Michael Nesmith “passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes,” his family told Rolling Stone in a statement. He died just 20 days before his 79th birthday.
In 1963, the guitarist and singer began his recording career. However, three years later, he earned his greatest success with the made for TV band The Monkees that actually became a real one. One that continued touring on and off again up until last month. He and the now last surviving member Micky Dolenz played their planned final show in LA.
Nesmith led The Monkees to fight the producers so that they could create their own music and be considered a real band and not a fake one. It worked, but it was also the downfall for the show that had turned them into International stars overnight. They became almost as popular as another band at the time called The Beatles. The latter band were fans of the group’s music.
After the band parted ways in 1970, he went on to create his own music. He also dabbled as a film and TV producer with hits like Repo Man and PpoClips. The latter earned him a Grammy.
Today, let’s remember him by singing our favorite Monkees song. We all have one.
