Michael Nesmith

Lee Warren · Post by **Lee Warren** » 10 Dec 2021 10:35 am

So very sad to hear that he has left us.
I loved his music and he loved pedal steel guitar.

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 10 Dec 2021 10:51 am

Thanks for sharing. I'd not heard about him dying.

I loved the Monkees and Michael Nesmith was my favorite. It was nice in later years to see photos of him hanging out with the Beatles and other rock stars in England. Here in America all of them were kind of caught between a rock and a hard place but in the end it all worked out for the best.

I guess Mickey Dolenz is the last man standing.

Lee Warren · Post by **Lee Warren** » 10 Dec 2021 11:06 am

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 10 Dec 2021 11:36 am

His first solo record was one of two that made me go right out and buy a steel guitar. Rest easy….

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 10 Dec 2021 11:45 am

I am just fully at a loss for words right now. Nothing I type can express what this man's music has meant to me since I was a toddler. Nez' music has been the soundtrack to my life - this is not hyperbole. I met both of my wives through a mutual love of his (and The Monkees') music, I learned to play guitar - and eventually pedal steel guitar - due to my affinity for his solo music, my daughter took to keyboard as early as two years old and learned to play "Papa Gene's Blues" without even knowing what the words were (she'd say it was "I Love You Love Me"), I started The Auburns as my personal devotion to his music....the list of connections to him in my life are possibly endless.

I recall reading that Mike never actually had visited Rio in his time on earth. Praying he'll fly on down tonight and perhaps I'll get to meet up with him again down the road. https://youtu.be/WnpcTsy10dE

Thank you for everything, Mike. You were - and are - very much revered and loved.

Dustin Rhodes · Post by **Dustin Rhodes** » 10 Dec 2021 12:33 pm

Really bummed to hear this. Those first 3 solo albums are incredible.

Doug Taylor · Post by **Doug Taylor** » 10 Dec 2021 1:50 pm

I am sad to hear this news, I was 12 with a brand new electric guitar and I spent lots of time trying to learn monkees songs! Loved his solo stuff and it was a big influence.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 10 Dec 2021 3:45 pm

I loved several of the hit tunes but Joanne struck a chord with me and I was hooked. This is a serious blow to my memories of great music that shaped our culture. Rip Michael.

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 10 Dec 2021 5:55 pm

Lee and Joe, Neat photos.

Rolling Stone magazine has a nice article. It's worth the read to scroll down past the advertisements. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... d-1270079/. I knew Mike wrote "Different Drum" but I wasn't aware Don Kirsner rejected the song by saying "It's Not A Monkees song". It sure worked for Linda Rohnstat.

His song with the First National Band, Joanne, is my favorite song.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 10 Dec 2021 7:06 pm

RIP Mike!

Very shocking that he passed, what a great artist, actor, innovator. Lucky to have seen him live and recently got his last CD signed, which I will cherish.

Will be doing a Monkeys marathon this weekend!

My best to Pete Finny at this time also.

Rio video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnpcTsy10dE

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 10 Dec 2021 7:31 pm

Sad news, indeed. I really liked his solo work post-monkees and I like that he featured Red Rhodes on his recordings. Red's steel was right out front, clear as a bell, and I'm sure Michael insisted on that. Rest in peace, Michael Nesmith.

Ron Shalita · Post by **Ron Shalita** » 10 Dec 2021 7:41 pm

He took the last train to Clarksville R.I.P…

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 10 Dec 2021 11:22 pm

RIP Michael Nesmith!

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 11 Dec 2021 6:17 am

His first solo record was one of two that made me go right out and buy a steel guitar. Rest easy….

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 11 Dec 2021 6:17 am

Michael Producing Red Rhodes with Bert Jansch, in England. '74
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ8OcWMibv0

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 11 Dec 2021 6:47 am

More stunningly bad news! So sorry to hear this, condolences to his family and friends. RIP Michael.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 11 Dec 2021 9:19 am

It getting worse and worse with all our favorite musicians dying! I love the live record he made in Australia with amongst other musicians, Al Perkins.
And thank you Joe Alterio for the photo and the vid of "Rio".

Bob Sigafoos · Post by **Bob Sigafoos** » 11 Dec 2021 10:41 am

I’m a big Nez fan too.. Especially the First National Band stuff. While surfing YouTube I saw this:
https://youtu.be/8lo6A1T1nx8
I’ve never seen pre Monkees stuff! Glad he turned to country rock instead.

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 11 Dec 2021 10:43 am

There is a nice write up on Mike Nesmith producing Ian Matthews (of Matthews Southern Comfort fame) version of Seven Bridges Road. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Bridges_Road This version doesn't sound too good but I like the photos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOe4f0qIRoc Same song with better sound: https://youtu.be/eu-aMwyELmw

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 11 Dec 2021 2:07 pm

The music has lost a serious contributor, a great songwriter and performer, and a fine man. And being Texan, he loved steel guitar, steel players, and especially Red Rhodes. And Mike was actually a significant part of me becoming a pedal steel player.

When I was asked by Linda R. to play steel guitar for her, I didn't own one at the time; it was 1968 and I was her mando and dobro player. So I went to my friend Red Rhodes for assistance and he said that Nez would loan me one, since he had 5 (!?!) Fender 2000s up at his house. I was friends with Nez because I was also Michael Martin Murphey's dobro player (who was just Michael Murphey at the time), so I called him and I told him that Linda wants me to play steel, so could I please borrow one of his Fenders until the Sho~Bud I just ordered arrived? He made a joke about wanting to play steel for Linda himself, then laughed and said, sure come on up to the house and get one. I did and that's another part of the story.

Last time I saw him was in 1995 when the FNB played a show here in Austin. Red called and we spent the afternoon together, then put me on the backstage guest list. My wife, 5 years younger than I, was a serious Monkee fan back in the day, and I told her we were invited to my friend Red's show that night with the FNB. She didn't know the FNB was Nesmith's band, and when she went backstage and met Nez, suddenly the totally serious veterinarian turned into the star-struck teen meeting one of her idols. She was ecstatic and for that, I owed him more than I did for loaning me that Fender back in '68.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 11 Dec 2021 2:49 pm

I love it, Herb.

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 11 Dec 2021 9:09 pm

James Gooch · Post by **James Gooch** » 12 Dec 2021 5:19 am

Another photo ...

Chris Boyd · Post by **Chris Boyd** » 12 Dec 2021 5:49 am

RIP Michael and thank you...

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 12 Dec 2021 10:52 am