Mike Nesmith, Monkees Guitarist/Singer-Songwriter, Dies at 78

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

December 10th, 2021 12:59 PM

Mike Nesmith, best known for his time with The Monkees as a guitarist/singer-songwriter, has died. He was 78.

Nesmith’s death was confirmed to Rolling Stone in a statement from his family which reads, “With Infinite Love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes. 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.”

Variety notes, “Nesmith’s final show was less than a month ago, when he and the cohort who is now the Monkees’ only surviving member, Micky Dolenz, capped a farewell tour at L.A.’s Greek Theatre Nov. 14. The duo were booked for a cruise in early 2022 that was to have served as a truly final gig together.”

Story developing…

GALLERY: Hey, Hey! It’s the Monkees!

• The Monkees

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  Pop band 'The Monkees', (L-R) Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith, filming a flying sequence for the television show, circa 1968. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

• GettyImages-530242673_594_screen

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• Portrait Of The Monkees Performing

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  Promotional portrait shows the popular music and television group the Monkees as they perform, 1st February 1967. From left, Michael Nesmith (back), Peter Tork (fore), Davy Jones (hanging upside down), and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
• Monkee Scientists

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  Television still shows the popular music and television group the Monkees dressed as 'mad scientists,' complete with bubbling beakers, lab coats, and glasses, early 1970s. From left, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz, and Michael Nesmith. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• The Monkees Perform

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  Television still shows the popular music and television group the Monkees as they perform onstage in an episode of their self-titled tv show, late 1960s. From left, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz (on drums), and Michael Nesmith. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Portrait Of The Monkees

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  Promotional portrait of popular music and television group the Monkees, dressing in tuxedos and they as they sit in folding chair and look over their shoulders, early 1970s. From left, British musician and actor Davy Jones, and American musician and actors Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith. The chairs are labeled with the band's guitar-shaped logo and the name of each member. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
• Portrait Of The Monkees

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  Promotional portrait of the popular music and television group the Monkees, dressed in matching shirts and vests, 1967. From left, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith (back), Davy Jones (fore), and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Four Monkees In A Car

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  Promotional portrait of the popular music and television group the Monkees as they sit in a converticle with side exhausts, early 1970s. From left, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Portrait Of The Monkees

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  Promotional portrait of the popular music and television group the Monkees, dressed in matching shirts and vests, 1967. From left, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith (back), Davy Jones (fore), and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
• Monkees On Wall Street

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  Musician/actors the Monkees, all dressed in suits, sit around a board room table equipped with a stook ticker in a scene from the television show 'The Monkees,' early 1970s. From left, Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Davy Jones. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Portrait Of Michael Nesmith

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  Portrait of American musician and actor Michael Nesmith, in a knit cap, of the popular music and television group the Monkees, 1967. (Photo by NBC/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Portrait Of The Monkees

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  Promotional portrait of the Monkees as they pose under a tree, late 1960s. From clockwise rear left, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
• Portrait Of Davy Jones

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  British musician and actor Davy Jones, in a double-breasted shirt, of the popular music and television group the Monkees, late 1960s. (Photo by Jack Knox/Getty Images)

• Portrait Of Peter Tork

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  American musician and actor Peter Tork, in a double breated shirt, of the popular music and television group the Monkees, late 1960s. (Photo by Jack Knox/Getty Images)

• Portrait Of Mickey Dolenz

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  Portrait of American musician and actor Mickey Dolenz, in a double-breasted shirt, of popular music and television group the Monkees, late 1960s. (Photo by Jack Knox/Getty Images)
• The Monkees

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  2nd February 1967: American pop group The Monkees. Left to right are Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

• Up To Their Necks

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  2nd February 1967: Three members of American pop group The Monkees have been buried up to their necks in sand by fellow group member Davy Jones. Buried members are, left to right, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

• Davy Jones

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  1968: Davy Jones, singer of pop group The Monkees, at Lulu's house in St John's Wood, London. (Photo by Express/Express/Getty Images)
• Monkee Fur

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  circa 1968: Leaving London Airport, British singer Davy Jones of American pop group the Monkees, who were originally formed for an American television comedy and music show. (Photo by George Stroud/Express/Getty Images)

• Cheeky Monkees

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  29th June 1967: Top American pop group the Monkees, originally formed to play the part of a pop group for a comedy television series, enliven a press conference in England. (Photo by James Jackson/Evening Standard/Getty Images)

• Monkees In Bathrobes

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  May 1967: The Monkees pop group, left to right: Mike Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork (seated) and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)
• The Monkees

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  1967: American pop group The Monkees, (left to right) Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

• Micky Dolenz

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  circa 1968: Micky Dolenz, a drummer with the manufactured American pop group The Monkees wearing a turban. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

• Mike Nesmith

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  circa 1968: Mike Nesmith, a guitarist with the manufactured American pop group The Monkees, displays his fashionable sideburns. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
• The Monkees

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  circa 1968: American pop group the Monkees touch down at Melbourne Airport, Australia. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

• Mike Nesmith

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  29th June 1967: American musician Mike Nesmith, a guitarist with the manufactured pop group the Monkees, at a press conference in England. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

• Peter Tork

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  29th June 1967: American musician Peter Tork, a singer and bass guitarist with the manufactured pop group the Monkees, at a press conference in England. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
• Monkee Talk

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  29th June 1967: American pop group the Monkees (from left) Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz at a press conference in England. (Photo by Mike McLaren/Central Press/Getty Images)

• The Monkees

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  American pop group The Monkees (left to right) Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz, at a press conference at the Royal Garden Hotel, London. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

• The Monkees

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  American pop group The Monkees at a press conference, from left to right; Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz. (Photo by F Brooks/Getty Images)

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Category:

• Music
• Oldies News

Tags:

Celebrity Deaths,Mike Nesmith,The Monkees