Michael Nesmith
Michael Nesmith | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Robert Michael Nesmith |
Also known as |
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Born | Houston, Texas, U.S. | December 30, 1942
Died | December 10, 2021 Carmel Valley, California, U.S. | (aged 78)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 1965–2021 |
Formerly of |
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Spouse(s) | Phyllis Ann Barbour
(m. 1964; div. 1972)Kathryn Bild
(m. 1976; div. 1988)Victoria Kennedy
(m. 2000; div. 2011) |
Robert Michael Nesmith (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of
After leaving the Monkees in 1969, Nesmith continued his successful songwriting and performing career, first with the seminal
In 1974, Nesmith founded
Early life
Nesmith was born in
Nesmith attended
Music career
After Nesmith's tour of duty in the Air Force, his mother and stepfather gave him a guitar for Christmas. Learning as he went, he played solo and in a series of working bands, performing
Barry Freedman told him about upcoming auditions for a new TV series called The Monkees. In October 1965, Nesmith's confident, carefree and laid-back manner impressed the producers and he landed the role as the wool hat-wearing guitar player "Mike" in the show, which required real-life musical talent for writing, instrument playing, singing, and performing in live concerts as part of the Monkees band.[11]
Nesmith's "
The Monkees
From 1965 to early 1970, Nesmith was a member of the television pop-rock band the Monkees, created for the television situation comedy of the same name. Nesmith won his role largely by appearing nonchalant when he auditioned.[8] He rode his motorcycle to the audition, and wore a wool hat to keep his hair out of his eyes; producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider remembered the "wool hat guy" and called Nesmith back.[citation needed]
Once he was cast, Screen Gems bought his songs so they could be used in the show. Many of the songs Nesmith wrote for the Monkees, such as "The Girl I Knew Somewhere", "Mary, Mary",[8] and "Listen to the Band" became minor hits. One song he wrote, "You Just May Be the One", is in mixed meter, interspersing 5/4 bars into an otherwise 4/4 structure.[citation needed]
Even before Colgems and Don Kirshner's surreptitious release of the Monkees 2nd LP, without the knowledge or consent of the four musician-actors, they came to be frustrated by their studio-manufactured "bubblegum" image. Within weeks of the release of More of the Monkees, Nesmith lobbied successfully with the group's creators, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, that the Monkees be allowed to play their instruments on future records. During a group meeting with Kirshner and Colgems lawyer Herb Moelis, in a suite at the
During the band's first independent press conference, Nesmith called their 2nd LP, More of the Monkees "probably the worst record in the history of the world", partly due to rushed, shoddy studio engineering. The band took a hit to its artistic credibility when fans learned the four had not played all the instruments on the first 2 LPs. But still sales continued to be profitable. Headquarters sold 2 million copies, down 2 million units from its predecessor, but still reached the number 1 spot on Billboard, falling only to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band a week later and remaining #2 all through the entire 1967 Summer of Love.[11]
For the remaining five Monkees LPs, ironically, the original Kirshner formula of hired studio musicians & songwriters again became the norm, although Nesmith, Tork, Dolenz and Jones contributed about 50% of the original compositions, Nesmith the majority of those.[11] By the end of the Monkees run, Nesmith was withholding many of his original song ideas from Monkees albums, planning to release them in his post-Monkees solo career. Nesmith's last contractual Monkees commitment was a commercial for Kool-Aid and Nerf balls in April 1970 (fittingly, the spot ends with Nesmith frowning and saying, "Enerf's enerf!"). As the band's sales declined, Nesmith asked to be released from his contract, despite it costing him: "I had three years left ... at $150,000 [equivalent to $1.16 million in 2022] a year."[citation needed] He remained in a financial bind until 1980, when he received his inheritance from his mother's estate. In a 1980 interview with Playboy, he said of that time: "I had to start telling little tales to the tax man while they were putting tags on the furniture."[citation needed]
Return to the Monkees
Nesmith did not participate in the Monkees' 20th anniversary reunion,[8] due to contractual obligations with his production company, but he did appear during an encore with the three other Monkees at the Greek Theatre on September 7, 1986. In a 1987 interview for Nick Rocks, Nesmith stated, "When Peter called up and said 'we're going to go out, do you want to go?' I was booked. But, if you get to L.A., I'll play."[12]
Nesmith next joined his fellow Monkees for the 1986 "Monkees Christmas Medley" video for MTV appearing throughout dressed/disguised as Santa Claus until the finale, when he revealed his identity - and participation - to all.[13]
"The question I am most often asked is 'how does it feel to be up with the guys after all this time?' Well, it's a mixture of feelings and all of them are good. But the one that comes to mind is the feeling of profound gratitude."
