Michael Nesmith of The Monkees Dies At Age 78 - Noise11.com
Mike Nesmith

Mike Nesmith

Michael Nesmith of The Monkees Dies At Age 78

by Paul Cashmere on December 11, 2021

in News

Michael Nesmith, one of The Monkees, has died at the age of 78, his family have announced.

Michael had heart issues and in 2018 had to cancel the last four Monkees shows while he underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery which kept him in hospital for one month.

In a statement the Nesmith family announced, “With infinite love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time and we thank you for the love and light that all of you have shown him and us.”

Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Mickey Dolenz formed as The Monkees for a US television show to take advantage of the popularity of The Beatles. The sitcom ran from 1966 to 1968 with the four Monkees relegated to acting in the early days with studio musicians and writers creating all of the songs.

However the four members, all actually competent musicians, took over the production of the music by their third album ‘Headquarters’ which actually featured them playing the instruments.

Michael Nesmith was an accomplished songwriter. One of his early songs ‘Different Drum’ became the first hit for Linda Ronstadt.

Michael’s 1977 hit ‘Rio’ was a number one hit in Australia.

After the break-up of The Monkees, he had a global hit with his country flavoured song ‘Joanne’.

Mickey Dolenz, now the sole surviving Monkee, said,

“I’m heartbroken. I’ve lost a dear friend and partner. I’m so grateful that we could spend the last couple of months together doing what we loved best – singing, laughing, and doing shtick. I’ll miss it all so much. Especially the shtick. Rest in peace, Nez. All my love, Micky”

Paul Stanley said in a statement,

“WOW! Sometimes it’s hard to know why someone’s passing hits you a certain way but this is another one that hit me. I watch my world change as people that I thought to be timeless pass on, and that is sobering. Lives end and life goes on. RIP Mike Nesmith”.

Michael Nesmith was a video pioneer. Nesmith created the television show ‘Popclips’ for Nickelodeon back in 1980. It eventually made its way to MTV. In 1992 he won a Grammy Award for Best long form music video for his one hour ‘Elephant Parts’. That evolved to the television show ‘Elephant Parts’ where unknowns like Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno and Whoopi Goldberg got their first break.

Michael Nesmith died at his home in Carmel Valley, California. His family said he died “peacefully and of natural causes”.

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Guitarist Stuart Fraser of Noiseworks performs as part of the Red Hot Summer tour in Mornington at the Mornington Racecourse on 23 January 2016. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Rolling Thunder Vietnam Tour Is Dedicated To Stuart Fraser

The latest instalment of the Rolling Thunder Vietnam tour is being dedicated to Noiseworks/John Farnham guitarist Stuart ‘Chet’ Fraser.

7 hours ago
Beyonce photo by Ros OGorman
Beyonce Honors Tina Turner At Concert

Beyoncé paid homage to late singer Tina Turner by performing River Deep, Mountain High during her concert in London on Monday.

3 days ago
Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets
Nick Mason On His Strange Days With Syd Barrett In Pink Floyd

In the early days of Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett was the group’s main songwriter and lead singer. The debut Floyd album ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ (1967) was mainly a Barrett creation. But Syd deteriorated with mental health issues and when the second album ‘A Saucerful of Secrets’ (1968) started Syd transitioned out of the band and David Gilmour came in.

3 days ago
Joy McKean photo by John Elliott supplied by EMI Records
Australian Country Music Legend Joy McKean Dies Aged 93

Australian country music legend Joy McKean has passed away at age 93.

May 26, 2023
Tina Turner Private Dancer
Tina Turner’s Australian Connection

Tina Turner had very strong ties with Australia with thanks to the man who became her manager Roger Davies.

May 25, 2023
Tina Turner and Mick Jagger
20 of Tina Turner’s Best Duets

Many an artist considered Tina Turner was simply the best and they lined up to work with her.

May 25, 2023
Janis Joplin and Tina Turner
Tina Turner Was A Favourite of Janis Joplin

In 1969, Janis Joplin appeared on the Dick Cavett Show in the USA and when asked who she listened to she responded “Tina Turner”.

May 25, 2023