldn’t find him. Micky said, “Maybe we can be a trio.” Then they went into another room where Peter was supposed to be, and Peter was gone. Micky got hysterical and told Mike, “If you disappear, I’ll be the last one left, and I’ll be singing, ‘Hey, hey, I’m the Monkee.’” It’s kind of eerie that that scene predicted the exact order the Monkees would die— Davy first, then Peter, then Mike, and Micky the last one left.

Whited out of this mortal veil....

OK, I get the White-out reference, but why “veil” instead of “coil” ??

Good question. I’m not sure.

I think I conflated mortal coil and vale of tears.

Never understood why “elephant Parts” was one of the first projects to promote the music video format and the first one dumped. After a while none of the vids from it would ever show on MTV. My guess was that it shamed later video makers as to how creative they could or should be.

“I wonder if Mickey will keep the tour going and call it the Monkee.“

Lol! Davy actually joked about that after Peter and Mike had quit the group.

Micky actually does have a few shows scheduled for next year.
(I’m one of his drummers..).

“I lived through the “Monkee” era. I knew their songs and watched their TV show. Yet, I can’t name a single song of theirs that was written by Mike Nesmith (or any of the other Monkees).“

Mike wrote: Papa Gene’s Blues, Sweet Young Thing, You Told Me, Mary Mary, You Just May Be The One, Daily Nightly, Sunny Girlfriend and quite a few more on their later records.

Micky wrote - “Randy Scouse Git”; Peter wrote - “For Pete’s Sake” (the song we heard during the end credits)

They all started playing instruments after their 2nd album; the popularity of the show required them to go on tour so they HAD to learn how to be a band. They were all guitar players so Micky had to learn how to play drums also. Peter was probably the most well-rounded musician but was relegated to play the bass. Davy - Maracas and tambourine.

After the tv show ended, they still put out albums for a few years. Each Monkee wrote or chose his own song and often produced the sessions.

They were actually quite talented; they just weren’t allowed to use it much in the beginning. All Columbia/Screen Gems wanted was pretty faces and voices.

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