R.I.P. Michael Nesmith

The guitarist in the rock group the Monkees, Michael Nesmith (78), is dead. This is stated by his family in a statement, writes Rolling Stone Magazine.

«With eternal love, we announce that Michael Nesmith passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peaceful and for natural reasons», the statement said.

The Monkees are best known for the songs I’m a Believer, Last Train To Clarksville and Daydream Believer, which ravaged the US charts in the late 60’s. The band also appeared in a TV series of the same name.

Nesmith worked as a solo artist for a long time after the band broke up in 1970, and has also produced several films and TV series. However, the band members have reunited several times from 2010 until today to hold concerts.

Robert Michael Nesmith (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was a musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series The Monkees (1966–1968). Nesmith’s songwriting credits include Different Drum (sung by Linda Ronstadt with the Stone Poneys).

After the break-up of the Monkees, Nesmith continued his successful songwriting and performing career, first with the seminal country rock group the First National Band, with whom he had a top-40 hit, “Joanne”, and then as a solo artist. He played a 12-string guitar, performing on a custom-built Gretsch electric during his time with the Monkees and various 12-string acoustic models during his post-Monkees career.

He was also an executive producer of the cult film Repo Man (1984). In 1981, Nesmith won the first Grammy Award given for Video of the Year for his hour-long television show, Elephant Parts.