Michael Nesmith, speaking about being part of The Monkees at the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star award in 1989.
In 1989, Nesmith reunited with the other members of the Monkees,
In 1995, Nesmith was again reunited with the Monkees to record their studio album (and first to feature all four since Head in 1968), titled Justus, released in 1996. He also wrote and directed a Monkees reunion television special, Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees. To support the reunion, Nesmith, Jones, Dolenz, and Tork briefly toured the UK in 1997.[8] The UK tour was the last appearance of all four Monkees performing together. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, after Jones's death, Nesmith reunited with Dolenz and Tork to perform concerts throughout the United States. Backed with a seven-piece band that included Nesmith's son, Christian,[15] the trio performed 27 songs from The Monkees discography ("Daydream Believer" was sung by the audience).[16] When asked why he had decided to return to the Monkees, Nesmith stated, "I never really left. It is a part of my youth that is always active in my thoughts and part of my overall work as an artist. It stays in a special place."[17]
In 2016, Nesmith contributed vocally and instrumentally to the Monkees' 50th anniversary album
In 2018, Nesmith and Dolenz toured together as a duo for the first time under the banner "The Monkees Present: The Mike and Micky Show". The tour was cut short four dates out due to Nesmith having health issues (he was flown back home and proceeded to have
In 2019, Nesmith and Dolenz reunited again to make up the cancelled dates of the tour and adding several more dates, including a planned tour of Australia and New Zealand. Nesmith and Dolenz announced a follow-up tour, "An Evening with the Monkees", to begin in early 2020.[19] The tour was delayed, however, due the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced by Nesmith and Dolenz on May 4, 2021, that the Monkees would disband following a farewell tour. Dubbed "The Monkees Farewell Tour", the tour consisted of over 40 dates in the United States from September to November. However, because of restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they were not able to play shows in Canada, the UK or Australia. The final date of the tour was held on November 14, 2021, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.[20][21]
Solo career
As he prepared for his exit from The Monkees, Nesmith was approached by John Ware of The Corvettes, a band that featured Nesmith's Texas band mate and close friend John London. London played on some of the earliest pre-Monkees, Nesmith 45s, as well as numerous Monkees sessions, and had 45s produced by Nesmith for the Dot label in 1969. Ware wanted Nesmith to put together a band. Nesmith's interest hinged on noted pedal steel player Orville "Red" Rhodes; their musical partnership continued until Rhodes's death in 1995. The new band was christened Michael Nesmith and the First National Band and recorded three albums for RCA Records, the first two being released in 1970 with the third seeing release in 1971.[citation needed]
Nesmith's First National Band is now considered a pioneer of country-rock music.[22] Nesmith wrote most of the songs for the band and he is considered one of the trailblazers of country rock.[23] He also had moderate commercial success with the First National Band. Their second single, "Joanne", hit number 21 on the Billboard chart, number 17 on Cashbox, and number four in Canada, with the follow-up "Silver Moon" making number 42 Billboard, number 28 Cashbox, and number 13 in Canada. Two more singles charted ("Nevada Fighter" made number 70 Billboard, number 73 Cashbox, and number 67 Canada, and "Propinquity" reached number 95 Cashbox), and the first two LPs charted in the lower regions of the Billboard album chart. No clear answer has ever been given for the band's breakup.[citation needed]
Nesmith followed up with The Second National Band, which consisted of Nesmith (vocals and guitar), Michael Cohen (keyboards and Moog), Johnny Meeks (of The Strangers) (bass), jazzer Jack Ranelli (drums), and Orville Rhodes (pedal steel), as well as an appearance by singer, musician, and songwriter José Feliciano on congas. The album, Tantamount to Treason Vol. 1, was a commercial and critical disaster. Nesmith then recorded And the Hits Just Keep on Comin', featuring only him on guitar and Red Rhodes on pedal steel.[citation needed]
Nesmith then became more heavily involved in producing, working on
In the mid-1970s, Nesmith briefly collaborated as a songwriter with
PopClips and MTV, Elephant Parts, and Television Parts
