The frontman of The Monkees turned 78 years old and died of natural causes.
Several media outlets reported the death Friday night, including Rolling Stone which also conveys a final greeting from the family.
“With infinite love, we must report that Michael Nesmith passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peaceful and for natural reasons. We ask for respect for our privacy right now, and we thank you for all the love and all the light you have shown him and us “, the statement says.
–Along with Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and The Monkees were among America’s most successful pop culture phenomena in the latter half of the 1960s. Songs such as “I’m a Believer”, “Last Train to Clarksville” and “Daydream Believer” are frequently played on radio around the world today, over 50 years after they were released.
As a frequently used songwriter for The Monkees, Michael Nesmith quickly became a leading figure in the quartet.
Much of The Monkees’ popularity is due to the impact that situational comedy of the same name had while the television medium was still in its infancy. «The Monkees» went on the air in 1966 and was taken off the poster two years later. By then, The Monkees were already well established as a band.
Still, there were strife in The Monkees camp early in his career. The producers of their records did not want the band to have as much influence on the recordings as the band themselves wanted, and finally – in 1970 – were both Peter Tork – who by the way was actually called Peter Halsten Thorkelson and had Norwegian ancestry – and Michael Nesmith out of the band, Nesmith to start the First National Band.
The Monkees had several reunions after they broke up for the first time. After Michael Nesmith is now dead, only Mickey Dolenz is left of the original The Monkees, as Peter Tork died in 2019 and Davy Jones already in 2012.
After the time with The Monkees, Michael Nesmith explored several aspects of the cultural industry he himself was a central part of, both in film, book and as a performer and producer of music.
Michael Nesmith was married three times and had four children.
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