Chief operating officer John Lack, who’d previously overseen the similarly pioneering show PopClips, had been pivotal in making the idea of 24/7 music videos a reality. And they were delivered against a backdrop of another major launch-the Columbia Space Shuttle from earlier in the year-by one of the network’s key players. Nesmith's final show took place last month at LA's Greek Theater, as part of a farewell tour he did with Dolenz, The tour were booked on The Beach Boys Cruise in early 2022.“Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” These were the simple but effective first words ever uttered on MTV. After Jones died in 2012, Nesmith continued to work with Dolenz and Tork. But in 1996, he rejoined his band mates for their album Justus, and participated in a TV special and U.K. Nesmith, who'd inherited half his mother's $50 million estate in 1980 - she invited Liquid Paper - didn't join Tork, Dolenz and Jones for the successful 1986 Monkees tour and subsequent 1987 album, Pool It!. That led to a 1985 series on NBC called Michael Nesmith in Television Parts, which featured then-unknowns like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg and Garry Shandling. Nesmith continued to work in the video field and won the first-ever Grammy awarded for music video for his 1982 music and comedy collection, Elephant Parts. Ironically, it was MTV that spurred a Monkees revival in the '80s by re-running the old NBC series. When PopClips was sold to Time Warner/Amex in 1980, the idea was developed into MTV. Nesmith created a video clip for his song " Rio," and then turned the idea into a TV show called PopClips for Nickelodeon. In 1974, Nesmith founded the multimedia firm Pacific Arts, which released records, tapes and cassettes, but then moved into the new field of home video. He also had success as a producer and as a songwriter: He wrote the hit "Different Drum" for Linda Ronstadt's band The Stone Poneys, plus songs for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Lynn Anderson. Nesmith then formed the First National Band and released three albums that are now considered pioneering examples of country rock. When The Monkees finally gained that control, their chart success continued for a while longer, but after the show in ended in 1968, the group split in 1969. However, the four Monkees - especially Nesmith - were frustrated by not having complete creative control over their music. Initially dubbed the "Pre-Fab Four," The Monkees soon out-paced The Beatles on the charts, scoring number-one albums and a string of hit singles. Fellow members Davy Jones and Peter Tork died in 20, respectively.Īlong with Tork and Dolenz, Nesmith answered an ad which led them to be cast in The Monkees TV show, which ran from 1966-68 on NBC. The death of Nesmith, known on the show for his omnipresent wool hat, leaves Micky Dolenz as the only living member of The Monkees. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time and we thank you for the love and light that all of you have shown him and us.” Nesmith's family told Rolling Stone 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. He ended by posting a quote from Nesmith's song "I'll Remember You": “Thank you for the times you gave me, thank you for the tears you saved me, please take this song as my thanks to you.” May all those who loved him feel his comfort at this time - just listen and he will be there for you." "And you could get no closer to him then through knowing his work. "Nez expressed the highest part of his being through his voice," Sandoval wrote. "I am positive the brilliance he captured will resonate and offer the love and light towards which he always moved." And in the end I know that Michael was at peace with his legacy which included songwriting, producing, acting, direction and so many innovative ideas and concepts," Sandoval continued. "That tour was a true blessing for so many. We shared many travels and projects together over the course of 30 years, which culminated in a Monkees farewell tour that wrapped up only a few weeks ago." The Monkees' manager, Andrew Sandoval, confirmed the news on Facebook, writing, " It is with deep sadness that I mark the passing of Michael Nesmith. Michael Nesmith, singer/guitarist and songwriter for The Monkees who went on to become a respected songwriter, producer, and a pioneer in the nascent field of music video, has died at the age of 78.
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