During this time, Nesmith created a video clip for "Rio", which helped spur Nesmith's creation of a television program called PopClips for the Nickelodeon cable network. In 1980, PopClips was sold to the Time Warner/Amex consortium. Time Warner/Amex developed PopClips into the MTV network.[8]
Nesmith won the first Grammy Award presented for (long-form) Music Video in 1982 for his hour-long Elephant Parts. He also had a short-lived series (1984-5) on NBC inspired by the video called Michael Nesmith in Television Parts. Television Parts included many other artists who were unknown at the time, but went on to become major stars in their own right: Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Garry Shandling, Whoopi Goldberg,[8] and Arsenio Hall. The concept of the show was to have comics render their stand-up routines into short comedy films much like the ones in Elephant Parts. Nesmith assembled writers Jack Handey, William Martin, John Levenstein, and Michael Kaplan, along with directors William Dear (who had directed Elephant Parts) and Alan Myerson, as well as producer Ward Sylvester to create the show. The half-hour show ran for 5 episodes in the summer of 1985 on NBC Thursday nights in prime time.[citation needed]
Pacific Arts and legal dispute
Nesmith formed the
Nesmith's most recent Pacific Arts project was Videoranch 3D, a virtual environment on the internet that hosted live performances at various virtual venues inside the ranch. He performed live inside Videoranch 3D on May 25, 2009.[26]
Movies and books
Nesmith was the executive producer for the films Repo Man, Tapeheads, and Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann, as well as his own solo recording and film projects.[27]
In 1998, Nesmith published his first novel, The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora. It was developed originally as an online project and was later published as a hardcover book[8] by St Martin's Press.[28] Nesmith's second novel, The America Gene, was released in July 2009 as an online download from Videoranch.com.[29]
Recent history
In the early 1980s, Nesmith teamed with satirist P. J. O'Rourke to ride his vehicle Timerider in the annual Baja 1000 off-road race. This is chronicled in O'Rourke's 2009 book Driving Like Crazy.[30]
During the 1990s, Nesmith, as trustee and president of the Gihon Foundation,[8] hosted the Council on Ideas, a gathering of intellectuals from different fields who were asked to identify the most important issues of their day and publish the result. The foundation ceased the program in 2000 and started a new program for the performing arts. Nesmith also spent a decade as a board of trustees member, nominating member and vice-chair of the American Film Institute.[citation needed]
In 1992, Nesmith undertook a concert tour of North America to promote the CD release of his RCA solo albums (although he included the song "Rio" from the album From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing). The concert tour ended at the Britt Festival in Oregon. A video and CD, both entitled Live at the Britt Festival, were released capturing the 1992 concert.[31]
Nesmith continued to record and release his own music. His final album, Rays, was released in 2006. In 2011, he returned to producing, working with blues singer and guitarist Carolyn Wonderland. Nesmith produced Wonderland's version of Robert Johnson's "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" on her album Peace Meal. Wonderland married writer-comedian A. Whitney Brown on March 4, 2011, in a ceremony officiated by Nesmith.[32]
In 2012, Nesmith briefly toured Europe prior to rejoining the Monkees for their tours of the United States.
In 2014, he guest-starred in season four, episode nine, of the IFC comedy series
In 2017, he released a memoir and companion "soundtrack" album titled Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff.[34]
In 2018, he announced that he would be doing a five-date tour of California with a revamped version of The First National Band, including a date at
In 2019, Nesmith toured in a two-piece configuration with pedal steel player Pete Finney, focusing on his 1972 album, And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'. This was the first time Nesmith had performed in this format since 1974 with Red Rhodes. Nesmith was also joined by special guests Ben Gibbard and Scott McCaughey on opening night in Seattle.[38]
Personal life
Nesmith was married three times and had four children.
He met his first wife, Phyllis Ann Barbour, in 1964, while at San Antonio College.[39] Together, they had three children: Christian, born in 1965; Jonathan, born in 1968; and Jessica, born in 1970. Nesmith and Barbour divorced in 1972.
