Michael Nesmith, Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist of The Monkees, Dies at 78

Hollywoodreporter.com ^ | 12/10/2021 | CHRIS KOSELUK

[massmike]

Michael Nesmith, the guitar-playing singer-songwriter with the wool hat who along with Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz became a TV star and 1960s pop sensation as a member of The Monkees, has died. He was 78.

Nesmith died Friday of natural causes, his family told Rolling Stone.

[Seruzawa]

More importantly Mike helped give us RepoMan.

[hardspunned]

In 1967 the Monkees outsold the Beatles and Stones combined.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

RIP.

Enjoy Rio, Mike.

https://youtu.be/WnpcTsy10dE

[Tallguy]

... and Stephen Stills (who flunked the audition).

[high info voter]

Awesome funny group of happy kids!

[higgmeister]

Rest in Peace Mike!

[cotton1706]

He also wrote Different Drum.

Rest in Peace, Mike.

[sevinufnine]

My dear husband, God rest him, was an excellent guitarist. Favored the typical Van Halen, Dokken, Rush, and could play them all like the dickens. But, some reason he always just loved the Monkeys! KC and the Sunshine Band too. Said they were just so catchy and “happy music”. :) They did have some good tunes and at one point Monkeys were drawing in larger crowds than the Beatles.

[Major Matt Mason]

Saw a recent video of what was billed as the Monkees final concert. Mickey Dolenze still seemed pretty spry, but Nesmith was shuffling around the stage like an unwell man. RIP.

[scott7278]

I’m bummed. I saw that The Monkees were playing near me about a month ago on their farewell tour, but it was scheduled for a few hours later that night and I was tired from work.

I knew there probably wouldn’t be a “next time” if it was truly a farewell tour, but still.

Sometimes, there is no “next time.”

[justme4now]

A great tune by Nesmith.
(Solo)

I chose his doing the song live, at an older age .. just because! Lol

Joanne

https://youtu.be/9ZiHjmE-5BI

[dhs12345]

Very talented.

He wrote this song! Stone Poneys (Linda Ronstadt) - Different Drum - 1967

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO5lq9n6C98

[ealgeone]

Having a tv show on Saturday didn’t hurt.

[Mr. Blond]

My favorite Monkee. Papa Jean’s Blues is probably my favorite Monkees song. Dolenz was in the Hollywood Vampires drinking club, but somehow outlived them all.

[skeeter]

Good thing, too. They just would’ve been the same with that self important gasbag as a member.

[Nea Wood]

Stills flunked the audition, but they asked him if he knew anyone who looked similar to him, but had better teeth! Stills was friends with Peter Tork, told Peter to audition, and the rest is history.

[sushiman]

Lovd Julie Newmar as Catwoman on the Batman show !

[AmericanMermaid]

Tapioca Tundra was an awesome song! The Monkees deserved to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, though they were constantly snubbed, and unfairly so. Mike Nesmith was an amazing talent.

[DannyTN]

Here we come, walkin’
down the street.
we get the funniest looks from
ev’ry one we meet.

hey, hey, we’re the monkees
and people say we monkey around.
but we’re too busy singing
to put anybody down.

We go wherever we want to,
do what we like to do
we don’t have time to get restless,
there’s always something new.

hey, hey, we’re the monkees
and people say we monkey around.
but we’re too busy singing
to put anybody down.

We’re just tryin’ to be friendly,
come and watch us sing and play,
we’re the young gneration,
and we’ve got something to say.

Any time, or anywhere,
just look over your shoulder
guess who’ll be standing there

Hey, hey, we’re the monkees
and people say we monkey around.
but we’re too busy singing
to put anybody down.

(break)

Hey, hey, we’re the monkees
and people say we monkey around.
but we’re too busy singing
to put anybody down.
We’re just tryin’ to be friendly,
come and watch us sing and play,
we’re the young gneration,
and we’ve got something to say.

Hey, hey, we’re the monkees
hey, hey, we’re the monkees

Extra verse:
Hey, hey, we’re the monkees,
you never know where we’ll be found.
so you’d better get ready,
we may be comin’ to your town.

[Dr. Sivana]

Tapioca Tundra was an awesome song! The Monkees deserved to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, though they were constantly snubbed, and unfairly so.

I remember reading an interview with Del Shannon in the late '60s, when he wasn't able to chart anymore, asking about the Monkees, and the attacks on them even at the time.

Del, who always wrote most of his material, always sang, played guitar, and worked up from dive clubs in Michigan, before being signed to Big Top Records and cut Runaway with his keyboardist Max Crook, had NO animus against them, and thought they were just fine and could in fact play. That's DESPITE the fact that they buried "She" that was released by Del first, by releasing their own version, that got all the airplay.