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

The Beatles Australasian Tour 1964
New Beatles Book Marks 60 Years Since The Australian Tour

A new book on The Beatles by Andy Neill and Greg Armstrong is focused on The Beatles one and only ever Australian tour from back in 1964.

7 hours ago
The Who Roger Daltrey. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Roger Daltrey Closes Princes Trust 2024 Event With Plant, Vedder, Weller

Closing a week of incredible shows last night was Ovation - A Celebration of 24 Years of gigs for Teenage Cancer Trust, a show featuring Roger Daltrey’s friends and fans, many of those who helped establish these gigs as a celebrated annual event: Roger himself, alongside Kelly Jones, Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Eddie Vedder and Paul Weller.

3 days ago
Deep Purple: Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Deep Purple Reveal UK Dates For End of 2024

Deep Purple are hitting the road this November.

March 20, 2024
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, The Who. photo by Ros O'Gorman
Roger Daltrey To Do Most Acoustic Tour of UK

Roger Daltrey has announced a "mostly acoustic" solo tour this summer.

March 20, 2024
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Todd Rundgren, Rickie Lee Jones To Play Crosby, Stills & Nash Tribute Show In New York

A tribute show to Crosby, Stills & Nash is planned for May with Todd Rundgren and Rickie Lee Jones just two of the star lined up to perform.

March 18, 2024
Smokey Robinson, Noise11, Photo
Smokey Robinson Could Be In For Glastonbury

Smokey Robinson is being lined up for his first Glastonbury headline slot.

March 14, 2024
The Doors Alive
The Doors Alive To Return To Australia In October

Since 2008 The Doors Alive have been performing the music of The Doors with around 200 performances in 20 countries over that time.

March 12, 2024