Nesmith also had a son, Jason, born in August 1968 to Nurit Wilde, whom he met while working on The Monkees.[40]
In 1976, he married his second wife, Kathryn Bild.[41]
In 2000, he married his third wife, Victoria Kennedy, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2011.[42]
When the Monkees' TV series ended in 1968, Nesmith enrolled part-time at the
Health and death
Nesmith was forced to cancel the last four dates of his 2018 tour with Micky Dolenz due to a "minor health scare". In an interview with Rolling Stone published on July 26 of that year, Nesmith said he had undergone quadruple bypass heart surgery, and had been hospitalized for over a month.[45]
Nesmith died from heart failure at his home in Carmel Valley, California, on December 10, 2021, at the age of 78.[46][47] His family said in a statement: “With infinite love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes.”[48] Dolenz memorialized Nesmith as "a dear friend and partner."[49][50]
Discography
- The Wichita Train Whistle Sings (1968)
- Magnetic South (1970)
- Loose Salute (1970)
- Nevada Fighter (1971)
- Tantamount to Treason Vol. 1 (1972)
- And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' (1972)
- Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash (1973)
- The Prison: A Book with a Soundtrack (1974) (soundtrack)
- From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing (1977)
- Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma (1979)
- Tropical Campfires (1992)
- The Garden (1994) (soundtrack)
- Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (2000) (soundtrack, recorded 1980)
- Rays (2005)
- The Ocean (2015)
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1966–1968 | The Monkees[48] | Himself | Credited as Monkees persona "Mike" |
1969 | 33 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee | Host | NBC special[52] |
1985 | Television Parts[53] | Host | One-series spin-off from Elephant Parts |
1997 | Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees[53] | Himself | Credited as Monkees persona "Mike" |
2014 | Portlandia |
Father of the Mayor | Season 4, episode 9 |
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1968 | Head[53] |
Himself | Credited as Monkees persona "Mike" |
1982 | Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann[53] | Race Official | uncredited |
1984 | Repo Man | Rabbi | credited |
1987 | Burglar[53] | Cabbie | uncredited |
1988 | Tapeheads[53] | Water Man |
Home video
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | Elephant Parts | Various characters/Producer | Released on DVD 1998 and again in 2003 |
1981 | An Evening with Sir William Martin | Foyer the butler/Writer/Producer | Half-hour comedic monologue |
1983 | Rio and Cruisin'[52] | Performer/Producer | Music videos |
1985 | The Television Parts Home Companion | Various characters/Producer | Compilation from television series |
1986 | Dr. Duck's Super-Secret All-Purpose Sauce | Various characters/Producer | Music and comedy segments |
1989 | Nezmusic | Performer/Producer | Music videos |
1991 | Live at the Britt Festival | Performer/Producer | Concert from 1991 concert |
2008 | Pacific Arts | Performer/Producer | Music videos on DVD |
Books
- (n.b. books proper – not including The Prison and The Garden)
- The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora (1998)[8]
- The America Gene (2009)[29]
- Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff (2017)[34]
Audiobooks
- The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora (2004) (with Nesmith reading the story)[51]
- Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff (2017) (narrated by Nesmith)[7]
References
- ^ Dansby, Andrew (December 10, 2021). "Texas native, Monkees great Michael Nesmith dies". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
Nesmith was a musician of multiple dimensions: a thoughtful songwriter too funny to be embraced by hippies and a progressive country music artist too full of angular edges to be embraced by Nashville. His genius was in his totality, which defied easy description.
- ^ "Past Winners Search". The GRAMMYs. April 30, 2017.
- ISBN 0816069786
- ^ "Bette Nesmith Graham: Liquid Paper Inventor". Women-inventors.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ^ The Monkees: Mike Nesmith Archived October 18, 2006, at archive.today biography from Rhino Records
- ^ Triplett, Gene (March 3, 1985). "Nesmith: No Monkeeing Around". The Oklahoman. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ )
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Gaita, Paul. "Michael Nesmith - Biography". Tcm.com. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ISBN 9780965821841. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ Greene, Andy (March 8, 2012). "Exclusive: Michael Nesmith Remembers Davy Jones". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Sandoval, Andrew. Music Box Liner Notes: The True Story of "The Monkees", Rhino Records, 2001.
- ^ Nick Rocks, January 1987 Profile of Michael Nesmith
- ^ "The Monkees - MTV Christmas Medley '86 (Better Source, Remastered)". Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Monkees at the Universal Amphitheatre 1989". The Monkees Live Almanac.
- ^ "A fresh and electric look back from 3 Monkees", Chicago Tribune, November 17, 2012
- ^ "VVN Music: Set List: Monkees Open Reunion Tour @ Escondido, CA". Vintagevinylnews.com. November 10, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
- ^ Green, Andy, "Q&A: Michael Nesmith on His Surprising Return to the Monkees", Rolling Stones Magazine, August 8, 2012
- ^ "The Monkees' Michael Nesmith 'Thrilled' With New Album". ABC News. May 27, 2016.
- ^ "UPDATED: THE MONKEES - NEW TOUR DATES AND LIVE ALBUM COMING IN 2020". Monkees.com. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ "The Monkees announce 2021 farewell tour". Consequence.net. May 3, 2021.
- ^ "Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- ^ "Michael Nesmith - Country Rock - Rock/Pop - Music". Uk.real.com. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
- ^ Liner notes from the CD Hillbilly Fever, Volume 5 released by Rhino Entertainment in 1995.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Michael Nesmith - Cruisin' (Lucy And Ramona And Sunset Sam)". Charts.nz. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ Wold, Robert N. (July 19, 1999). "PBS and Nesmith settle home-video dispute but are mum on price". Current. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ^ "MIKE NESMITH walked to the beat of a different drum. – All Across the Arts". September 29, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "Michael Nesmith". IMDb. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Michael Nesmith - Bibliography". Tcm.com. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ OCLC 893698813.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "AllMusic- Michael Nesmith: Live at the Britt Festival". AllMusic. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ Lewis, Randy, "Michael Nesmith to launch first U.S. solo tour in 21 years", Los Angeles Times, February 23, 2013
- ^ a b "Monkees' Michael Nesmith spins 'an autobiographical riff' in 'Infinite Tuesday'". Los Angeles Times. April 7, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
- ^ "The first chance to see Michael Nesmith & the First National Band in nearly 50 years!". VideoRanch.
- ^ Greene, Andy (February 20, 2018). "Monkees' Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith Announce First Tour as Duo". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
- ^ "The Monkees' Michael Nesmith Suffers 'Minor Health Issue,' Band Cancels Last 4 Tour Dates". People. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
- ^ "Michael Nesmith on Red Rhodes, Pete Finney, and this January's tour". The Monkees Live Almanac.
- ^ National Enquirer, February 26, 2010
- .
- ^ "The Monkees star reveals ex-wife moved back in with him amid declining health". Starts at 60. March 16, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ The Mirror (UK), March 5, 2011
- ^ Bayles, Rick (February 6, 2020). "Forgotten Artists – Mike Nesmith". Americana UK. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ "Mike Nesmith: The member of The Monkees known as "Wool Hat"". Beat. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ Greene, Andy (July 26, 2018). "Monkees' Michael Nesmith Recovering From Quadruple Bypass Heart Surgery". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ Greene, Andy (December 10, 2021). "Michael Nesmith, Monkees singer-songwriter, dead at 78". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ Genzlinger, Neil (December 10, 2021). "Michael Nesmith, the 'Quiet Monkee,' Is Dead at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Michael Nesmith, singer and guitarist with the Monkees, dies aged 78". The Guardian. December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ Evans, Greg (December 10, 2021). "Micky Dolenz Remembers Michael Nesmith: "I'll Miss It All So Much"". Deadline.
- ^ "Remembering Michael Nesmith". Monkees.com. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ a b "Michael Nesmith Albums and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Michael Nesmith - Life Events". Tcm.com. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Michael Nesmith - Filmography". Tcm.com. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
Further reading
- Article in Wired magazine about Michael Nesmith and the Council on Ideas
- Michael Nesmith biography
- (Unofficial) Michael Nesmith home page
- SWINDLE Magazine interview
- Michael Nesmith interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
- Michael Nesmith: Overcoming The Monkees at NPR.com
- Michael Nesmith interview 2013
- Michael Nesmith Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2019)
External links
- Videoranch, a Michael Nesmith company
- Michael Nesmith's Videoranch's channel on YouTube
- Michael Nesmith at IMDb
- Nesmith at Allmusic.com